Registry

Module Specifications

Archived Version 2015 - 2016

Module Title
Module Code
School
Online Module Resources
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	5
Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

Description

In this module, we explore various meanings of freedom and their relevance to matters of health, justice and individual well-being.

Learning Outcomes

1. Explain some varying meanings of freedom by reference to established philosophical perspectives.
2. Explore the stoic insistence on 'freedom of assent' as this relates to matters of citizenship, mental health, health behaviour and personal well-being.
3. Discuss John Stuart Mill's account of individual liberty and how this relates to the ethics of health behaviour and health policy.
4. Evaluate individualistic accounts of personal and health freedom by reference to ideas about unhealthy systems, 'adapted preference', social influence, habit, cognition and decision-making, social responsibility and 'the common good'.
5. Explain the concepts of 'libertarian paternalism' and 'choice architecture'.
6. Propose a 'nudge intervention' that is designed to promote health.
7. Identify the principal claims associated with the 'capabilities approach' in relation to freedom, justice and quality of life.
8. Explore the relevance of the 'capabilities approach' to action on health at individual, interpersonal and collective levels.
9. Deliberate upon what it personally means to live a good life: a life of valued 'beings' and 'doings.'
10. Formulate personal goals for future valued functionings.

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full-time hours per semester
Lecture	10	Examining arguments to do with freedom and health.
Group work	20	Seminar/personal development groups exploring the meanings of freedom, their personal significance and implications for health.
Assignment Completion	20	Preparation of an essay.
Assignment Completion	10	Preparation of reflective journal
Directed learning	20	Preparation for and undertaking examination
Independent Study	45	Incorporating reading for the module.
Total Workload: 125

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Freedom, health and well-being: an introduction
We begin with an introduction to the module, the varied meanings of freedom, philosophy and freedom, and the significance of freedom for health and well-being.

Classical stoicism and freedom of assent
By reference to stoic philosophy, we consider freedom of assent and the possibility that persons are free to decide on how they view the world and themselves. We explore the extent of this freedom and its significance for ideas about social influence, citizenship, health behaviour, mental health, and psychotherapy.

John Stuart Mill and individual liberty
We consider Mill's ideas about the "tyranny of public opinion" and the value that he places on individual liberty. Also, we explore the significance of this libertarian stance for the ethics of health behaviour and policy.

Individualism, freedom and health
We judge individualistic conceptions of freedom and health behaviour by reference to ideas about unhealthy systems, "adapted preference", social influence, habits, cognition and decision-making, social responsibility, and "the common good".

Libertarian paternalism and a practice of nudging
By reference to the work of Thaler and Sunstein, we explore the standpoint of libertarian paternalism and the ways in which it may be possible to both respect individual freedom and influence healthy living through "nudges" and "choice architecture".

The capabilities approach
By reference to the work of Sen and Nussbaum, we explore a positive conception of freedom in terms of persons' actual capabilities to realise "valued functionings". We examine the value of this conception for judgements about justice, quality of life, and human development.

Building human capabilities for health
We consider how, if and when it is possible to build health capabilities at personal, interpersonal, and societal levels. This includes experiential work where we deliberate on the personal meanings of a good life, valued functionings and preferred futures.

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment	%	Examination Weight	%

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Course Work Breakdown

Reassessment Requirement
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; 1 = A resit is available for all components of the module 2 = No resit is available for 100% continuous assessment module 3 = No resit is available for the continuous assessment component
Unavailable

Indicative Reading List

Deneulin, S. & Shahani, L.: 2009, An Introduction to the Human Development and Capability Approach, Earthscan, London,
Mill, J.M.: 1988, On Liberty, Penguin, Harmondsworth,
Nussbaum, M.C.: 2011, Creating Capabilities, Harvard University, Cambridge,
Amartya Sen: 2012, Commodities and Capabilities, Oxford University Press, New Delhi,
Thaler, R.H. & Sunstein, C.R.: 2009, Nudge: Improving decisions about health, wealth and happiness, Penguin, London,
Baggini, J.: 2015, Freedom Regained: The possibility of free will, Granta, London,
Frankel, P.E., Miller, F.D., & Jeffrey, P.: 1999, Responsibility, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge,
Greenfield, K.: 2012, The Myth of Choice: Personal responsibility in a world of limits, Biteback, London,
Kutz, C.: 2000, Complicity: Ethics and law for a collective age, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge,
Nussbaum, M.C.: 2000, Women and Human Development, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge,
Nussbaum, M.C.: 2009, The Therapy of Desire: Theory and practice in Hellenistic ethics, Princeton University Press, Oxford,
John, P.: 2013, Nudge, Nudge, Think, Think:Experimenting with ways to change civic behaviour, Bloomsbury, London,
Ruger, J.P.: 2010, Health and Social Justice, Oxford University Press, Oxford,
Sen, A.: 1995, Inequality Reexamined, Oxford University Press, Oxford,
Sen, A.: 2001, Development as Freedom, Oxford University Press, Oxford,
Sen, A.: 2010, The Idea of Justice, Penguin, London,
Venkatapuram, S.: 2012, Health Justice: An argument from the capabilities approach, Polity, Cambridge,

Other Resources

None

Programme or List of Programmes

Archives: