Undergraduate Module Descriptor

POL2123: The Idea of Human Rights

This module descriptor refers to the 2022/3 academic year.

Module Content

Syllabus Plan

Whilst the precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover all or some of the following topics:

-        The history of the idea of human rights

-        Arendt’s critique of human rights

-        Rorty’s anti-foundational defence of human rights

-        John Rawls’ ‘law of peoples’

-        The human right to democracy

-        Critics of human rights

Learning and Teaching

This table provides an overview of how your hours of study for this module are allocated:

Scheduled Learning and Teaching ActivitiesGuided independent studyPlacement / study abroad
22128

...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:

CategoryHours of study timeDescription
Scheduled Learning & Teaching activities2211 x 2 hour seminars
Guided Independent Study44Preparing for seminars: Reading and research
Guided Independent Study84Completing assessment tasks: Reading, research and writing

Online Resources

This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).

  • ELE – College to provide hyperlink to appropriate pages