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Core modules and Options at Level 10

PHI9PJ Democratic Theory

Outline

This course will cover a number of issues in democratic theory including different models or understandings of democracy, the value and justification of democracy, who should have the vote (including age thresholds and whether felons should forfeit the franchise), representation, and whether voting should be morally or legally obligatory. It will also relate to wider themes in political philosophy, such as political obligation and distributive justice.

Outcome

Students should gain an understanding of some of the main debates within democratic theory and an appreciation of their relevance to political practice (e.g. electoral reform or compulsory voting). The module also aims, as do all modules in Philosophy, to improve the students' skills in critical reading, critical thinking, and written and oral communication, through the lecture programme, participation in seminars, and the writing of essays.

Reading

Students interested in introductory texts may consult either:

R. Dahl On Democracy (Yale University Press, 2000)

Or

B. Crick Democracy: A Very Short Introduction (Oxford University Press, 2002)

For more substantial material, the following texts and anthologies will be useful:

D. Held Models of Democracy (Polity, 2006)

T. Christiano (ed.) Democracy and Philosophy: An Anthology (Oxford University Press, 2003)

D. Estlund (ed.) Democracy (Readings in Philosophy) (Blackwell, 2001)

More specific guidance will be provided for those enrolled on the module.

 

Availability:	Honours semester 6/8, 3-year Named degree, General
Prerequisite:	Any level 9 module
Assessment:	Course work (one required essay) 50%; examination (3 questions in 3 hours) 50%. Students may choose to submit a second essay to improve their coursework grade.
Teaching Pattern:	Each week there will be two 1hr lectures and one 1hr seminar.
Regulation:	For the purposes of the University’s attendance regulation 14, seminars are prescribed classes. The rationale for prescribing these classes may be found in the Philosophy Student Handbook, section F. This section also contains regulations relating to the submission of essays, and other matters.

 

If you would like to know more about this module please contact the Ben Saunders.