CRITIQUE OF POLITICAL ECONOMY (PL2071)

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The course focuses on the impact of the emergent discipline of political economy on modern philosophy. A brief overview of the work of Adam Smith and David Ricardo will introduce the concerns of political economy before the course focuses on Karl Marx's attempt to re-orientate philosophy through the critique of political economy.

Code: 
PL2071
Name: 
CRITIQUE OF POLITICAL ECONOMY
Discipline: 
PL (Philosophy)
Type: 
Regular
Level: 
Undergraduate
Credits: 
4
Can be taken twice for credit?: 
No
Pre-requisites: 
None
Co-requisites: 
None

Learning Outcomes

  1. (Written expression) Write a philosophy essay, focusing on the clear presentation of a critical analysis of a primary text so as to produce an argument that answers a philosophical question
  2. (Philosophical analysis) Explain basic concepts of classical political economy and its critique such as use-value vs exchange-value, the invisible hand, commercial society, exploitation, capital.
  3. (Philosophical reading and argumentation) On the basis of close reading, explain a series of fundamental theses proposed by Smith, Ricardo and Marx, such as Smith’s position on guilds and apprenticeships and against monopolies.
  4. (Philosophical reading and argumentation) Reconstruct, step by step, key arguments such as Smith’s critique of the Poor Laws, or Marx’s theory of the origin of profit.
  5. Distinguish between classical political economy and its critique
  6. (Historical understanding) Identify contemporary political and economic problems whose framework maybe analyzed using theoretical tools derived from political economy or its philosophical critique.

Offering(s)

Term Code Name
Spring 2025 PL2071 CRITIQUE OF POLITICAL ECONOMY

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