BUU11540 Fundamentals of Philosophy, Ethics and Social Science
(10 ECTS)
Lecturer:
Dr. David Price
Email: daprice@tcd.ie
Office Hours: 12-14.00 on Fridays, online
Pre- Requisite:
Not available to exchange students
Module Description
This module is an introduction to a broad range of topics within philosophy, ethics, and the social sciences. It arms students with the conceptual tools and the context needed to frame and evaluate challenging questions about what we should do in business and society at large.
In the Michaelmas semester, we focus on understanding various wrongs with an emphasis on those we are likely to encounter in business (e.g., imposing risks, corruption, exploitation). We will discuss both what these kinds of behaviour are and what’s bad about them, as well as how they might be avoided and what should happen when they are not.
In the Hillary semester, the focus shifts towards our positive obligations to others and how best to use social institutions to satisfy them. This requires us to engage with economic and political theory, and it calls us to question not only the grounds for and scope of our duties but also the ways that historical and economic factors influence the roles of the market and the state.
Learning and Teaching Approach
The approach taken involves students doing close readings of recent and innovative texts from a variety of subfields. This is coupled with detailed lectures for background context and distillation of the main ideas as well as tutorials for students to become comfortable discussing these challenging ideas together. Papers and examinations offer students further opportunities to consider how these ideas interact and, ultimately, what they think about them.
Module-Level Learning Outcomes
LO1: Become familiar with the primary philosophical methodology of reasoning and conceptual analysis.
LO2: Become familiar with current issues and methodology in social science, particularly in economics, sociology, and political theory.
LO3: Leverage the conceptual tools of ethics and political theory to frame and understand challenging normative questions in contemporary business contexts.
LO4: Develop critical thinking, reading, and writing skills on contemporary business-ethical debates including the extent of our personal, economic, and political obligations. L
LO5: Develop an ability to discuss these challenging issues productively with peers.
Workload
| Content | Indicative Number of Hours |
|---|---|
| Lecturing hours | 2 per week for 22 weeks |
| Preparation for lectures | 1 per week for 22 weeks |
| Individual assignment | 16 |
| Reading of assigned materials and active reflection on lecture and course content and linkage to personal experiences | 4 per week for 22 weeks |
| Final exam preparation | 8 |
| Total | 178 |
Textbooks and Required Resources
Required core course textbook:
There is no textbook required.
General Supplemental Readings:
All readings will be provided through Blackboard.
Course Communication
Please note that all course related email communication must be sent from your official TCD email address. Emails sent from other addresses will not be attended to.
Assessment
Course participation (10%)
Quizzes (10%) – to be completed on Blackboard before class
Essay 1 (30%) due towards the end of Michaelmas semester
Essay 2 (30%) due towards the end of Hilary semester
Final Examination (20%)
Supplemental Assessment: 100% 5-hour take-home exam
Biographical Note
Dr. Price received his undergraduate degree at the University of Liverpool, MA from King’s College London, and a PhD in philosophy from the University of York. He has taught at Trinity College since 2021.