Economics
The School of Philosophy is pleased to offer a foundation course in
Economics. Based on the idea of ‘economics with a human face’, the course
presents Economics as a study of human beings in their natural environment,
going about the ordinary business of living and making the best of the resources
available to them. It is essentially the study of natural laws governing the
relations between people living together in societies. While this 10-week
course is complete in itself, after its completion the opportunity is offered to
explore the topics raised over two more terms.
FOUNDATION ECONOMICS
The Foundation Economics course provides a broad introduction to the
principles of Economics. The course examines the forces governing our lives and
those of our fellow human beings. Students are invited to question all that is
presented and to exercise their own powers of reason and observation to bring
the study to life.
The aim is to use truth and justice as guides to the study. These are the
measures against which the principles taught are to be tested. The basis of this
approach is the view that, if what is proposed is true, its application will
produce justice in human affairs.
Economics with Justice is the natural extension of philosophy into the life of
people in society. We know that, individually, people cannot live without
morals, ethics and consideration for others. The same principles apply to
society, yet Economics is routinely taught as though they had no application at
all.
The course aims to redress some of the deficiencies, and the result is a fresh
and illuminating approach to many of the major issues of our time:
- wealth and poverty
- economic growth and environmental damage
- the decline of families, inequality
- social unrest and uncertainty
- human development
- human deprivation.
