Undergraduate - UnitATS3640 - The ethics of global conflict

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	Caulfield First semester 2013 (Day) Clayton First semester 2013 (Day)
Coordinator(s)	Dr Andy Lamey

Notes

Previously coded INT3920

Synopsis

When, if ever, is warfare justified? What about humanitarian intervention? What about violent revolution and terrorism? Why should civilians be protected in conflict? This unit will introduce students to theoretical approaches to the ethics of conflict that will allow them to answer these difficult questions. It will also serve to introduce students to basic ideas in moral and political philosophy. No background in philosophy is required: merely an interest in rational argument applied to global conflict.

Outcomes

Students successfully completing this unit at 3-level will:

have a high level of understanding of the central ideas of just war theory
appreciate a wide variety of criticisms of just war theory
have developed the ability to apply philosophical theories of justice in conflict to actual cases from recent history
be able to develop and critically assess arguments about the justification of violence in the pursuit of political ends
have improved their ability to effectively communicate about complex issues in international affairs
have developed their ability to conduct independent research on topics of international justice.

Assessment

Written work: 80% (3500 words)
Test: 20%

Chief examiner(s)

Dr Andy Lamey

Contact hours

One 2-hour lecture and one 1-hour tutorial per week

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

Human rights theory
Philosophy
International studies

Prerequisites

Either a first-year Philosophy sequence, or a first-year International Studies sequence, or a first-year Bioethics sequence or a first year sequence in Human Rights Theory

Prohibitions

ATS2640

Additional information on this unit is available from the faculty at:

http://www.arts.monash.edu.au/philosophy/ugrad/units/int3920.php