136-546 The Critical Imagination

Formerly available as 136-078. Students who have completed 136-078 are not eligible to enrol in this subject.

This subject explores the three currents that social and critical theorising grows out of: the Enlightenment, revolutionary tradition and romanticism. It critically assesses these currents through an examination of the works of key classical critical and social theorists. Students completing this subject should have developed an understanding of the central ideas of key thinkers in the social and critical theory tradition among them, Kant, Schiller, Hegel, Marx and Nietzsche; and developed an understanding of some of the key issues and theories including their critiques of modernity.

• develop skills in written and oral communication;

• be able to conduct independent research;

• be able to make appropriate use of primary and secondary sources in mounting an argument;

• be able to form defensible judgements based on a critical evaluation of conflicting arguments.

A research essay of 5000 words 100% (due during the examination period).