Philosophy of Culture

Aims and objectives

The aim of this unit of study is to provide students with the historical and philosophical background to understand current research in the study of culture, to examine the relationships between the different dimensions of culture revealed by different disciplines and research programs, to explore the practical implications of research on culture, and to consider the most promising lines of future research.

Teaching methods

Seminars

Assessment

Presentation, Attendance, Participation in seminars, Essay.

Generic skills outcomes

• Analysis and interpretation of primary sources (the original documents, written works, and other sources that historians study) in the light of secondary sources (works about the primary sources or the circumstances relating to them.
• Weighing evidence and evaluating conflicting arguments, interpretations and theories.
• Fundamental skills identifying underlying assumptions of, and connections between, ideas and events studied.
• Philosophical evaluation of ideas underlying social and intellectual movements.
• Constructing clear, coherent, logically structured arguments, using relevant evidence and analysis in support of conclusions and interpretations.

Content

The unit of study examines the concept of culture from its inception as a theoretical object, showing how different dimensions of culture have been opened up for research, and what have been the main advances and theoretical conflicts in this research. This historical and theoretical background is then used to show how present problems and confusions in cultural studies can be overcome and research into culture can be made more practically relevant. The unit concludes by looking at some recent research which has fulfilled the potential of cultural studies. The unit is designed to function as a core unit in a culture studies major.