CHB4101

Ethics

David McCarthy (on campus); John McKie (distance education)

12 points
* 4 hours per week (on-campus students)
* First semester
* Clayton
* Distance education students can take this subject in either semester

Objectives When successfully completed, students should have acquired the skills to bring a solid theoretical framework to the analysis and evaluation of issues in bioethics; recognise, analyse, and evaluate ethical arguments; think critically about assumptions underlying debates in bioethics and applied ethics and recognise that certain issues in ethical theory are of intrinsic interest and value.

Synopsis This subject aims to provide students with a basic understanding of ethical theory, as a foundation for their studies in bioethics. It deals with developments in meta-ethics since Hume, and with the three main traditional perspectives in normative ethics: utilitarianism, Kantianism, and virtue ethics.

Assessment Essay (2000 words): 20%
* Essay (4000 words): 50%
* Take-home exam (2500 words): 30%
Distance Education students are also required to keep a journal, recording their work for each Topic.

Preliminary reading

Charlesworth M Life, death, genes and ethics ABC Books, 1989
Nagel T What does it all mean? OUP, 1987

Prescribed texts

Rachels J The elements of moral philosophy 2nd edn, McGraw-Hill, 1993
Singer P Ethics OUP, 1994
Other readings will also be prescribed for each class. A book of readings will be provided by the centre.

Recommended texts

Scheffler S (ed.) Consequentialism and its critics OUP, 1988
Singer P (ed.) A companion to ethics Blackwell, 1993