PPE Weekend
2nd – 3rd October 2010 • University of London Union
IS PPE FOR ME?
The Debate Chamber PPE Weekend offers students aged 15-18 the chance to take part in lectures, seminars, activities and debates led by Oxford University graduates and tutors. Topics for discussion this year include ‘Can we have morality without God?’, ‘Is free trade good for the poor? and ‘When do terrorists have human rights?’. Tutors will introduce you to some of the theories and techniques they use to explore these topics at university. The course is a chance to get a taste of undergraduate learning, improve your analytical skills, and decide whether PPE might just be for you.
Teaching will run from 10.30 – 4.30 on each day.
You might also be interested in the Autumn PPE School, a longer course taking place 26th – 29th October 2010.
WEEKEND PROGRAMME:
Philosophy: virtue ethics
In this session we examine the branch of philosophical thought that asks ‘what does it mean to be a good person?’ Students will look at Aristotle, Macintyre, Hume and Nietzsche to answer questions such as: “Is it possible to have morality after God?”, “What is the virtuous life?” and “Does virtue ethics provide us with a better moral theory than either deontology or utilitarianism?”
Politics: constitution-building
Can you stitch a broken nation back together? How do you build stable political insitutions in a country divided by religious or ethnic civil war? This seminar will introduce the methods of modern political science. Students will evaluate different approaches to managing conflict in divided societies using examples from the USA and UK to Rwanda and South Africa, and then work together to decide the best constitutional arrangements for countries emerging from civil conflict or economic crisis.
Economics: international trade
Is globalisation a cover for exploitation? Is protectionism self-defeating? What do American car manufacturers and Japanese rice farmers have in common? In this seminar students will learn about economic theory, take part in trade simulation exercises and debate the social and moral implications of economic policy.
Political philosophy workshop: human rights
Do the lazy have a right to an income? Why should law-abiding citizens protect the rights of terrorists? What happened when John Stuart Mill met Tony Blair? In this final session, we draw together ideas all three disciplines to explore one of the most important issues in modern political philosophy.
What students have said:
“Very good! I learnt much more than I expected and I achieved more confidence. Amazing people.”
“Very intellectually stimulating and an eye-opening introduction to reading PPE.”
“I am now convinced that I want to do PPE at Oxford. The lecturers were excellent.”
“Interesting to debate issues above curriculum level that we would not otherwise be able to discuss. The lessons were conducted well in an atmosphere so as to encourage participation.”
“I thought it was brilliant. I was nervous before I came that everybody would be different to me but everyone was really friendly and the events were really fascinating.”
“Absolutely brilliant and very inspiring. I loved the fact that our personal opinions were taken into account.”
“It didn’t just teach me a lot about the course and its approach, but also about me and what I am interested in – philosophy all the way!”
“Extremely interesting – it opened my mind to lots of different ways of thinking.”
“I found it incredibly useful. Tutors were REALLY nice and made the courses interesting. Spoke about the course on a ‘real’ level rather than a practised official one.”
“It was an extremely good opportunity to meet intellectual students who have inspired me.”
Book a place
The fee for the PPE Masterclass is £175 per student. Places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. Debate Chamber offers a limited number of full and partial bursaries for students who would otherwise have difficulty attending. To book a place please use the form below. If you have any questions, or you wish to place a group booking, please email info@debatechamber.com or call 0845 519 4827.
If you are a teacher interested in holding a PPE event at your school please click here.