POLIS 2107 - Passions and Interests: The History of Greed
North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2025
-
General Course Information
Course Details
Course Code POLIS 2107 Course Passions and Interests: The History of Greed Coordinating Unit Politics and International Relations Term Semester 2 Level Undergraduate Location/s North Terrace Campus Units 3 Contact Up to 3 hours per week Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y Incompatible POLI 2017, POLI 2107, POLI 3017 Assumed Knowledge At least 12 units of Level I undergraduate study Assessment Tutorial assessment, Minor essay, Major essay Course Staff
Course Coordinator: Professor Lisa Hill
Course Timetable
The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from .
-
Learning Outcomes
Course Learning Outcomes
- An ability to comprehend the shifts in thinking within the Western tradition that led to the rehabilitation of greed.
- An ability to understand the ideological background of Western liberal capitalism as well as the arguments of its critics.
- Enhanced skills in research, synthesis, organisation and presentation of information.
- Enhanced problem solving skills.
- Familiarisation with the research skills necessary for working with primary sources.
- An ability to work independently.
- An ability to work cooperatively in a group and negotiate outcomes.
- An ability to critically evaluate arguments.
- An ability to make critical arguments.
- An ability to conduct critical textual analysis.
最新糖心Vlog Graduate Attributes
This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:
最新糖心Vlog Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s) Attribute 1: Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth
Graduates have comprehensive knowledge and understanding of their subject area, the ability to engage with different traditions of thought, and the ability to apply their knowledge in practice including in multi-disciplinary or multi-professional contexts.
1 3 8 9 10 Attribute 2: Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving
Graduates are effective problems-solvers, able to apply critical, creative and evidence-based thinking to conceive innovative responses to future challenges.
3 9 10 Attribute 3: Teamwork and communication skills
Graduates convey ideas and information effectively to a range of audiences for a variety of purposes and contribute in a positive and collaborative manner to achieving common goals.
3 9 8 10 Attribute 4: Professionalism and leadership readiness
Graduates engage in professional behaviour and have the potential to be entrepreneurial and take leadership roles in their chosen occupations or careers and communities.
7 Attribute 5: Intercultural and ethical competency
Graduates are responsible and effective global citizens whose personal values and practices are consistent with their roles as responsible members of society.
5 10 Attribute 6: 最新糖心Vlogn Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural competency
Graduates have an understanding of, and respect for, 最新糖心Vlogn Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander values, culture and knowledge.
1 2 3 8 9 10 Attribute 7: Digital capabilities
Graduates are well prepared for living, learning and working in a digital society.
6 7 Attribute 8: Self-awareness and emotional intelligence
Graduates are self-aware and reflective; they are flexible and resilient and have the capacity to accept and give constructive feedback; they act with integrity and take responsibility for their actions.
1 9 -
Learning Resources
Required Resources
A reading kit, containing the texts that need to be read prior to each tutorial discussion, will be available for purchase at the start of the course from the Image and Copy Centre.
There is an extended reading list posted on myuni. Some extra articles for further reading will be posted online.
Detailed Powerpoint slides for each lecture will be posted on myuni (usually prior to the lecture) as well as additional course material and readings.
Chronology of Some Key Figures.
Stoicism: 300 BC- 200 AD
Epicurus c. 341–c. 270
Gregory the Great: 540-604
Niccolo Machiavelli: 1459-1517
Thomas Hobbes: 1588-1679
John Locke: 1632-1704
Lord Shaftesbury (Anthony Ashley Cooper, Third Earl of Shaftesbury): 1671 to 1713.
Bernard Mandeville: 1670-1733
Francis Hutcheson: 1694-1746
Benjamin Franklin 1706-1790
Jean Jacques Rousseau: 1712 – 1778
Adam Ferguson: 1723-1816
Adam Smith: 1723-1790
John Stuart Mill: 1806-1873
Karl Marx: 1818-1883
Emile Durkheim: 1858-1917
Max Weber: 1864-1920
John Maynard Keynes: 1883-1946
Frederick von Hayek: 1899-1992
Phillipe van Parijs 1951- F
rancis Fukuyama: 1952-
Grameen Bank: circa 1976.
Wall Street: 1987Recommended Resources
See my uni for further recommended resources.Online Learning
Detailed powerpoint slides will be posted on myuniprior to each lecture.
Additional course material will be posted on myuni. -
Learning & Teaching Activities
Learning & Teaching Modes
Face-to-face teaching on campus consisting of two lectures and one tutorial per week. Lectures begin in Week 1 of the semester. Tutorials are compulsory and begin in week 2.
Workload
The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.
Students will need to devote approximately 12 hours per week to this course. This will consist of 2 x 1-hour lectures, 1 x 1-hour tutorial, and 9 hours of independent study during which time students will prepare for tutorials and work on assignments.
Learning Activities Summary
This will consist of 2 x 1-hour lectures, 1 x 1-hour tutorial, and independent study during which time students will prepare for tutorials and work on assignments.
Specific Course Requirements
Students will need to devote approximately 12 hours per week to this course. This will consist of 2 x 1-hour lectures, 1 x 1-hour tutorial, and 9 hours of independent study during which time students will prepare for tutorials and work on assignments.
-
Assessment
The 最新糖心Vlog's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:
- Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
- Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
- Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
- Assessment must maintain academic standards.
Assessment Summary
- Minor essay (1500 words): Worth 30% of overall grade. Due by Monday 25 April (week 7), 11:59 pm.
- Major essay (3000 words): Worth 60% of overall grade. Due by Monday 13 June (week 14), 11:59 pm.
- Tutorial participation and activities Worth 10% of overall grade
Assessment Detail
- The Minor (first) Essay will be an exercise in textual analysis with a view to applying the method and principles set out in the introductory lectures. Your task is to compose a critical textual analysis of selected and relevant passages from the work of one of the following authors: Seneca, Marcus Aurelius, Epictetus, Epicurus, Niccolo Machiavelli, Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, Bernard Mandeville, Lord Shaftesbury (the 3rd Earl, not the 7th), Adam Smith or David Hume. You will choose a gobbet from the list below. Contextualise these sentiments by exploring their place in history and ‘contemporary’ debates (i.e. public and intellectual discourse of the time). Try to focus on the text itself but use secondary reading to enrich your analysis and provide background. A really good paper will canvass and critique alternative interpretations. A preparatory/rehearsal exercise for this assessment on a gobbet from Seneca is scheduled for the Tutorial of week 6 but you should start work on your essay as early as you can. Lectures during week 6 will also directly address the methodology of the minor essay. See Eden or Lisa if you need any help choosing a gobbet.
- The Major (second) Essay will be a more ambitious exercise in terms of the requirement for critical analysis. Topic-wise, you have a lot of choice so think carefully about what interests you. You must write on a different topic/thinker to your minor essay. Feel free to discuss your choice with Eden or Lisa in class. The list of questions/topic is given below. Further readings on the ‘Further Reading’ list (see on MyUni) should help with research. See also ‘Further Readings’ for tutorials.
Submission
Essays should be submitted electronically and uploaded to MyUni. Assignments will be automatically submitted to Turnitin through the online submission link.
Course Grading
Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:
M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme) Grade Mark Description FNS Fail No Submission F 1-49 Fail P 50-64 Pass C 65-74 Credit D 75-84 Distinction HD 85-100 High Distinction CN Continuing NFE No Formal Examination RP Result Pending Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.
Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.
Final results for this course will be made available through .
-
Student Feedback
The 最新糖心Vlog places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.
SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the 最新糖心Vlog to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.
-
Student Support
- Academic Integrity for Students
- Academic Support with Maths
- Academic Support with writing and study skills
- Careers Services
- Library Services for Students
- LinkedIn Learning
- Student Life Counselling Support - Personal counselling for issues affecting study
- Students with a Disability - Alternative academic arrangements
-
Policies & Guidelines
This section contains links to relevant assessment-related policies and guidelines - all university policies.
- Academic Credit Arrangements Policy
- Academic Integrity Policy
- Academic Progress by Coursework Students Policy
- Assessment for Coursework Programs Policy
- Copyright Compliance Policy
- Coursework Academic Programs Policy
- Intellectual Property Policy
- IT Acceptable Use and Security Policy
- Modified Arrangements for Coursework Assessment Policy
- Reasonable Adjustments to Learning, Teaching & Assessment for Students with a Disability Policy
- Student Experience of Learning and Teaching Policy
- Student Grievance Resolution Process
-
Fraud Awareness
Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student鈥檚 disciplinary procedures.
The 最新糖心Vlog of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The 最新糖心Vlog of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.