Module PHIL3131: ETHICAL CONCEPTS

Department: Philosophy

PHIL3131: ETHICAL CONCEPTS

Pre-requisites

Corequisites

Excluded Combinations

Aims

• To explore central ethical concepts using contemporary research in ethics.

Content

• The student will explore philosophical concepts central to contemporary theoretical ethics.
• Topics to be covered will be selected from the following: moral norms and normativity.
• obligation and right.
• value.
• moral reasons.
• principles and particulars.
• naturalisms.
• agents and patients.
• needs.
• truth and fact in ethics.
• subjectivity and objectivity.
• moral judgement.

Learning Outcomes

• By the end of the module students will:
• have knowledge of the conceptual structure of ethics and understand the relationships between different moral concepts, theories and arguments, and about the relationship between applied and theoretical ethics.

• correctly utilise specialist vocabulary
• grasp, analyse, evaluate and deploy subject-specific concepts and arguments
• locate, understand, assess and utilise pertinent philosophical (and, where appropriate, historical) sources

• express themselves clearly and succinctly in writing
• comprehend complex ideas, propositions and theories
• defend their opinions by reasoned argument
• seek out and identify appropriate sources of evidence and information
• tackle problems in a clear-sighted and logical fashion.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• Structured teaching within seminars will deliver basic module-specific information, and provide a framework for further study.
• Discussion in seminars will increase understanding, and enhance the ability to set questions in a wider context.
• Guided reading provides a structure within which students exercise and extend their abilities to make use of available learning resources.
• The Formative essays provide the opportunity for students to test and extend their knowledge and understanding of the module content, and develops their ability to present and defend relevant arguments and theories using available learning resources, uninhibited by the need for summative assessment.
• The Summative essays test knowledge and understanding of the course material, and the ability to identify and explain issues covered in the module, and, using relevant research material, to present different approaches to those issues, and make reasoned judgement on the merits and demerits of such approaches.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment

Fortnightly short pieces (500 words max.) briefly analysing a particular concept or issue, in weeks 4, 8, 14, 16, 20.