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Political Theory: Contemporary Topics

Module Code: POU44162

Module Name: Political Theory: Contemporary Topics

Also referred to as PIU44104 Theories of Rights

  • ECTS Weighting: 5
  • Semester/Term Taught: Semester 2
  • Contact Hours: 22 hours of lectures
  • Module Personnel: Lecturer - Prof. Adina Preda
  • Module Pre-Requisite: History of Political Thought PO2610 (Senior Fresh)

Learning Aims

  • To convey the difference between different theories of rights and their implications
  • To assess the role that rights play in a moral theory
  • To critically examine different ascriptions of rights and their consistency and plausibility

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this module, it is expected that students will be able to:

  • Understand and critically assess the main theories of rights and their shortcomings
  • Formulate analytical arguments about rights and their place in a moral theory
  • Evaluate different ascriptions of rights and their plausibility

Module Content

The language of moral rights is pervasive both in everyday life and in legal, moral, and political philosophy. They are commonly invoked in support of claims of a certain weight. But there is no philosophical consensus on what rights are, what status or weight they have or indeed who can have rights and what their content would be. This module will tackle some of these questions pertaining to the concept of rights as well as questions about the possible ground of rights, the rights of groups and other potential right-holders, and possible conflicts of rights..

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Recommended Reading List

As advised/circulated by lecturer during the lecture series.


Assessment Details

Annual and Reassessment are the same:*

  • 1 Essay (50%)
  • 1 Presentation (20%)
  • 1 (1-hour) Examination (30%)

*If students are required to complete reassessment, they are required to complete each failed component of the failed module.

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