ENVIRONMENTAL PHILOSOPHY
“man is a part of nature, and his war against nature is inevitably a war against himself” (Carson, The Silent Spring, 1963).
Jenny Kermally
Part lecture, part discussion, the course will explore philosophical arguments about how we should think about the environment. Focusing on the eco-philosophy of Val Plumwood, we’ll consider arguments that all living things have equal value, alongside arguments that environment matters because of its importance for humans.
Course Code: 04 211 Wednesday 10.00/12.00 5 weeks Starts: 20 January 2021 Fees £40/£35
GLOBAL POLITICAL THOUGHT
Tony Black
This course examines and discusses the major traditions of political thought throught the world as they aretoday. These include Western liberalism and democracy, Marxism, Islam, Confucianism and Ghandi. We will consider what is involved in these ideologies, how they evolved, how they relate to each other, and what the implications of these different belief-systems are for international relations.
Course Code: 04 204 Thursday 2.00/4.00 5 weeks Starts 25 February 2021 Fees: £40/£35
ISLAM
Tony Black
Islamic political thought is based on the teachings of Muhammad, who is seen as the last of the prophets, in the Qu’ran. The whole world must be ruled by his successors (caliphs) in accordance with the divine law (Shari’a), but with freedom for other monotheists (Christians, Jews, etc). Some tried to combine this with Plato’s ‘philosopher-king’. In modern times, some have given the Qu’ran a partly modern interpretation; others (‘fundamentalists’) have insisted on sticking with the original interpretation.
Course Code: 04 301 Thursday 2.00/4.00 5 weeks Starts 15 April 2021 Fees: £40/£35
PHILOSOPHY’S BAD BOY: Friedrich Nietzsche
Jenny Kermally
This course will look at the life, times and ideas of the controversial and thought-provoking philosopher. His work has been hugely influential sice the 1960s and he remains frequently quoted as well as misunderstood. The precursor to both existensialism and postmodernism, Neitzsche has more recently been co-opted by the alt-right.
Course Code: 04 310 Wednesday 10.00/12.00 5 weeks Starts: 21 April 2021 Fees: £40/£35
