GV476      Half Unit
Twentieth Century European Liberal Thought

This information is for the 2013/14 session.

Teacher responsible

Prof Chandran Kukathas

Availability

This course is available on the MSc in European Studies: Ideas and Identities, MSc in European Studies: Ideas and Identities (LSE and Sciences Po), MSc in Political Theory and MSc in Political Theory (Research). This course is available with permission as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit.

The course will be capped at one class with a maximum number of 15 students.

Course content

The course will critically examine the ideas of a selection of twentieth century European Liberal Thinkers including Isaiah Berlin, Karl Popper, F.A. Hayek and Michael Oakeshott.

Teaching

20 hours of seminars in the LT.

Formative coursework

One 1500 word essay.

Indicative reading

Paul Kelly, Liberalism, Polity Press, 2005; John Gray, Two Faces of Liberalism, Polity Press, 2000; Isaiah Berlin, Two Concepts of Liberty. Karl Popper, Open Society and Its Enemies; Conjectures and Refutations; F.A. Hayek, The Constitution of Liberty; Law, Legislation and Liberty; Michael Oakeshott, Rationalism in Politics; On Human Conduct.Carl Schmitt, The Concept of the Political; Political Theology.

Assessment

Essay (100%, 5000 words) in the ST.

Student performance results

(2009/10 - 2011/12 combined)

Classification % of students
Distinction 11.3
Merit 52.8
Pass 35.8
Fail 0

Key facts

Department: Government

Total students 2012/13: 12

Average class size 2012/13: 12

Value: Half Unit

Guidelines for interpreting course guide information

Personal development skills

  • Self-management
  • Problem solving
  • Application of information skills
  • Communication

Course survey results

(2011/12 - 2012/13 combined)

1 = "best" score, 5 = "worst" score

The scores below are average responses.

Response rate: 91.2%

Question

Average
response

Reading list (Q2.1)

1.4

Materials (Q2.3)

2.5

Course satisfied (Q2.4)

1.3

Lectures (Q2.5)

1.4

Integration (Q2.6)

1.2

Contact (Q2.7)

1.9

Feedback (Q2.8)

1.7

Recommend (Q2.9)

Yes

90%

Maybe

10%

No

0%