Contemporary Ethics
| Module title | Contemporary Ethics |
|---|---|
| Module code | PHLM006 |
| Academic year | 2020/1 |
| Credits | 30 |
| Module staff | Dr Christine Hauskeller (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 15 |
|---|
Module description
Developments in society, science and technology confront us as individuals and communities with complex challenges to which we must respond, because no response is a response, too, affecting our future and that of others. Post-metaphysical ethics is intrinsically connected to our self-understanding as humans. Scientific understandings of the human and normative ethical concepts influence each other. How we see ourselves and the society we live in affects what makes an ethical response.
This module introduces you to philosophical work of the past 3 decades, addressing current challenges related to human self-understanding and ethical theory. Globalized Modernity is characterized by a pluralism of cultures and moral traditions that deserve ethical consideration. Therefore intersectional and postcolonial approaches will be discussed alongside more traditional ones.
Knowledge of established philosophical moral theories will be helpful, though an undergraduate degree in philosophy is not conditional.
Module aims - intentions of the module
This module aims to give you a broad understanding of present-day discussions in philosophical ethics.
It covers concepts such as responsibility, meaningfulness, power, and self-understanding as a moral agent via topical ethical issues arising from the global scope of interlinkages between knowledge, technologies, power, and care. Case studies will look at genetics and regenerative medicine, artificial intelligence and communication technologies, forms of violence and justice, happiness and virtues.
The aims of this module are twofold, to equip you with the philosophical knowledge to participate in ongoing debates, and to advance your knowledge about current thought concerning ethics and how human nature is understood.
You will gain a good understanding of topical questions in philosophical ethics in theory and practice. We will discuss topical subjects in small groups and you will practice presenting arguments. The writing of short review essays will advance your ability to summarize arguments succinctly.
You will be guided to write one article-length essay on a theme of your choice from the course.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Demonstrate solid knowledge and understanding of current theories and problems in philosophical ethics
- 2. Demonstrate understanding of the methodological and conceptual problems of applied ethics
- 3. Present your own analyses of the implications of theories on pressing ethical debates of our time.
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 4. Demonstrate a high level of knowledge about ethical theory and its application
- 5. Demonstrate sound knowledge of different types of philosophical ethics
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 6. Demonstrate capacity to conduct research independently
- 7. Demonstrate aptitude for succinct oral presentations to groups
- 8. Write reflective academic review and research essays
Syllabus plan
Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics:
Practical and theoretical themes relating to current problems.
The role of human nature arguments in current practical ethics such as interspecies ethics, violence, and responsibility in relation to oneself, others and global ethics on the one hand the importance of meaning, rules and normativity on the other.
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | 270 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | 22 | 11 x 2 hour taught sessions - 30-minute lectures and 1.5 hour seminar discussion of readings for each 2-hour session. |
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | 8 | 8 x 1-hour facilitated tutorial with student presentations. |
| Guided Independent Study | 40 | Analyse one course reading and write a succinct summary of the key arguments of the text. |
| Guided Independent Study | 88 | Reading of the module texts for each week |
| Guided Independent Study | 42 | Prepare a presentation on the topic for essay and the key arguments from the literature in a dedicated course session. |
| Guided Independent Study | 100 | Writing independent research essay. Conduct guided and independent research on a theme from the course; write a scholarly essay to be submitted after the end of term. |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discussion of essay plan 1:1 | 1,000 words | 1-4, 6, 8 | Oral |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | 70 | 5,000 words | 1-6, 8 | Written |
| Reading Summary Mini-Essay | 10 | 1,000 words | 1-5, 8 | Written |
| Individual Seminar Presentation with Slides | 20 | 2,000 words | 1-4, 6, 7 | Oral |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | Essay (5,000 words) | 1-5, 6, 8 | August/September reassessment period |
| Reading Summary Mini-Essay | Reading Summary (800 words) | 1-4, 6, 8 | August/September reassessment period |
| Individual Seminar Presentation with Slides | 1 Mini Essay on a Course Reading (1,500 words) | 1-4, 6, 8 | August/September reassessment period |
Re-assessment notes
The forms of re-assessment have the same credit percentage as their original form of assessment.
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
Kwame Anthony Appiah (2008), Experiment in Ethics, Harvard University Press.
Seyla Benhabib (2011) Dignity in Adversity. Human Rights in Troubled Times, Polity Press.
Alan Bleakley (2019) Routledge Handbook of Medical Humanities, Taylor and Francis.
Butler, Judith (2004) Precarious Life: The Powers of Mourning and Violence. Verso.
Angela Davis (2012) The Meaning of Freedom and Other Difficult Dialogues, City Lights Press.
Michel Foucault/Paul Rabinow (1998) Ethics: Subjectivity and Truth (Essential Works of Foucault, 1954-1984, Vol. 1), the New Press.
Jürgen Habermas (2003) The Future of Human Nature, Polity Press.
David Kyle Johnson (2019) Black Mirror and Philosophy: Dark Reflections, Wiley Blackwell.
Hans Jonas (1973) Technology and Responsibility: Reflections on the New task of Ethics, Social Research Vol. 40/1, pp. 31-54.
Jean Kazez (2009) The Weight of Things: Philosophy and the Good Life, Wiley-Blackwell
Susan Sherwin (1992) No Longer Patient, Feminist Ethics and Health Care, Temple University Press.
Vandana Shiva (2005) Earth Democracy. Justice, Sustainability and Peace, North Atlantic Books.
Lisa Tessman (2009) Feminist Ethics and Social and Political Philosophy. Theorizing the Non-Ideal, Springer.
| Credit value | 30 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 15 |
| Module pre-requisites | None |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 7 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 15/02/2017 |
| Last revision date | 01/04/2020 |
