Ethics

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• some key positions in moral philosophy, the core arguments for these views and the main objections which have been raised against them.
• how those positions relate to other philosophical issues
• how to assess the different positions, taking possible objections into account and supporting your views with cogent argument.

Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• present and debate ideas, both orally and in writing, in an open minded and rigorous way.
• interpret, synthesise and criticise complex texts and positions.

Transferable and Generic Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• undertake, with adequate supervision, independent work, including identifying and using appropriate resources.
• work effectively to deadlines.
• take notes from talks and written materials.
• work as part of a team in your essay group meetings on the analysis and evaluation of texts.

This module aims to introduce you to some central topics in philosophical reflection on ethics. You can expect to explore such topics as:

o Are moral judgements simply expressions of our personal preferences or feelings? Or do they express our beliefs about reality?

o Can moral judgements be true or false? If so, is the truth or falsity of a moral judgement dependent in some way on the culture or society to which one belongs?

o Can we find a general principle that tells us how to act?

Teaching and learning methods

Teaching methods include

• Lectures
• In class discussion
• Essay group tutorials

Learning activities include

• Attending lectures
• Contributing to discussion in lectures and tutorials
• Doing research for and writing assessed essays
• Applying techniques and skills learnt to your reading and writing inside and outside the module

In the lectures, you will not only be introduced to the philosophical issues central to this module and the ideas of the philosophers studied but also encouraged to think about them for yourself. Your own ideas and any difficulties you encounter can be raised and discussed in essay group meetings, and you will have the opportunity to revise your written work in light of feedback received in individual sessions. The writing of essays and your preparation for exams should involve you in thinking deeply about the relevant issues and texts.

Resources & Reading list

General Resources

Blackboard.

Textbooks

J S Mill & J Bentham (2004). Utilitarianism & Other Essays. Pearson Education.

S Blackburn (2001). Being Good: A Short Introduction to Ethics. Oxford University Press.

H J Gensler (1998). Ethics: a Contemporary Introduction. Routledge.

P Singer (1991). A Companion to Ethics. Blackwell.

Assessment strategy

Formative assessment:

• Oral and written feedback on drafts of essays from your essay group leader.
• Oral feedback from the module convenor on any other aspect of your performance in this module in optional one-to-one meetings during office hours or by appointment.

Formative

This is how we’ll give you feedback as you are learning. It is not a formal test or exam.

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.

Repeat

An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.

Repeat Information

Repeat type: Internal & External