Unit name | Themes in Ethics |
---|---|
Unit code | PHIL30135 |
Credit points | 20 |
Level of study | H/6 |
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 detailed knowledge and in-depth understanding of one or more central themes in ethics, and why they are philosophically important;
(2) demonstrate detailed knowledge and in-depth understanding of the key issues and disputes in the contemporary literature relating to the relevant theme or themes;
(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 H/6;
(4) demonstrate skills in independent philosophical research, in reading and writing philosophy, and in the construction and evaluation of philosophical arguments, with a sophistication appropriate to level H/6.
Lectures and seminars.
All assessment is summative:
2 x 2,500 word essays - 50% each [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.