Admission to the course requires a minimum of 60 approved credits with a certain progression in one of the following Major Subjects: European Studies, Human Rights, International Migration and Ethnic Relations, International Relations or Peace and Conflict Studies or similar.

The course is not part of a main field of study.

The aim of the course is to provide independent knowledge and in-depth understanding of the right to life and modern conceptions of life. It aims to discuss conceptions of life in the context of the right to life as a human right. That life is a foundation for rights is more complex than it may seem at first, i. e. when we take account changes in the conception of life from antiquity to modernity as well as changes of it in modern society. Life is a central notion in debates about such issues as health, the mapping of the human body and the possibilities of altering human life as well with regard to questions that concern the social and cultural composition of the population and the possibilities of enhancing the productivity of the population. These are examples where the concept of life has direct bearing on what it means to be a human being in a modern society and therefore also for what the right to life entails.

The course comprises independent and theoretically oriented studies of literature in the area of right to life and conceptions of life. The course is based on research and it has a theoretical focus. Central works concerning the right to life and conceptions of life are read, discussed and reflected upon, both orally and in written.

Upon completing the course the student shall be able to:

• demonstrate knowledge and understanding of political, legal and philosophical conceptions of life and their transformation from antiquity to modernity as well as changes of understandings of life in modern society;
• demonstrate knowledge and understanding of problems that concern the right to life, such as health, the mapping of the human body and the possibilities of altering human life as well with regard to questions that concern composition of the population;
• identify, formulate and solve problems and issues with regards to the contents of the course;
• critically and in dialogue with others reflect on human rights in relationship to the right to life as a field of research.

The main teaching activities are lectures and seminars. A significant part of the learning activities on the course is devoted to independent study, individually or in groups. The students are presupposed to take own initiatives for the creation of reading and discussion groups.

The course contents and learning outcomes are assessed by the following:

• Oral presentations of texts at two seminars
• Written presentations of texts at two seminars
• Written assignment (memo), 2500 words

• Agamben, Giorgio (1998) Homo Sacer: Sovereign Power and Bare Life. Stanford: Stanford University Press. ISBN: 978-0804732185 (ca. 150 pages).
• Arendt, Hannah (1958) The Human Condition. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. ISBN: 978-0226025988 (ca. 200 pages).
• Foucault, Michel (2003) Society Must Be Defended: Lectures at the College de France, 1975-76. New York: Picador. ISBN: 978-0312422660 (or other editions) (ca. 150 pages).
• Rose, Nikolas (2006) The Politics of Life Itself. Biomedicine, Power, and Subjectivity in the Twenty-First Century. Princeton: Princeton University Press. ISBN: 978-0691121918 (ca. 200 pages).

The University provides students who participate in or who have completed a course with the opportunity to make known their experiences and viewpoints with regards to the course by completing a course evaluation administered by the University. The University will compile and summarize the results of course evaluations as well as informing participants of the results and any decisions relating to measures initiated in response to the course evaluations. The results will be made available to the students (HF 1:14).

If a course is no longer offered or has undergone major changes, students will be offered two re-take sessions based on the syllabus in force at registration during a period of one year from the date of the implementation of the changes.

The syllabus is a translation of a Swedish source text.

The Language of instruction is English.