Unit Outline
HPH104
Introductory Philosophy: Moral and Political Philosophy
Semester 1, 2024
Graham Wood
School of Humanities
College of Arts, Law and Education
CRICOS Provider Code: 00586B

Unit Coordinator
Graham Wood
Email: Graham.Wood@utas.edu.au
 

What is the Unit About?
Unit Description
This unit introduces students to moral and political philosophy. Drawing on a range of topics, themes, and methods, this unit explores foundational questions within both moral and political philosophy. As such, this unit provides an introduction to philosophy, the world’s oldest academic discipline, and will help students develop their capacity for critical reflection upon the nature of the human condition. This unit complements HPH105 Introductory Philosophy: Knowledge and Reality, but can be taken independently of that unit.
Intended Learning Outcomes
As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.
On completion of this unit, you will be able to:
1.
demonstrate knowledge of concepts, principles, and methods central to moral and political philosophy
2.
apply knowledge of concepts, principles and methods central to moral and political philosophy
3.
apply philosophical skills, such as basic argument analysis, reconstruction, and presentation
4.
display a constructively critical attitude to belief formation as part of the formation of a philosophical attitude and identity with relation to questions of moral and political philosophy
Requisites
REQUISITE TYPE
REQUISITES
Anti-requisite (mutual excl)
HPH101 Philosophy 1: Ethics
Alterations as a result of student feedback
During each delivery of this unit the unit coordinator seeks feedback from students and alters the unit in an attempt to improve the quality of its content and delivery. If you have any feedback concerning this unit, please offer that feedback either directly to the unit coordinator, or via the evaluation survey of the unit at the end of semester.
 
 

Teaching arrangements
ATTENDANCE MODE
TEACHING TYPE
LEARNING ACTIVITY
CONTACT HOURS
FREQUENCY
On Campus
Lecture (Online)
Online lecture or equivalent
1
Weekly
Seminar
Cross campus seminar
1
Weekly
Tutorial
On campus tutorial
1
Weekly
Online
Lecture (Online)
Online lecture or equivalent
1
Weekly
Tutorial (Online)
Online discussions
2
Weekly
Attendance / engagement expectations
If your unit is offered On campus, it is expected that you will attend all on-campus and onsite learning activities. This is to support your own learning and the development of a learning community within the unit. If you are unable to attend regularly, please discuss the situation with your course coordinator and/or our UConnect support team.

If your unit is offered Online, it is expected you will engage in all those activities as indicated in the Unit Outline, including any self-directed learning.

If you miss a learning activity for a legitimate reason (e.g., illness, carer responsibilities) teaching staff will attempt to provide alternative activities (e.g., make up readings) where it is possible.
 
 
 
 

How will I be Assessed?
 
For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.
Assessment schedule
ASSESSMENT TASK #
ASSESSMENT TASK NAME
DATE DUE
WEIGHT
LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment Task 1:
Quizzes
Refer to Assessment Description
10 %
LO1
Assessment Task 2:
500 word essay preparation task
Refer to Assessment Description
10 %
LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 3:
Tutorial participation
Refer to Assessment Description
10 %
LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 4:
1500 word essay
Refer to Assessment Description
30 %
LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 5:
Take home exam
Refer to Assessment Description
40 %
LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
 
Assessment details
    
Assessment Task 1: Quizzes
Task Description:
For a full description of this task, including the due dates and times, see information in the Assessment Resources Folder in MyLO (accessed via the Content Tab in the Navigation Bar). Note that the order of the assessment tasks as listed in this unit outline does not necessarily reflect the order in which the assessments are due.

Task Length:
Equivalent to 500 words
Due Date:
Refer to Assessment Description
Weight:
10 %
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Comprehension of philosophical positions.
LO1
 
Assessment Task 2: 500 word essay preparation task
Task Description:
For a full description of this task, including the due dates and times, see information in the Assessment Resources Folder in MyLO (accessed via the Content Tab in the Navigation Bar). Note that the order of the assessment tasks as listed in this unit outline does not necessarily reflect the order in which the assessments are due.

Task Length:
500 words
Due Date:
Refer to Assessment Description
Weight:
10 %
 
 

CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Overall engagement with the task
LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
2
Comprehension of the relevant philosophical positions
LO1
3
Academic Writing
LO3
 
Assessment Task 3: Tutorial participation
Task Description:
For a full description of this task, including the due dates and times, see information in the Assessment Resources Folder in MyLO (accessed via the Content Tab in the Navigation Bar). Note that the order of the assessment tasks as listed in this unit outline does not necessarily reflect the order in which the assessments are due.

Task Length:
Ongoing contributions in tutorials through semester
Due Date:
Refer to Assessment Description
Weight:
10 %
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Demonstrate knowledge of concepts, principles, and methods central to moral and political philosophy.
LO1
2
Apply knowledge of concepts, principles and methods central to moral and political philosophy.
LO2
3
Apply philosophical skills, such as basic argument analysis, reconstruction, and presentation.
LO3
4
Display a constructively critical attitude to belief formation as part of the formation of a philosophical attitude and identity with relation to questions of moral and political philosophy.
LO4
 
Assessment Task 4: 1500 word essay
Task Description:
For a full description of this task, including the due dates and times, see information in the Assessment Resources Folder in MyLO (accessed via the Content Tab in the Navigation Bar). Note that the order of the assessment tasks as listed in this unit outline does not necessarily reflect the order in which the assessments are due.

Task Length:
1500 words
Due Date:
Refer to Assessment Description
Weight:
30 %
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Overall engagement with the task
LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
2
Comprehension of the relevant philosophical positions
LO1
3
Critical Analysis
LO2, LO3, LO4
4
Development of your own position
LO4
5
Academic Writing
LO3
 
Assessment Task 5: Take home exam
 

Task Description:
For a full description of this task, including the due dates and times, see information in the Assessment Resources Folder in MyLO (accessed via the Content Tab in the Navigation Bar). Note that the order of the assessment tasks as listed in this unit outline does not necessarily reflect the order in which the assessments are due.

Task Length:
1500 words
Due Date:
Refer to Assessment Description
Weight:
40 %
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Overall engagement with the task.
LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
2
Comprehension of the relevant philosophical positions
LO1
3
Critical Analysis
LO2, LO3, LO4
4
Development of your own position
LO4
5
Academic Writing
LO3
 
 
 

How your final result is determined
To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes, and achieve a final unit grade of 50% or greater.
 
Submission of assignments
Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.
 
Requests for extensions
If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.
 
A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.
 
The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.
Late penalties
Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.
 
Review of results and appeals
You are entitled to ask for a review of the marking and grading of your assessment task if there is an irregularity in the marking standards or an error in the process for determining the outcome of an assessment. Details on how to request a review of a mark for an assignment are outlined in the Review and Appeal of Academic Decisions Procedure.
 
 
 

Required Resources
Required reading materials
Information about readings is available in MyLO.
 
Recommended reading materials
Information about readings is available in MyLO.
 
Other required resources