Course Name Year Term Period Faculty / Graduate School All Instructors Credits
54228:[2025 Spring]Cross-cultural Studies (GV) § 54229:Vision Special Lecture (GV) § 54230:Special Lectures (B9) 2025 Spring Thu3 College　Of　Business　Administration,College　Of　Policy　Science,College　of　Image　Arts　and　Sciences,College　of　Comprehensive　Psychology,College　of　Information　Science　and　Engineering ISHIKAWA RYOKO 2

Campus

OIC

Class Venue

AN328

Language

English

Course Outline and Method

In this course, students will read academic literature and papers dealing with humanities and social sciences and discuss them. The goal of this course is for students to improve their ability to think by discussing the knowledge gained from academic literature.


Course theme: Introduction to Political Philosophy

There seem to be numerous disagreements and no definitive or clear "correct" answer when it comes to policy-making. So, how should we approach policy creation? This class adopts a philosophical perspective and explores how philosophical concepts and viewpoints can be applied to contemporary social and global issues. Some of the topics we discuss in this class include hate speech, the death penalty, parental leave, intensive animal farming, humanitarian intervention, and global justice.

The goal of this course is twofold. First, students gain a deeper knowledge of philosophical ideas, and second, they benefit from opportunities to discuss and learn from students from various parts of the world.

Student Attainment Objectives

Students will be able to read academic literature and papers dealing with humanities and social sciences and discuss them. They will also acquire advanced academic skills by writing essays based on these discussions.

Recommended Preparatory Course

In order to register for this course, students are required to have a minimum TOEFL(ITP) score of 480, TOEFL(iBT) score of 55, TOEIC (including TOEIC IP) score of 580, IELTS score of 5.0, or equivalent.

Course Schedule

Lecture/Instructor（When there are multiple instructors) Theme
Keyword, References and Supplementary Information
1

Introduction and ice-breaking

<Face-to-face session in the classroom>

【+R-Jugyo】For the details, go to "Reference Video" below

2

Euthanasia and freedom

<Face-to-face session in the classroom>

3

Hate speech and freedom of expression

<Face-to-face session in the classroom>

4

Recreational drugs and paternalism

<Face-to-face session in the classroom>

5

Affirmative action and distributive justice

<Face-to-face session in the classroom>

6

Schools and equality of oppirtunity

<Face-to-face session in the classroom>

7

Parental leave and gender equality

<Face-to-face session in the classroom>

8

Minority exemptions and multiculturalism

<Face-to-face session in the classroom>

9

Prison sentences and punishment

<Face-to-face session in the classroom>

10

Intensive animal farming and moral status

<Face-to-face session in the classroom>

11

Environmental taxes and intergenerational justice

<Face-to-face session in the classroom>

12

Immigration and the political community

<Face-to-face session in the classroom>

13

Development aid and global justice

<Face-to-face session in the classroom>

14

Conclusion and final essay advising

<Media-based session>

Class Format

Week 14 is a video-on-demand session. Other weeks are face-to-face sessions in the classroom.

Recommendations for Private Study

1. The reading assignment is one chapter (approx. 20 pages) per week. Students are expected to come to class having read and prepared to discuss the assigned chapter.

2. Students will be required to complete the worksheet(s) in the week(s) (chapters) they have selected. They should submit the worksheet one week before the class, and they will discuss it with their classmates during class.

3. Students will write a final essay individually at the end of the semester.

Grade Evaluation Method

Kind Percentage Grading Criteria etc.
Final Examination (Written) 0

Report Examination
(A report to be submitted by the unified deadline)		 0

Exams and/or Reports other than those stated above, and Continuous Assessment　
(Evaluation of Everyday Performance in Class)		 100

Worksheet(s) on assigned chapter(s) 30%
Final essay 30%
Participation and contribution in classroom discussions 40%

Grade Evaluation Method （Note）

Attendance policy

Students must attend and participate in at least ten classes to obtain credit for this course. Students failing to meet this attendance requirement will not be given credits without legitimate excuses.


Late assignment policy

Late papers and assignments will be penalized 1/2 of a letter grade per day late. For example, if your essay is worth an A but submitted three hours after the deadline, you’ll receive an A- instead. This policy applies to all assignments submitted in this class. However, this rule does not apply if you are seriously ill or in an emergency. You are responsible for informing the instructor of such circumstances, and you are asked to present proof.

Advice to Students on Study and Research Methods

The whole course will be taught in English. Students are responsible for completing reading assignments before each class. They are expected to participate actively in classroom discussion.

Textbooks

Title Author Publisher ISBN Code Comment
Introducing Political Philosophy: A Policy-Driven Approach Andrew Walton, William Abel, Elizabeth Kahn, and Tom Parr Oxford University Press 9780198783275

Textbooks （Frequency of Use, Note）

We will read 14 chapters out of 16 chapters. Some of you may have access to the E-textbook. See the Web Pages for Reference section below.

Reference Books

Reference Books （Frequency of Use, Note）

Web Pages for Reference

1. Oxford University Press website for the textbook

https://global.oup.com/ukhe/product/introducing-political-philosophy-9780198783275


2. E-textbook available
This year, students have access to the E-textbook rental service in Japan.

https://www.vitalsource.com/jp/

How to Communicate with the Instructor In and Out of Class(Including Instructor Contact Information)

Learning Management System （manaba+R）,Talk with Students,Other (Separate instructions will be provided)

Other Comments

Several copies of the textbook are available in the university library.
【科目ナンバリング・カリキュラムマップはこちらから/Click here to see the Curriculum-Map and Course-Numbering】
URL:https://secure.ritsumei.ac.jp/students/pathways-future/course/curriculum.html/