Module description
This is a specialist module where we engage in a sustained and close reading of one main text, which, for next year, will be Adam Smith’s The Theory of Moral Sentiments. As its title suggests, The Theory of Moral Sentiments is a work of moral philosophy, and one of the questions that we will consider is how it relates to Smith’s more famous work of political economy, The Wealth of Nations. Please be aware, however, that the focus of this module is Smith’s moral philosophy, rather than his political economy.
We will spend several weeks reading The Theory of Moral Sentiments slowly and carefully, as one of the main aims of the module is to give students the opportunity to study a canonical text in the history of moral and political philosophy in far greater depth than on other modules. In some weeks, we will also look at selections from other philosophers that Smith responded to, such as Bernard Mandeville and David Hume, or his critics, such as Sophie de Grouchy. We will also read some selections from Smith’s Lectures on Jurisprudence and The Wealth of Nations.
There are no specific prerequisites for this module, but students must be comfortable reading, probing, and analysing complex works of moral and political philosophy in considerable detail. This will be particularly valuable experience for anyone considering studying political theory or related disciplines at postgraduate level. The two-hour seminars (without any lectures) allow us plenty of time to analyse the texts very closely, and students who regularly attend and participate will thus benefit from this format (while students who do not complete the reading and attend regularly will find it very difficult to keep up and struggle in the assessment).
Assessment details
4,000-word essay (100%).
Students may also submit an optional formative essay, on which they will receive feedback before submitting their summative essay.