FIL4330 – Political Philosophy
Schedule, syllabus and examination date
Course content
Political philosophy concerns how to organize relations among individuals who are members of societies. The following type of issues are central: How can individuals retain their freedom when they submit to political authority? How can the authority of the state be justified, and what should be its limits? What is a just distribution of goods and burdens? What is the role of public deliberation in democratic decision-making? Do individuals possess rights merely in virtue of their humanity? Important contributions have been made by philosophers like Plato, Aristotle, Aquinas, Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Kant, Hegel, Mill, Marx, Arendt, Rawls and Habermas.
Political philosophy is sometimes closely related to ethics, but many political philosophers seek justifications for principles that reflect what is unique in political life. On an expansive conception of political philosophy it includes legal philosophy and social philosophy. The course might have a special focus on either the history of political philosophy or systematic approaches to political philosophy at different semesters, so make sure to check the detailed course description on the semester pages in advance.
Learning outcome
After having completed the course you are expected to
- have a good knowledge of the core texts for the course
- be able to acquire knowledge of and critically relate to the latest research contributions within the topic of the course
- be able to discuss the problems addressed in the course in a critical and professional manner, both orally and in writing
- be able to write an essay within the given frames answering a precise question in such a way that the essay has a clear and self-developed argumentative structure and demonstrates an updated acquaintance of the field
- be able to write clearly about the main ideas presented in the course during a two-hour school exam
Admission to the course
Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.
Students enrolled in other Master`s Degree Programmes can, on application, be admitted to the course if this is cleared by their own study programme.
If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.
Requires admission to the Master`s programme in philosophy.
Recommended previous knowledge
FIL1003 – Innf?ring i etikk and?FIL2311 – Political Philosophy
Teaching
12 double sessions with seminars.
You are required to post a question or a critical reflection on the readings in advance of each seminar on Canvas.
Mandatory presence at minimum 9 out of 12 seminars
A draft of the term paper
All the obligatory activities must be accepted as satisfactory in order to be able to hand in the exam. The activities are only valid for one semester.
This is how you apply for a valid absence from compulsory activities/compulsory attendance.
Examination
The exam has two separate parts and consists of a term paper of 5 pages (around 1900 words in total), references and footnotes not included, and a two-hour written school exam.
Possible topics for the term paper will be published, however it is also possible to develop your own topic, as long as it has been approved by your teacher.
The term paper will count 40% towards the final grade, while the school exam counts 60%.
Please be aware that all compulsory tuition activities must be accepted as satisfactory to qualify for the exam.
Evaluation criteria spring 2022?and spring 2024.
Examination support material
No examination support material is allowed for the school exam.
Language of examination
You may write your examination paper in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or English.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.
More about examinations at UiO
- Use of sources and citations
- Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
- Withdrawal from an exam
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Explanation of grades and appeals
- Resitting an exam
- Cheating/attempted cheating
You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.