Content of the Master in Social TransFormation - PPE

What will be emphasised, throughout the study, is the exercise of critical reasoning as well as developing the capability of judgement. Connected to this astute reflexivity on societal, political and economic or organizational questions, issues and problems, will be the learning of more practical skills. These skills serve communicating and implementing ideas, decisions, and policies as well as assessing their efficacy. Thus, the emphasis is laid on a theoretically rigorous and critical investigation, together with a practical orientation, both related to real world challenges of our time and for a future to come.

Following the self-understanding of Karlshochschule as a place of higher education the overarching goal is bringing out an educated, emotional and socially intelligent person,who contributes responsibly to the transformation of civic society and economy.

Studying "Master in Social TransFormation – Politics, Philosophy & Economics" is not only about acquiring a diverse set of knowledge, but much more about the ability to change perspectives and to study in a cross-disciplinary fashion in order to understand interdependencies and interconnected dimensions in real world, applicable way.  

As part of an integral education with this study program at Karls University as an “university of the future”, it provides a transformative civic education or “Bildung”.This education aims at contributing to a rethinking, reimaging and redoing as well as reintegrating of the political, economic and philosophical realms whilst being practically informed. Moreover, these re-orientations are also about redesigningalternative ways of living, recreating a world beyond capitalism as we know it, serving as a pathway for legitimized reform of the political and economic life-worlds.

Overall the study program aspires to mediate a transformation towards SustainableDevelopment for a more just, wiser world to come on various levels and in a plurality of enriching ways.

The Structure

The first semester teaches the fundamentals of the three disciplines at the micro level:

• Philosophy: Introduction Philosophy of Action
• Politics: Introduction Political Action & Agency
• Economics: Introduction Behavioral Economics

After this advanced introductory phase, the following meso-level topics are taught in the second semester:

• Philosophy: Relational Practices and Political Philosophy of Resonance, Resistance & Responsibility
• Politics: Political Practices, Social Movement & Civic Engagement
• Economics: Alternative Organizational & Socio-Economic Practices

In the third semester, topics follow on the macro or mundo level:

• Philosophy: Integral Practical Wisdom & Global Justice
• Politics: Integral Political Institutions & Global Governance
• Economics: Integral Pluralist, Global Economics