Last modified: 18 Aug 2020 16:30
Can you choose who you want to be, or are you shaped by social and political forces beyond your control? This module considers the work of a series of French philosophers, working from the 1940s to the 1980s, who argued that the 'self' is not something pre-given, but something that we construct ourselves. Special attention will be paid to the way in which the self is created through action, history, speech, political activism, and gender identity.
| Study Type | Undergraduate | Level | 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term | Second Term | Credit Points | 30 credits (15 ECTS credits) |
| Campus | Aberdeen | Sustained Study | No |
| Co-ordinators |
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What makes you the person you are? Do your actions define you, or is it your words? Can you choose who you want to be, or is your identity shaped by social and political forces beyond your control? On this module we will look at the work of a series of French philosophers, working from the 1940s to the 1980s, who argued that the 'self' is not something pre-given, but something that we construct ourselves. Starting with the work of Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone De Beauvoir, we will consider whether we are morally responsible for the kind of person we become. In the second half of the course we will read works by Michel foucault, Jacques Derrida, and Luce Irigaray to examine how our position in society and our gender identity is constructed, and to ask what kind of agency we have in the process. Because of the reading material we will cover, this module can also be considered as an introduction to 20th century French philosophy.
Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 40 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | 31 | Feedback Weeks | 34 | |
| Feedback |
Feedback will be provided via MyAberdeen's SafeAssign system. |
Word Count | 3500 | |
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Understand | Acquire and demonstrate knowledge of the subject areas. |
| Conceptual | Understand | Acquire an understanding of the philosophical literature relevant to the topics. |
| Procedural | Create | Learn to frame arguments and to communicate arguments to a group of peers. |
| Procedural | Evaluate | Develop critical thinking skills. |
| Reflection | Create | Develop proficiency in written and oral communication skills. |
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 20 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | 26,27,28,29,31,32,33,34 | Feedback Weeks | 26,27,28,29,31,32,33,34 | |
| Feedback |
2.5% each quiz. Correct solutions provided after due date. |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Understand | Acquire an understanding of the philosophical literature relevant to the topics. |
| Conceptual | Understand | Acquire and demonstrate knowledge of the subject areas. |
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 40 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | 36 | Feedback Weeks | 39 | |
| Feedback |
Feedback will be provided via MyAberdeen's SafeAssign system. |
Word Count | 3500 | |
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Understand | Acquire an understanding of the philosophical literature relevant to the topics. |
| Conceptual | Understand | Acquire and demonstrate knowledge of the subject areas. |
| Procedural | Create | Learn to frame arguments and to communicate arguments to a group of peers. |
| Procedural | Evaluate | Develop critical thinking skills. |
| Reflection | Create | Develop proficiency in written and oral communication skills. |
There are no assessments for this course.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 100 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | 42 | Feedback Weeks | 45 | |
| Feedback |
Via MyAberdeen SafeAssign. |
Word Count | 3500 | |
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
|
|
||
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Understand | Acquire and demonstrate knowledge of the subject areas. |
| Conceptual | Understand | Acquire an understanding of the philosophical literature relevant to the topics. |
| Procedural | Evaluate | Develop critical thinking skills. |
| Reflection | Create | Develop proficiency in written and oral communication skills. |
| Procedural | Create | Learn to frame arguments and to communicate arguments to a group of peers. |
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