University of Cape Town

This course introduces students to the epistemological, metaphysical, and ethical issues that arise when science is considered from a philosophical perspective. Through the study of philosophers such as Popper, Kuhn, and Feyerabend, among others, the questions discussed include: Do scientists employ a special method that sets them apart from non-scientists and give their claims greater authority? Do electrons, genes, and other entities that we can't see or touch really exist? Are scientists inevitably influenced by political and moral agendas or can pure science be value-free? DP requirements: Regular attendance at lectures and tutorials; completion of all tests, submission of all essays and assignments by due dates, and an average mark of at least 35% for the coursework. Assessment: Coursework counts 40%; November examination 3 hours 60%. Course entry requirements: At least second-year status.

This course reviews the theories and approaches that are typically used to analyze the political economies and political regimes of countries in the global South. The reliability, validity and normative implications of these theories will be evaluated with reference to key case studies - in many cases drawn from the African continent - in order to illustrate or problematize their claims. Though this is a political science course, our study of the politics of the South will be informed by debates that span a number of disciplines, including history, economics, law, anthropology and sociology.

This is an introductory course in game theory, the framework for analyzing strategic interaction. Game theory is the basic technology for understanding most phenomena in microeconomics and some phenomena in macroeconomics, along with many processes in political science, law, evolutionary biology, and the science of animal behavior. This course studies the basic structure of the theory.

Ethical choices are unavoidable in business. This course presents how to articulate your options when confronted with an ethical dilemma in business, and make well- informed judgements about the right thing to do. The course considers a range of problems, from issues that could arise in a first job to questions of business regulation that you may one day face as a leader in commerce or government. In each case, the course challenges and assists you to recognize ethical problems in practical situations, understand the possible solutions, and make reasoned decisions. Assessment: coursework (40%), and final exam (60%).

The course explores the theory of public economics; the empirical effects of taxes, spending and debt on economic growth and stability, resource allocation, the distribution of economic well-being and intergenerational equity; analysis of fiscal institutions; and the current and continuing policy debates. References are made to the fiscal issues and problems of other countries, developed and developing, but the primary focus will be on South Africa