| Unit name | Ethics |
|---|---|
| Unit code | PHIL20011 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | I/5 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Dr. Alan Wilson |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | Department of Philosophy |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
How should we live? What is the right thing to do? Am I a good person? When we ask such questions, we are often asking questions about ethics: Am I a morally good person? What is the morally right thing to do? What is a morally good life? How we choose to answer these questions can impact on the key decisions we make throughout life.
The study of ethics aims to help us think better about these important questions. In this unit, we will cover some the most influential moral theories that have been developed by philosophers, with the aim of critically engaging with and assessing the merits of those theories. We will also apply the insights gained from learning about these theories to important questions in applied ethics, with the aim of understanding how (and if) engaging with philosophical theories helps us to reason more clearly when faced with practical ethical issues.
While the specific moral theories covered will vary each year, the unit will explore at least two contrasting overall approaches to ethics. Possible approaches to be covered include: consequentialist ethics; care ethics; virtue ethics; Kantian ethics; and more. In each case, the aim will be to move beyond mere slogans or introductory versions of each theory. Instead, we will introduce and explore the variety of more complex and detailed options that are available within each of the different approaches to ethics that we cover. This will include learning about contemporary theories of ethics that are being developed by philosophers working today.
This focus on some contemporary approaches also will be reflected when applying the theories to important contemporary issues in applied ethics. Again, the specific applied questions covered will vary each year, with possible topics to explore including: ethical issues relating to our treatment of non-human animals; environmental ethics; the ethical significance of consent in medicine and/or sexual relationships; bioethics; and more.
On successful completion of this unit students will be able to:
1. demonstrate detailed knowledge and in-depth understanding of some of the central issues, debates, and positions, in ethics,
2. demonstrate detailed knowledge and in-depth understanding of the central literature on these issues, debates, and positions,
3. demonstrate the ability to critically engage with, and philosophically analyse, these issues, debates, and positions, together with the central literature on them, to a standard appropriate for level I/5,
4. demonstrate skills in philosophical writing, of a standard appropriate to level I/5,
5. demonstrate independent research skills of a standard appropriate to level I/5.
Lectures, small group work, individual exercises, seminars and virtual learning environment.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
None
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
Critical Review, 1500 words (20%) [ILOs 1, 3, 4]
Timed Assessment, 3500 words (80%) [ILOs 1-5]
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. PHIL20011).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
