Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 1, 2025 (24/02/2025 - 21/06/2025)
- Study level
- Undergraduate
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences
Modern liberal society claims adherence, amongst other things, to three simple aspirations: it is better to cooperate than to wage war, it is better to acknowledge human rights than to deny them, and, perhaps most of all, it is better to be fair and rational than to be partial and prejudicial. These notions - as much as we take them for granted now - were consolidated in a movement we now call the "Enlightenment". Through the critical reading of selected texts, this course examines the commitments that emerged from these notions in European thought and history and asks whether it is now more accurate to speak of various, differently premised and expressed, enlightenments. It considers the impact of enlightenment ideas in the philosophy, art, politics and societies they helped create. The course also considers objections that have been raised against some of these ideas and what we think of these objections today.
WCIV2000 is a two-unit (#2) course designed to introduce students to European Enlightenments.ﾠThe course is delivered through a combination of one-hourﾠlectures and two-hour intensive tutorials. Regular attendance, reading and participationﾠin all components of the course is vital. Note:ﾠthere will be no tutorials Week 1.
Course requirements
Prerequisites
You'll need to complete the following courses before enrolling in this one:
WCIV1000 or 4 units of HUMN courses.
Recommended prerequisites
We recommend completing the following courses before enrolling in this one:
WCIV1000
Restrictions
BAdvHum(Hons) and BHum/LLB(Hons) students only. BAdvHum(Hons) students applying to take this course as an elective please email westernciv@uq.edu.au.The maximum enrolment quota is 40.
Course contact
Course staff
Lecturer
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Aims and outcomes
WCIV2000 aims to:
1. Introduce students to the societies and cultures of eighteenth-century European Enlightenments and their legacies.
2. Explore key texts and ideas produced in this historical period.
3. Introduce students to methods of historical and philological analysis of primary texts.
4. Contribute to the acquisition of a range of graduate attributes, including the synthesis of ideas and the ability to communicate successfully both orally and in print.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Assess historiographical evidence.
LO2.
Understand how texts engage and shape the concerns and anxieties of the period in which they are written.
LO3.
Be able to position texts in relation to prevailing intellectual traditions.
LO4.
Understand the contested nature of 'the Enlightenment' as a period and process.
LO5.
Be able to evaluate competing interpretations of a text.
LO6.
Be able to use evidence to construct arguments.
LO7.
Appreciate issues related to working in translation.
LO8.
Effectively work in a team.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reflection |
Group Work
|
15% | |
| Tutorial/ Problem Set |
Tutorial attendance and participation
|
20% |
Submissions for weeks 3-13 are due by 2pm on the Tuesday before the relevant text is discussed in tutorials. E.g. your first submission, on the Locke text and Locke lecture, is due by Tuesday 2pm of Week 3. |
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation | Essay Plan | 5% |
17/04/2025 2:00 pm |
| Essay/ Critique |
Essay
|
60% 1 800 words |
23/05/2025 2:00 pm |
A hurdle is an assessment requirement that must be satisfied in order to receive a specific grade for the course. Check the assessment details for more information about hurdle requirements.
Assessment details
Group Work
- Team or group-based
- Mode
- Activity/ Performance
- Category
- Reflection
- Weight
- 15%
Task description
In Week 1, each student will be allocated a week for which they will develop discussion questions for the following week with a group of students from other seminars.
This will involve:
- Producing one comprehension question that can be answered by reading and understanding the text (the question should be neither easy nor perplexing) and one interpretive question that engages the logic of the text's argument/plot;
- Producing an answer sheet that states the essential elements of a correct answer to the comprehension question (see the Locke template on Blackboard in the Group Work assessment folder);
- Independently verifying the comprehension answer to show its correctness; and producing a group response to the interpretive question that summarises the Zoom discussion;
- Submitting a link to a Zoom recording of the group meeting where you:
i) discuss the verification and determine whether the comprehension question and answer need to be adjusted;
ii) evaluate the final questions/answers and agree that they were feasible and accurate (see 3) and try to formulate a collective position on the interpretive question, noting the core disagreement where this is not possible;
iii) agree that the submission is of a good standard and note any issues regarding individual contributions that may warrant an individual's grade being adjusted.
5. Submitting 1-4 as a single document to Turnitin before Thursday 2pm of the week before the text is discussed in seminars.
Note: login using your UQ account and select record to the Cloud, then copy this link and include it in your submission.
Help finding the link: https://support.zoom.com/hc/en/article?id=zm_kb&sysparm_article=KB0067567#:~:text=Sign%20in%20to%20the%20Zoom,the%20meeting%20ID%20or%20topic.
(Alternatively, use dropbox or Teams and add a link to your submission).
Submission guidelines
One submission per group. (Use the link for any member of the group and use the text's title as the submission title.)
Deferral or extension
You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.
If a group encounters difficulties, they should email the Course Coordinator for assistance ASAP.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
The group is collectively responsible for timely submission regardless of the individual who is nominated to perform the actual upload. The group ought to therefore to consider a reporting mechanism, e.g. asking the chosen member to email all with confirmation of successful submission by a deadline.
Tutorial attendance and participation
- In-person
- Mode
- Activity/ Performance, Written
- Category
- Tutorial/ Problem Set
- Weight
- 20%
- Due date
Submissions for weeks 3-13 are due by 2pm on the Tuesday before the relevant text is discussed in tutorials. E.g. your first submission, on the Locke text and Locke lecture, is due by Tuesday 2pm of Week 3.
Task description
Students will be allocated 2 percentage points for attending the skills tutorial.
They will also be awarded up to 2 percentage points for each of the 10 text-based tutorials that they attend in person and participate on the basis of a sound knowledge of the text, with the latter certified by the successful completion and timely submission of the preparation tasks (detailed on Blackboard). Please note: Non-attendance or inactive participation will result in a 0 being awarded for that week even if you submit the tasks.
Note I: The maximum mark for this component of the course is 20. I.e. students may miss one tutorial with no penalty or, if students attend all 11 tutorials, then the 10 best grades will be taken to calculate the mark.
Note II: It's important that you always read the full JAC instance (easiest by clicking "Course Profile" on Blackboard). This is because the publicly-visible versions (not accessed via Learn.UQ or mySI-net) will simply state under Criteria & Marking "UQ Students: Please access the profile from Learn.UQ or mySI-net to access marking criteria held in this profile." In other words, you will not see the full task description!
This assessment task evaluates student’s abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Students are advised that the use of AI technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Submit via Turnitin - see Blackboard for links by week.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Essay Plan
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation
- Weight
- 5%
- Due date
17/04/2025 2:00 pm
Task description
Produce a Plan for your research essay that follows the template provided on Blackboard in the Assessment folder.
Submission guidelines
Submit via Turnitin.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Essay
- Hurdle
- Mode
- Oral, Written
- Category
- Essay/ Critique
- Weight
- 60% 1 800 words
- Due date
23/05/2025 2:00 pm
Task description
Compare and contrast the accounts of enlightenment (whether implicit or explicit) developed by two thinkers in this course, using the provisional research in your Plan. (A comparison of Locke and Pufendorf is excluded as a possible topic since this is the subject of the model essay.)
This essay is accompanied by a pass/fail hurdle to ensure that the learning objectives have been achieved. Students will informally discuss their paper with their tutor in their usual Week 13 tutorial (usually for less than 5 minutes). (Students who do not attend will be required to meet at a mutually convenient time the following week.) The oral response will be recorded for purposes of appeal. The oral response forms no part of the grade or marking process.
If the marker is satisfied that the learning objectives have been met, then the essay will be marked.
If the marker is not satisfied, then student receives a fail for the task, and an overall 3 (marginal fail or ‘S’ = Supplementary) for the course. The student can apply for a supplementary assessment (see Assessment Procedure – Section 3 Part J).
Essay Tips:
- It will be important to clarify the targets of enlightenment, e.g. individual, society, state, nation, ruling elite, masses, or whatever, as this will likely be crucial to the comparison.
- As the assessment matrix on Blackboard shows, your main aim should be to demonstrate mastery of the primary texts. This means, first, carefully reading the texts that are relevant to your topic and taking detailed notes. This task is the major burden that the essay imposes, not the actual writing (merely 1 800 words), so adjust your work timetable accordingly! Secondary texts should only be used to assist in the exegesis when necessary.
- As you will practise in tutorials, this means treating the original language and its meaning with historical sensitivity.
This assessment task evaluates student’s abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Students are advised that the use of AI technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Hurdle requirements
See task description.Submission guidelines
See Blackboard for details and marking criteria.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Cut off Marks | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) | 0 - 24.99 |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Grade 1, Serious Fail (0-24.99%), is generally awarded in cases where some work has been submitted, but of wholly unsatisfactory standard or quantity. In work submitted, however, there is no demonstrated evidence of understanding of the concepts of the field of study or basic requirements of the course. |
| 2 (Fail) | 25 - 44.99 |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Grade 2, Fail (25-44.99%),ﾠis generally awarded to work that exhibits deficiencies in understanding and applying the fundamental concepts of the course and field of study, and as such, does not satisfy the basic requirements of the course. Often, one or more major items of assessment will not have been completed. |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) | 45 - 49.99 |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes Course grade description: Grade 3, Marginal Fail (45-49.99%),ﾠis generally awarded if a student has submitted work that attempts to meet the knowledge and skill requirements of the course, but is only able to demonstrate a superficial understanding of the fundamental concepts of the course. Students will usually have attempted all major pieces of assessment and show that they have an identifiable, emerging ability to apply basic knowledge and skills. |
| 4 (Pass) | 50 - 64.99 |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Grade 4, Pass (50-64.99%),ﾠis generally awarded where all major items of assessment have been submitted. An adequate knowledge of the fundamental concepts of the course and field of study should be demonstrated and a functional skill level achieved. |
| 5 (Credit) | 65 - 74.99 |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Grade 5, Credit (65-74.99%), is generally awarded where all items of assessment have been completed and a substantial understanding of the fundamental concepts of the course and field of study have been demonstrated. |
| 6 (Distinction) | 75 - 84.99 |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Grade 6, Distinction (75-84.99%),ﾠis generally awarded where all items of assessment have been completed and substantial knowledge of the deeper and more complex aspects of the course and field of study have been demonstrated. |
| 7 (High Distinction) | 85 - 100 |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Grade 7, High Distinction (85-100%),ﾠis generally awarded where all items of assessment have been completed and there is evidence that the deeper and more complex aspects of the course and field of study have been mastered. |
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Additional assessment information
Proof of Assessment Submission
Assignments for this course will be submitted electronically via Blackboard and using TurnItIn. Advice for using TurnItIn can be found here - how to submit a TurnItIn assignment.
When assessments are successfully submitted a notice will display, before the Assignment Dashboard will appear.
Students must download a digital receipt from the Assignment Dashboard as evidence of submitting a piece of assessment. The digital receipt must include ‘Submission date’ and ‘Submission ID’ as evidence of assignment submission. Other documentation provided as evidence will not be accepted.
Marks Cannot be Changed After Being Released
Marks are not open to negotiation with course staff. If you wish to discuss the feedback you have received, you should make an appointment to speak with the Course Coordinator.
Assessment Re-mark
Information on requesting an assessment re-mark can be accessed via my.UQ ﾖ https://my.uq.edu.au/information-and-services/manage-my-program/academic-progress-and-final-results/querying-result.
Deferred Examinations (if applicable)
The University recognises that on occasion a medical condition or other exceptional circumstances may impair a studentﾒs ability to attend an examination at the scheduled date and time. Depending on the circumstances, a deferred examination may be approved, and the student permitted to sit the in-semester or end of semester examination at a later scheduled time. Information on eligibility and application instructions can be accessed via my.UQ ﾖ https://my.uq.edu.au/information-and-services/manage-my-program/exams-and-assessment/deferring-exam.
Integrity Pledge
Assignments for this course will be submitted electronically via Blackboard and using Turnitin. Before submitting any assignments, students must ensure to have completed UQ's compulsory online Academic Integrity Tutorial ﾖ https://www.uq.edu.au/integrity/Login.aspx?ReturnUrl=%252fintegrity.
In uploading an assignment via Turnitin you are certifying that it is your original work, that it has not been copied in whole or part from another person or source except where this is properly acknowledged, and that it has not in whole or part been previously submitted for assessment in any other course at this or any other university.
Withholding marks prior to finalisation of grades
In accordance with the Assessment Judgements section of the Assessment Procedures, results for all summative assessment items are made available to individual students through the eLearning Management System on completion of marking, with the exception of the final assessment item which is to be released only after the final grade for the course has been released.
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.
Own copy required
You'll need to have your own copy of the following reading resources. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
| Item | Description |
|---|---|
| Book |
An Essay on the Principle of Population
by Malthus; T. R.; Chaplin; Joyce E. - 2018 Edition: First edition; Norton Critical Edition Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company, Inc ISBN: 9781324000556; 9781324000815 |
| Book |
Pufendorf: On the Duty of Man and Citizen according to Natural Law
by Pufendorf; Samuel - 1991 Publisher: Cambridge University Press ISBN: 9781316160800; 9780521359801; 9780521351959 |
Additional learning resources information
The commentaries named at the beginning of the library reading list represent the best intellectual history that exists in English. Reading any of these texts cover to cover will be the most edifying thing that you do at university.
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Lecture |
Smith |
|
Week 1 (24 Feb - 02 Mar) |
Lecture |
Introduction to the Course: Multiple Enlightenments? No seminars Week 1 |
Week 2 (03 Mar - 09 Mar) |
Lecture |
Locke |
Seminar |
Advanced Reading, Writing, and Exegesis Skills We will also discuss the art of group work! |
|
Week 3 (10 Mar - 16 Mar) |
Seminar |
Locke |
Lecture |
Astell |
|
Week 4 (17 Mar - 23 Mar) |
Lecture |
Malthus |
Seminar |
Astell |
|
Week 5 (24 Mar - 30 Mar) |
Lecture |
Voltaire |
Seminar |
Malthus |
|
Week 6 (31 Mar - 06 Apr) |
Lecture |
Riccoboni |
Seminar |
Voltaire |
|
Week 7 (07 Apr - 13 Apr) |
Lecture |
Diderot |
Seminar |
Riccoboni |
|
Week 8 (14 Apr - 20 Apr) |
Lecture |
Hume |
Seminar |
Diderot |
|
Mid-sem break (21 Apr - 27 Apr) |
No student involvement (Breaks, information) |
Mid-semester Break |
Week 9 (28 Apr - 04 May) |
Seminar |
Hume |
Week 10 (05 May - 11 May) |
Lecture |
Pufendorf **Lecture Blackboard only due to public holiday** |
Seminar |
Smith |
|
Week 11 (12 May - 18 May) |
Not Timetabled |
Essay Week No lecture or seminars: the essay calls! |
Week 12 (19 May - 25 May) |
Lecture |
Kant |
Seminar |
Pufendorf |
|
Week 13 (26 May - 01 Jun) |
Lecture |
Conclusion to the Course |
Seminar |
Kant |
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments - Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.