Undergraduate Module Descriptor

PHL3115: Introduction to Critical Theory

This module descriptor refers to the 2019/0 academic year.

Module Aims

The aims of this module are:

to introduce you to 20^th century Critical Theory and its Freudo-Marxist concepts
to practise critical methods and critical reflection
to learn about philosophical examination of modern-day social changes and problems
to introduce you to 20^th century philosophers who have been greatly influential on current philosophical and political thought.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
This module's assessment will evaluate your achievement of the ILOs listed here – you will see reference to these ILO numbers in the details of the assessment for this module.
On successfully completing the programme you will be able to:
Module-Specific Skills	1. Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the theories and texts (readings) for the course 2. Demonstrable sound understanding of the methodological and conceptual problems of critiquing modernity
Discipline-Specific Skills	3. Demonstrate critical understanding of the interrelation between epistemology, values, and material social conditions 4. Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of a specific current type of philosophical social and political analysis
Personal and Key Skills	5. Demonstrate the ability to critically analyse texts with guidance, and discuss complex problems 6. Demonstrate the ability to write short, explanatory summaries of academic texts. 7. Demonstrate the ability to research independently and write a critical philosophical essay on a course theme.

Module Content

Syllabus Plan

Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics:

Critical analyses and reflections on the relationship between social structure and organisation and the individual in Modernity, with an examination of proponents of critical theory such as:

Herbert Marcuse,
Th. W. Adorno and
Max Horkheimer
Hannah Arendt
Erich Fromm.

You will also be introduced to recent works in Critical Theory on alienation and freedom, the role of religion in the 21^st Century and the formation of the self and social political agency, looking at works by Jürgen Habermas, Judith Butler, Axel Honneth, Nancy Fraser and Christian Fuchs.

Learning and Teaching

This table provides an overview of how your hours of study for this module are allocated:

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	Guided independent study	Placement / study abroad
22	128	0

...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Scheduled Learning and Teaching	22	11 lecture/seminars (Ca. 1 h lecture and 1 h discussion of set readings)
Guided Independent Study	40	Reading and Research
Guided Independent Study	36	Preparation and Writing of 3 Reading Summaries
Guided Independent Study	52	Preparation and Writing of Essay

Online Resources

This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).

Other Learning Resources

- Film ‘Hannah Arendt’ (2012) by Margarete von Trotta (organised viewing for the course by Dr Hauskeller)

- BBC4 The Frankfurt School (14 Jan 2010), by Melvyn Bragg and guests

- BBC Mini-Series: The Century of the Self 2002, parts 1-4

How this Module is Assessed

In the tables below, you will see reference to 'ILO's. An ILO is an Intended Learning Outcome - see Aims and Learning Outcomes for details of the ILOs for this module.

Formative Assessment

A formative assessment is designed to give you feedback on your understanding of the module content but it will not count towards your mark for the module.

Form of assessment	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Discussion in Lecture/seminars	Read set texts and discuss	1-5	Oral
Participation in tutorials	Prepare questions on the set readings	1-5	Oral

Summative Assessment

A summative assessment counts towards your mark for the module. The table below tells you what percentage of your mark will come from which type of assessment.

Coursework	Written exams	Practical exams
100	0	0

...and this table provides further details on the summative assessments for this module.

Form of assessment	% of credit	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Essay	50	2500 words	1-6	Written
3 Reading Summaries	50	3 x 500 words	1-7	Oral and written

Re-assessment

Re-assessment takes place when the summative assessment has not been completed by the original deadline, and the student has been allowed to refer or defer it to a later date (this only happens following certain criteria and is always subject to exam board approval). For obvious reasons, re-assessments cannot be the same as the original assessment and so these alternatives are set. In cases where the form of assessment is the same, the content will nevertheless be different.

Original form of assessment	Form of re-assessment	ILOs re-assessed	Timescale for re-assessment
Essay	Essay (2500 words)	1-6	August/September assessment period
3 Reading summary	Essay (1500 words)	1-7	August/September assessment period