Worldly philosophers

In making a living we make the world. 'Economic' philosophers, such as Smith and Marx, examined the nature of human effort and its product. How have the ideas of such "worldly" philosophers made our world?

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Key course information

Dates
19/09/11 - 05/12/11

Day(s)
Mon

Duration
12 weeks

Time
12:30 - 14:30

Fees
Full fee: £120
Senior fee: £68
Concession: £32

Venue
KS - Keeley Street

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Course code
HP054

Availability
This course has finished

This course has finished

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Still got questions?
humanities@citylit.ac.uk or call 020 7492 2652

Course outline

What is the course about?

Based loosely on Robert Heilbroner's book 'The Worldly Philosophers', we will undertake a philosophical examination of 'political-economy' and the different ways in which economic ideas have shaped, and continue to shape, our world.

What topics will we cover?

The ideas of economic 'philosophers' such as Adam Smith, Karl Marx, Thorstein Veblen, John Maynard Keynes, Friedrich Hayek, and, more recently, Robert Shiller will be examined along with key economic concepts such as 'the market', 'scarcity', 'capital', 'consumption', and so on. Furthermore, the very idea of an 'economy' will be examined.

By the end of this course you should be able to:

- discuss several key economic concepts (such as 'the market', 'capital', 'risk', 'value', etc.)
- explain the basic ideas of several economic philosophers (such as Smith, Marx, Keynes, etc.)
- discuss different approaches to understanding political-economy (such as laissez-faire, socialism, statism, etc.)
- evaluate the strengths and weakness of different ways of understanding political-economy.

What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?

No prior knowledge is assumed. A willingness to critically examine concepts and some basic familiarity with discussion/debate, argument, and evaluation will be beneficial.

How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?

Core content will be presented via short lectures and will include question and answer, and group discussion. Slides will be available online as well as links to relevant content. There is no work required outside the class.

Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?

No special equipment is required, other than for note-taking as preferred.

Do I need to have an interview before I can enrol?

No.

What feedback will I get?

You will receive regular feedback from your tutor throughout the course, as and when appropriate. At the end of the course you and your tutor are asked to assess the progress you have made.

How will I be able to give my views on the course?

Please complete the evaluation form at the end of your course. These are monitored and help us to continually improve our courses.

How do I find out if I can get some support for my learning?

You may be interested in: education and careers advice; financial and childcare support; disability support; support for Deaf and hearing-impaired students; dyslexia support; English and maths support; counselling, and library services (supported learning centre). To find out what may be available to you, and how to apply, see page 213 of the 11/12 course guide, or visit www.citylit.ac.uk/students

When I've finished, what course can I do next?

General information and advice on courses at City Lit is available from the Information and Advice Shop, open Monday to Friday 12:00 – 19:00 during term time, and Monday to Friday 12:00 – 17:00 out of term time. See the course guide for term dates and further details.

Who can I contact for further information?

Tel: 020 7492 2652

humanities@citylit.ac.uk

Advice times:

During term-time Monday 12.30–13.30 and 17.30–18.30 Thursday 12.30–13.30 and 17.30–18.30

Non term-time Monday 17.30–18.30 Thursday 12.30–13.30.

To enrol on a course, call 020 7831 7831.