University of St Andrews

Key information

SCOTCAT credits : 20

ECTS credits : 10

Level : SCQF level 11

Semester: 2

Planned timetable: To be arranged.

This module introduces the student to the methods of intellectual history through a historical overview of the actual practice of intellectual history with special emphasis on the methodological debates of the last half century. Particular attention is paid to the Cambridge School of intellectual historians (Laslett, Pocock, Dunn, Skinner et al.), set against the backdrop of contributions to intellectual history by Michel Foucault in France, Reinhart Koselleck in Germany, Franco Venturi in Italy, and the pragmatists in America. This is complemented by case studies of explanation and understanding in intellectual history, including the challenge of post-modernism and Straussianism among others. Through these, the variety of intellectual history in philosophy, political theory, literature, science, economics and theology is illustrated.

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact: 1.5-hour seminars.

Assessment pattern

As used by St Andrews: Coursework = 100%


Re-assessment: New coursework: 3,000-word essay

Personnel