SE4438: Reasons and Relationships
| School | School of English, Communication & Philosophy |
| Department Code | ENCAP |
| Module Code | SE4438 |
| External Subject Code | 100337 |
| Number of Credits | 20 |
| Level | L6 |
| Language of Delivery | English |
| Module Leader | Dr James Lewis |
| Semester | Spring Semester |
| Academic Year | 2024/5 |
Outline Description of Module
How do our individual relationships work? What is it for people to connect with one another? How do political currents in society affect our friendships and loving relationships? We will draw on ideas and issues from aesthetics, phenomenology, moral philosophy, and political philosophy to consider some of the most important dimensions of social relationships. We will be particularly concerned with normative aspects of these relationships, such as whether there can be reasons or justifications for love or friendship, whether personal relationships entail particular obligations, and the conditions required for resentment or forgiveness to be appropriate.
On completion of the module a student should be able to
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Summarise and explain philosophical issues related to interpersonal relations.
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Construct arguments, both verbally and in written work, drawing on relevant philosophical work
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Work independently
How the module will be delivered
The module will be delivered through a mix of large group and small group sessions, including, where relevant, asynchronous materials such as lecture recordings. Full details on the delivery mode of this module will be available on Learning Central at the start of the academic year.
Skills that will be practised and developed
Transferable / Employability Skills:
It is worth bearing in mind that, even though the point of the module is to do philosophy, many of the skills you’ll be developing are also highly valued by graduate employers. These include:
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Critical Thinking: e.g. the ability to understand, structure and critically evaluate the key points and arguments made in written texts and discussions––achieved through e.g. reading, small group activities in lectures and seminars, plenary discussions in seminars, reflecting on lecture materials, essay and exam preparation and writing.
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Communication: the ability to formulate and articulate your critical thinking, both orally and on paper, in ways that others can grasp and engage with––achieved through e.g. small group work in seminars, seminar discussions, essay/exam writing.
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Organisation: the ability to organise and coordinate workloads––achieved through balancing e.g. reading, seminar preparation, essay/exam preparation.
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Working with others: e.g. co-constructing ideas, responding sensitively to others––achieved through e.g. small group work in seminars, group presentations.
How the module will be assessed
Group Video Discussion: 30%
Essay: 70%
Assessment Breakdown
| Type | % | Title | Duration(hrs) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Presentation | 30 | Group Video Discussion | N/A |
| Written Assessment | 70 | Essay | N/A |
Syllabus content
Topics covered on the module may include the below (note they are subject to change).
Is equality an ideal of personal relationships, and if so, what kind of equality is at issue?
Can love be a rational attitude? If so, what kinds of reasons justify love?
What is the nature of friendship? Do we have special obligations to our friends and loved ones?
What is the nature of intimacy? Does it aim at a convergence of values?
In what ways do familiar forms of life cause people to become alienated from one another?
How are widespread patterns of behaviour such as gendered behaviour refracted in personal relationships? When is it appropriate to take a ‘psychologizing’ stance towards another person?
How can we make sense of so-called ‘normative powers’ that people have over one another (e.g. requests, commands, promises, apologies, forgiveness)?