Metaethics: Facts and Feelings in Ethics

Module overview

We all make moral judgments and think about moral questions. For instance, you might think that torture is typically wrong but wonder whether it may sometimes be right. Whereas normative ethics tries to answer these questions, metaethics is concerned with the status of moral questions, and the nature of moral judgments. What sort of thing are we asking when we ask whether torture is ever right? Is this the kind of question that has a right or wrong answer? If so, how might we discover the right answer? Does the right answer depend on who is asking the question? And if there is a right answer, why should we care about it? This module will address questions of this sort by examining a range of metaethical theories about the nature of morality and moral judgment.

Linked modules

A module created by CQA

Aims and Objectives

Learning Outcomes

Transferable and Generic Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

Work effectively to deadlines.
Take notes from talks and written materials.
Undertake independent work, including identifying and using appropriate resources
Contribute to discussion in a critical but dispassionate way.
Express views clearly and concisely.

Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

Debate and criticise ideas and arguments in an even-handed fashion.
Interpret, synthesise and criticise philosophically complex texts and positions
Articulate and defend your own views regarding the issues the module concerns
Present philosophical ideas in writing, clearly and carefully

Knowledge and Understanding

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

the arguments for and against theories in metaethics.
influential theories in metaethics.

Learning and Teaching

Teaching and learning methods

Teaching methods include: - Lectures - In-class discussion - One-on-one consultation with module co-ordinator Learning activities include: - Attending classes - Contribution to class discussion - Doing independent research for and writing assessed work

Study time
Type	Hours
Revision	23
Completion of assessment task	22
Lecture	33
Preparation for scheduled sessions	24
Wider reading or practice	24
Follow-up work	24
Total study time	150

Resources & Reading list

General Resources

Metaethics : A Contemporary Introduction, by Mark van Roojen (Routledge, 2015).

Textbooks

Andrew Fisher (2011). Metaethics. Acumen.

Simon Kirchin (2012). Metaethics. Palgrave.

Assessment

Formative

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

Essay proposal

Assessment Type: Formative
Feedback: Students will receive written feedback. Students have the opportunity to receive further feedback from the module co-ordinator on any aspect of their performance during office hours or by appointment.
Final Assessment: No
Group Work: No
Percentage contribution: 100%

Summative

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

Breakdown
Method	Percentage contribution
Essay	60%
Timed Assignment	40%

Referral

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

Breakdown
Method	Percentage contribution
Timed Assignment	100%

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.

Breakdown
Method	Percentage contribution
Essay	60%
Timed Assignment	40%

Repeat Information

Repeat type: Internal & External