| Unit name | Themes in Ethics |
|---|---|
| Unit code | PHILM0031 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Dr. Sticker |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
N/A |
| Co-requisites |
N/A |
| School/department | Department of Philosophy |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
This unit provides students with the opportunity to make an in depth study of
one or more central themes in ethics at an advanced level. The particular
themes focused on may vary from year to year, but in each case will raise
issues of enduring and general philosophical interest and importance. The
positions and arguments advanced by particular philosophers in developing
the theme(s) will be considered and assessed.
Examples of possible themes that might be studied: moral
overdemandingness and supererogation, the question which (if any) ethical
theory is the most promising, the nature and stringency of duties of aid,
fundamental and applied issues for Kantian ethics, fundamental and applied
issues for virtue ethics.
On successful completion of this unit students will be able to:
(1) demonstrate highly detailed knowledge and in-depth understanding of one or
more central themes in ethics, and why they are philosophically important, with a sophistication appropriate to level M/7;
(2) demonstrate highly detailed knowledge and in-depth understanding of the key
issues and disputes in the contemporary literature relating to the relevant
theme or themes, with a sophistication appropriate to level M/7;
(3) demonstrate an ability to engage critically with the positions and
arguments of the theorists studied in the unit, and to offer their own critical
assessments of them, with a sophistication appropriate to level M/7;
(4) demonstrate skills in reading and writing philosophy, and in the
construction and evaluation of philosophical arguments, and writing
philosophy at an advanced level, with a sophistication appropriate to level
M/7.
Lectures and seminars
ALL ASSESSMENT IS SUMMATIVE:
1 x 6000 word essay designed to test ILOs 1-4.
Literature will vary as the themes vary, but as an example, if the theme were
overdemandingness the following texts would be appropriate:
Ashford, E. “The Demandingness of Scanlon’s Contractualism”, Ethics, 113
(2): 273-302.
Murphy, L. (1993) “The Demands of Beneficence”, Philosophy and Public
Affairs, 22 (4):267-292.
Singer, P. (1972) “Famine, Affluence and Morality," Philosophy and Public
Affairs, 1 (3): 229-243.
Williams, B. (2011) Ethics and the Limits of Philosophy, London: Routledge.
Wolf, S. (1982) “Moral Saints”, The Journal of Philosophy, 79 (8) 419-439.
