| Unit name | Theorising Social Welfare |
|---|---|
| Unit code | SPOL20024 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | I/5 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Professor. Bridge |
| Open unit status | Open |
| Pre-requisites |
None |
| Co-requisites |
None |
| School/department | School for Policy Studies |
| Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
This unit introduces students to a range of classical and contemporary philosophical arguments that inform the theorisation of the idea of welfare. Sessions include considerations of – utilitarianism, liberalism, neo-liberalism, egalitarianism, Rawls, Marxism, feminism, poststructuralism, philosophical pragmatism and human welfare in the context of vital life. Students will be encouraged to critically assess these approaches and their implications for social policy.
Aims: to enable students to engage in theoretical reasoning; to demonstrate the ability to assess various philosophical approaches to questions of welfare; to understand the implication of philosophical arguments for contemporary social policy debates.
On successful completion of this unit, the student will be able to demonstrate:
Interactive 2 hour lectures
Classes that include exercises in thinking through philosophical dilemmas; analysis and discussion of set specific journal articles; debates involving advocacy/opposition to different theoretical positions.
Assessment will be against the programme criteria defined for the appropriate level.
Formative assessment: One 2000-2500 word essay
Summative assessment : Level I - 3 000 word essay
O’Brien M and Penna S 1998 Theorising Welfare London: Sage
Fitzpatrick T 2001 Welfare Theory: An Introduction London: Palgrave
Fitzpatrick T 2005 New Theories of Welfare London: Palgrave
Alcock P, May M, Erskine A (ed) 2003 The Student’s Companion to Social Policy Oxford: Blackwell 2nd edn
Walsh M, Stephens P, Moore S (eds) 2000 Social Policy and Welfare Nelson Thomas
Fraser N and Honneth A 2003 Redistribution or Recognition: A Political Philosophical Exchange London: Verso
Sen, A. and B. Williams (eds) Utilitarianism and Beyond
Pogge T 1989 Realizing Rawls
Dworkin, R. (1981a) What is Equality? Part 1- Equality of Welfare, Philosophy and Public Affairs 10, 185-246
Dworkin, R. (1981b) What is equality? Part 2 – Equality of resources, Philosophy and Public Affairs 10, 283-345.
Foucault M 1977 Discipline and Punish
Latour B (2007) Re-assembling the Social OUP
Hayek F (1944) The Road to Serfdom
Bernstein R 1990 The New Constellation Cambridge: Polity
