APSK15764U Elective course - Culture & Morality

Volume 2024/2025
Content

Content: Culture and morality are the basis of social life. If the social sciences, and psychology in particular, is going to have anything cogent to say about people and contemporary societies then a firm theoretical comprehension of culture and morality is necessary. The readings on this course are drawn from the social sciences, humanities, and the law. Specifically, we will read foundational texts in cultural and moral psychology, philosophical texts on value pluralism, and examine legal cases from psychological, anthropological, sociological, perspectives. These readings will serve as an entry point into class discussions related to provocative cultural practices (polygamy, education quotas, circumcision, minarets, inequalities, honor killings). Each week different students will present assigned readings. We will then have in-depth discussion based on the material. There will be group work, debates, as well as final presentations, based on students emerging viewpoints. Students must successfully complete continuous class activities (active engagement in weekly classes; a presentation of one text and one final presentation on your topic of choice). Once these conditions are satisfactorily met, students may sit the final exam. You must write two final “op – ed” style essays (100% of grade). One will be a self-chosen topic, approved by me, related to the course discussions. The other opinion piece will be chosen from a choice of three topics provided by me. Our weekly readings, presentations, discussions, and debates will inform the types and content of opinion pieces you will write.

Learning Outcome

Knowledge:

  • Students will learn foundational theories in culture and morality; the philosophical foundations of value pluralism; and contemporary issues concerned with migration, integration, and provocative cultural practices.  

 

Skills:

  • Students will learn how to think, not what to think. They will learn to embody the ontological principle of attempting to obtain “the view from manywheres.”
  • Students will learn how to apply theoretical frameworks and philosophical ideas to comprehend, orientate towards, and address, some of the most pressing societal issues of our times.

 

Competences:

  • Students will be taught how to learn generalizable and translatable competencies from this class. This includes developing presentation skills, learning how to analyze cases and reason through logical arguments through in-class discussion and debate, learning to “give and take” during the push and pull of in-class discussion, to speak as though they are right and listen as though they are wrong.
  • They will learn how to triangulate their informed viewpoints based. They will learn to succinctly communicate these viewpoints by writing short opinion pieces.

BA 600 defined pages.

MA students can add 200 self-chosen standard pages. 

An up-to-date syllabus list will be available in the course room on Absalon just before the start of the semester.

The course will be taught as a Socratic seminar
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Class Instruction
  • 30
  • Total
  • 30
Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Written assignment
Type of assessment details
Take-home assignment on topic of student's choice

Specify exam type:

Students will write an exam consisting of two “op – ed” style essays. One will be a self-chosen topic, approved by the teacher, related to the course discussions. The other opinion piece will be chosen from a choice of three topics provided by the teacher.
BA students can write a max of 8 standard pages.
MA students can write a max of 12 standard pages.


PREREQUISITES FOR SITTING THE EXAM: For all elective courses, the attendance requirement is 75%. However, the course is based on full participation.

Minimum attendance of 75% to sit the exam. In addition, all students must be deemed to have actively participated in class discussions. They must have presented effectively on one text and also attended and given a final presentation in the last class. Under these conditions can they move forward and take the final assessment.
Aid
All aids allowed
Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
No external censorship
Criteria for exam assesment

Criteria for exam assessment:

 

Grade 12 is given for an outstanding performance: the student lives up to the course's goal description in an independent and convincing manner with no or few and minor shortcomings

Grade 7 is given for a good performance: the student is confidently able to live up to the goal description, albeit with several shortcomings

Grade 02 is given for an adequate performance: the minimum acceptable performance in which the student is only able to live up to the goal description in an insecure and incomplete manner