Course syllabus

 

SEMESTER 2, 2019

15 points

NB: For a readable version of all the course information, INCLUDING INFORMATION ABOUT ESSAYS AND TUTORIAL QUESTIONS, please click on this link here: 205 course information 2019 240519.doc

Course Lecturers:

Gillian Brock - g.brock@auckland.ac.nz 

Stephen Davies - sj.davies@auckland.ac.nz

Well-being always comes first We all go through tough times during the semester, or see our friends struggling. There is lots of help out there - for more information, look at this Canvas page, which has links to various support services in the University and the wider community.

Tuakana Mentor: To be confirmed, but possibly

Nathan Rew

e-mail:  nrew454@aucklanduni.ac.nz

Nate's cohort includes all Maori and Pacific students enrolled in Philosophy courses in stage 1 through to 3.

 

Course delivery format:

2 hours of lectures and 1 hour of tutorial

(Timetable and room details can be viewed on Student Services Online)

 

 Summary of Course Description:              

This course covers a range of topics, including in the first half of the course: the theories of Thomas Hobbes and John Locke as to the existence of a "state of nature" and the emergence of the political state, as well as the concept of sovereignty, social contracts and political amalgamations between sovereign units. There will be detailed discussion of the Treaty of Waitangi.

In the second half of the course, we focus on questions related to challenges presented by immigration, for instance: When and how should communities accommodate different cultural needs and expectations presented by citizens of immigrant origin, in efforts to promote full inclusion of all its citizens? What may citizens of immigrant origin reasonably be expected to do in order to be included in democratic political communities in which they reside? Are there any normative constraints on states’ policies concerning admission?  Are states permitted to sell citizenship to would-be immigrants?  What do we owe refugees?  Is there a fair way to allocate responsibilities for refugees among different states?

 

 

Course outcomes:

A student who successfully completes this course will have the opportunity to:

• acquire knowledge of the political theories of Hobbes and Locke.
• consider the applicability of these theories to the Treaty of Waitangi.
• consider the understandings of the Treaty of Waitangi that the Maori of the time may have had.
• acquire knowledge relevant to problems associated with navigating cultural claims.
• acquire knowledge and skills relevant to addressing immigration, refugee and other migration issues.
• learn how to apply this knowledge to current problems.
• enhance capabilities in scholarly analysis, interpretation of evidence, and presentation of reasoned arguments.
• acquire skills in report writing, critical thinking, academic literacy and oral presentation

 

 

PREREQUISITES

 

30 points in Philosophy or Political Studies or Politics and International Relations

 

LECTURES:

(Please confirm locations closer to the start of second semester at: Student Services Online). At this stage these are:

 

Thursday 2-4pm, semester two, city campus

Location: Arts 1, rm 203 (206.203).

 

TUTORIAL:

 

Friday 12-1, 114-G14.

 

COURSE COORDINATOR:

 

Gillian Brock

Arts 1, Room 458, Arts 1, ext 88739

g.brock@auckland.ac.nz

 

ASSESSMENT:

If you qualify for plussage your overall mark will be whichever is the HIGHER of (a) your final 3 hour examination mark and (b) 60% of your final examination mark plus 40% of your course-work mark.  The course-work consists of one 2,000-word essay.  To qualify for plussage, you must complete the essay to a satisfactory standard.  If you do not qualify for plussage your final result will be your exam mark minus ten marks.

 

READINGS:

Please see the Talis list for this course.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT ASSESSMENT, TUTORIALS AND MANY OTHER IMPORTANT COURSE DETAILS PLEASE SEE THIS FILE:  205 course information 2019 080519bak.doc