PHIL 225

Power, Critique and Emancipation


Please note: this is archived course information from 2020 for PHIL 225.

Description

An examination of support for political struggles for freedom, justice and recognition through the philosophical critique of modern society. Topics include science and technology, bureaucratisation, social control, social alienation, mass communication, the commodification of culture, and the idea of critique.

A central theme of the course is the phenomenon of power. What is power? How does power emerge and how does it impact upon social relationships? What are power structures and why do they matter? Are relations of power always illegitimate? How should we understand concepts such as domination, subordination and oppression? Are such concepts relevant to a theory of justice? Finally, how can illegitimate power be resisted in order to achieve a more just society? What role should be played by democratic politics, activism and social critique?

Availability 2020

Semester 1

Lecturer(s)

Lecturer(s) Dr Matheson Russell

Assessment

Coursework + exam

Points

PHIL 225: 15 points

Prerequisites

15 points in Philosphy, and 30 points passed

Restrictions

PHIL 345