Last modified: 04 Oct 2022 12:51
Governments exercise a significant degree of coercive power over people. They shape the terms of our social and political coexistence, and, through their decisions, they have the capacity to restrict our freedoms and impinge on our autonomy. Faced with the question of what (if anything) could legitimize such coercion in the first place, it is commonly held that a government’s exercise of political authority is legitimate only insofar as it is democratic. That is, only if it is somehow authorized by the people. But what, if anything, makes democracy so special and uniquely justified or valuable? What kind of values does democracy embody or realize? Are there legitimate alternatives to democracy? What are the limits of democratic authority? The course will deal with these fundamental questions first by providing students with a broad overview of the problem of political legitimacy and of some attempts at solving it. The course will then focus on the problem of democratic legitimacy. It will present students with the main accounts of democratic legitimacy developed in the current literature, as well as with recent philosophical and political criticisms of democracy.
| Study Type | Undergraduate | Level | 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term | First Term | Credit Points | 30 credits (15 ECTS credits) |
| Campus | Aberdeen | Sustained Study | No |
| Co-ordinators |
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Governments exercise a significant degree of coercive power over people. They shape the terms of our social and political coexistence, and, through their decisions, they have the capacity to restrict our freedoms and impinge on our autonomy. Faced with the question of what (if anything) could legitimize such coercion in the first place, it is commonly held that a government’s exercise of political authority is legitimate only insofar as it is democratic. That is, only if it is somehow authorized by the people. But what, if anything, makes democracy so special and uniquely justified or valuable? What kind of values does democracy embody or realize? What are the limits of democratic authority? Are there legitimate alternatives to democracy? The course will deal with these fundamental questions first by providing students with a broad overview of the problem of political legitimacy and of some attempts at solving it. The course will then focus on the problem of democratic legitimacy. It will present students with the main accounts of democratic legitimacy developed in the current literature, as well as with recent philosophical and political criticisms of democracy.
Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 50 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
Feedback will be provided via MyAberdeen’s SafeAssign system. |
Word Count | 3500 | |
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Analyse | Develop an autonomous analysis of the philosophical literature relevant to democracy |
| Conceptual | Understand | Acquire and demonstrate knowledge of democratic theory and its challenges |
| Procedural | Create | Learn to frame arguments and to communicate arguments to a group of peers. |
| Procedural | Evaluate | Develop critical thinking skills and ability to assess political issues through philosophical lenses, as well as willingness to question and discuss one’s own political assumptions and commitments. |
| Reflection | Create | Develop proficiency in written and oral communication skills. |
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 50 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
Feedback will be provided via MyAberdeen’s SafeAssign system. |
Word Count | 3500 | |
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Analyse | Develop an autonomous analysis of the philosophical literature relevant to democracy |
| Conceptual | Understand | Acquire and demonstrate knowledge of democratic theory and its challenges |
| Procedural | Create | Learn to frame arguments and to communicate arguments to a group of peers. |
| Procedural | Evaluate | Develop critical thinking skills and ability to assess political issues through philosophical lenses, as well as willingness to question and discuss one’s own political assumptions and commitments. |
| Reflection | Create | Develop proficiency in written and oral communication skills. |
There are no assessments for this course.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 100 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
Feedback will be provided via MyAberdeen’s SafeAssign system. |
Word Count | 3500 | |
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
|
|
||
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Understand | Acquire and demonstrate knowledge of democratic theory and its challenges |
| Conceptual | Analyse | Develop an autonomous analysis of the philosophical literature relevant to democracy |
| Procedural | Evaluate | Develop critical thinking skills and ability to assess political issues through philosophical lenses, as well as willingness to question and discuss one’s own political assumptions and commitments. |
| Procedural | Create | Learn to frame arguments and to communicate arguments to a group of peers. |
| Reflection | Create | Develop proficiency in written and oral communication skills. |
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