Undergraduate - UnitATS2839 - Philosophy: Ethics

This unit entry is for students who completed this unit in 2013 only. For students planning to study the unit, please refer to the unit indexes in the the current edition of the Handbook. If you have any queries contact the managing faculty for your course or area of study.

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6 points, SCA Band 1, 0.125 EFTSL

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Level	Undergraduate
Faculty	Faculty of Arts
Organisational Unit	Philosophy
Offered	Clayton First semester 2013 (Day) Clayton First semester 2013 (Off-campus) Clayton Second semester 2013 (Off-campus) Clayton Summer semester A 2013 (Off-campus)
Coordinator(s)	Dr Josh May (First semester); Dr Paul Silva (Second semester)

Notes

Previously coded PHL2150

Synopsis

Unit deals with some central debates in normative theory and their underpinning in the meta-ethical theories of Hume and Kant. A major focus of discussion is the opposition between consequentialist theories, such as utilitarianism, which judge rightness and wrongness solely in terms of consequences, and Kantian theory which judges rightness and wrongness according to whether the act is in accordance with rational will. How do these theories account for the agent-centred reasons which arise from relations of love and friendship and which seem to have the potential to conflict with impartial moral requirements? Is there a limit to our obligation to minimise suffering and maximise happiness?

Outcomes

Have a detailed understanding of central ethical theories such as consequentialism and Kantianism
Have developed skills in written communication, argument analysis, textual interpretation, and argument construction
Have some acquaintance with the main theories and arguments in meta-ethics

Assessment

Written work: 60% (2500 words)
Exam: 40%

Chief examiner(s)

Dr Josh May (First semester); Dr Paul Silva (Second semester)

Contact hours

On-campus: 2 hours (one 1-hour lecture and one 1-hour tutorial) per week. OCL: workshops optional.

This unit applies to the following area(s) of study

Philosophy
Bioethics

Prerequisites

6 points of first-year except with permission.