Philosophy of Development

1. Understand the nature and meaning of development.
2. Examine the concepts and theories of development.
3. Analyze the intersection between philosophy and development.
4. Evaluate contemporary perspectives on development.
5. Apply philosophical principles to development issues.
6. Critically assess the impact of development on society and culture.

13 weeks, about 62 hours in total. Yours will differ.

1. Week 1Module 1: Defining Philosophy

   • Unit 1: Further Reflections on Philosophy · 4 hours

     Read the introduction to philosophy and its various conceptions.. Distinguish between philosophy as a worldview and philosophy as critical thinking.. Discuss the under-labourer, master scientist, and analytic conceptions of philosophy..

2. Week 2Module 2: Understanding Development

   • Unit 1: The Concept of Development · 4 hours

     Understand the concept of development and its different conceptual perspectives.. Explore the humanist, economic, and emotivist views of development.. Highlight the goals of development..

3. Week 3Module 2: Understanding Development

   • Unit 2: Some Perspectives on Development · 4 hours

     Discuss people-centered, participatory, and distributive justice approaches to development.. Distinguish between people-centered development and participatory development.. Explain why all development is human development..

4. Week 4Module 2: Understanding Development

   • Unit 3: Theories of Development · 5 hours

     Examine the modernization theory of development, its assumptions, strengths, and weaknesses.. Understand Rostow's phases of development and the classical views on modernization.. Critically analyze the unidirectional nature of modernization and its Western-centric approach..

5. Week 5Module 2: Understanding Development

   • Unit 4: Marxist View of Development · 5 hours

     Discuss the dependency theory of development and its requirements for creating conditions of development.. Understand the dependency model and its hypothesis concerning development in Third World countries.. Compare and contrast the dependency theory with the theory of the world system..

6. Week 6Module 3: Alternative Conceptions of Development

   • Unit 1: Sustainable development · 4 hours

     Define sustainable development and its relevance.. Discuss the principles and aims of sustainable development.. Understand the relationship between ecological sustainability and sustainable development..

7. Week 7Module 3: Alternative Conceptions of Development

   • Unit 2: Human development · 4 hours

     Explain the concept of human development and its principles.. Discuss the theories of human development, including psychosexual, psychosocial, and social learning theories.. Understand the relevance of the Human Development Index..

8. Week 8Module 3: Alternative Conceptions of Development

   • Unit 3: Economic development · 4 hours

     Understand the concept of economic development, its objectives, and principles.. Differentiate economic development from economic growth.. Explore the role of human resources, physical capital, technology, and natural resources in economic development..

9. Week 9Module 3: Alternative Conceptions of Development

   • Unit 4: Political and Social development · 4 hours

     Discuss the concepts of political and social development.. Explain the stages of political development and factors affecting social and political development.. Understand the relevance of political and social development in improving the quality of life..

10. Week 10Module 4: The Idea of Culture and Human Progress

    • Unit 1: Defining Culture · 4 hours

      Define culture and discuss its relevance.. Explore the elements, types, and characteristics of culture.. Understand the role of culture in shaping identity and social life..

11. Week 11Module 4: The Idea of Culture and Human Progress

    • Unit 2: Cultural Evolution · 4 hours

      Understand the history, meaning, and theories of cultural evolution.. Differentiate between unilineal and multilinear theories of cultural evolution.. Discuss the stages of cultural evolution and their characteristics..

12. Week 12Module 4: The Idea of Culture and Human Progress

    • Unit 3: Social Progress · 4 hours

      Define social progress and its dimensions.. Explain the goals of social progress and its determinants.. Understand the role of social progress in improving the quality of life..

    • Unit 4: Modernization · 4 hours

      Analyze the concept of modernization and its categories.. Discuss the goals of modernization and its strengths and weaknesses.. Understand the transformation from traditional to modern societies..

13. Week 13Module 5: The Idea of a Philosophy of Development

    • Unit 1: Relevance of the Idea of a Philosophy of Development · 4 hours

      Discuss the inevitability of philosophy in development discourse.. Understand the connection between philosophy and development.. Highlight the humanist, emotivist, and economic views of development..

    • Unit 2: Philosophy and Some Development Issues · 4 hours

      Understand the normative function of philosophy.. Highlight development issues that interest philosophers, such as justice, focus of development, global poverty, and production hazards.. Discuss how philosophers attempt to create a better understanding of these issues..