1. An ability to comprehend the shifts in thinking within the Western tradition that led to the rehabilitation of greed.
2. An ability to understand the ideological background of Western liberal capitalism as well as the arguments of its critics.
3. Enhanced skills in research, synthesis, organisation and presentation of information.
4. Enhanced problem solving skills.
5. Familiarisation with the research skills necessary for working with primary sources.
6. An ability to work independently.
7. An ability to work cooperatively in a group and negotiate outcomes.
8. An ability to critically evaluate arguments.
9. An ability to make critical arguments.
10.  An ability to conduct critical textual analysis.

Face-to-face teaching on campus consisting of two lectures and one tutorial per week. Lectures begin in Week 1 of the semester. Tutorials are compulsory and begin in week 2. 

Students will need to devote approximately 12 hours per week to this course. This will consist of 2 x 1-hour lectures, 1 x 1-hour tutorial, and 9 hours of independent study during which time students will prepare for tutorials and work on assignments.

 This will consist of 2 x 1-hour lectures, 1 x 1-hour tutorial, and independent study during which time students will prepare for tutorials and work on assignments.

Students will need to devote approximately 12 hours per week to this course. This will consist of 2 x 1-hour lectures, 1 x 1-hour tutorial, and 9 hours of independent study during which time students will prepare for tutorials and work on assignments.

1. Minor essay (1500 words): Worth 30% of overall grade. Due by Monday 25 April (week 7), 11:59 pm.
2. Major essay (3000 words): Worth 60% of overall grade. Due by Monday 13 June (week 14), 11:59 pm.
3. Tutorial participation and activities Worth 10% of overall grade

1. The Minor (first) Essay will be an exercise in textual analysis with a view to applying the method and principles set out in the introductory lectures. Your task is to compose a critical textual analysis of selected and relevant passages from the work of one of the following authors: Seneca, Marcus Aurelius, Epictetus, Epicurus, Niccolo Machiavelli, Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, Bernard Mandeville, Lord Shaftesbury (the 3^rd Earl, not the 7^th), Adam Smith or David Hume. You will choose a gobbet from the list below. Contextualise these sentiments by exploring their place in history and ‘contemporary’ debates (i.e. public and intellectual discourse of the time). Try to focus on the text itself but use secondary reading to enrich your analysis and provide background. A really good paper will canvass and critique alternative interpretations. A preparatory/rehearsal exercise for this assessment on a gobbet from Seneca is scheduled for the Tutorial of week 6 but you should start work on your essay as early as you can. Lectures during week 6 will also directly address the methodology of the minor essay. See Eden or Lisa if you need any help choosing a gobbet.

2. The Major (second) Essay will be a more ambitious exercise in terms of the requirement for critical analysis. Topic-wise, you have a lot of choice so think carefully about what interests you. You must write on a different topic/thinker to your minor essay. Feel free to discuss your choice with Eden or Lisa in class. The list of questions/topic is given below. Further readings on the ‘Further Reading’ list (see on MyUni) should help with research. See also ‘Further Readings’ for tutorials.

Essays should be submitted electronically and uploaded to MyUni. Assignments will be automatically submitted to Turnitin through the online submission link.