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2016/17 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

THEO2320 Theology and Ethical Theory

20 creditsClass Size: 35

Module manager: Dr Stefan Skrimshire
Email: s.skrimshire@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2016/17

This module is approved as a discovery module

Module summary

Theological ideas have played an integral part in the development of ethical thought, generating distinctive questions such as: is moral truth independent of God? Is belief in God necessary to justify moral claims? What does it mean to act as free individuals, and is this compatible with belief in divine authority? If God does not exist, is everything permitted? In this module you will investigate the role of such questions in relation to two major ethical traditions in western philosophy, with a focus first on Kant, and second on existentialist thinkers. The focal concept that both unites and distinguishes these thinkers is freedom. Thus each of our thinkers will be provoking us to think, why is it important for moral behavior that we regard our actions as freely chosen? What is the price of that freedom? Is belief in God compatible with free will? In seminars you will also consider the contemporary relevance of these questions, by considering in the context of moral problems in the present day.

Objectives

The objective of this module is to explore the ways questions of morality, value and human action has engaged with theology and the concept of God. In some instances this will entail tracing the coherence of theological and philosophical approaches to ethics; in other cases, their conflict. The two philosophical foci of the course are Kant, and existentialist philosophers of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

Learning outcomes
- Knowledge of some of the key theological and philosophical foundations of ethics in western thought.
- Understanding of the religious beliefs, traditions, debates and contexts that have engaged with western moral philosophy.
- Understand the significance of Existentialist ideas for philosophical and religious approaches to ethics.
- Ability to read philosophical texts critically and understand the significance of those texts for a range of contexts and contemporary ethical, political and cultural issues.
- Develop skills in philosophical and theological analysis and critical thinking.

Skills outcomes
By taking this module, students will:

Develop analytical skills in discerning the strengths and weaknesses of moral arguments.
Develop a critical approach to ethical theories and their relationship to theological claims.
Develop skills in reading philosophical texts
Develop a critical awareness of the influence of religious beliefs in contemporary moral dilemmas.
Be able to comment on current debates in ethical theory.
Advance skills in independent research across the disciplines of philosophy and theology.


Syllabus

Syllabus: divine commands; teleology and the good life; natural law; duty and the moral law; God and deontology; virtue ethics; morality after the Death of God; Atheist existentialism; Religious existentialism.

Teaching methods

Delivery typeNumberLength hoursStudent hours
Lectures111.0011.00
Seminar111.0011.00
Private study hours178.00
Total Contact hours22.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)200.00

Private study

5 hours a week preparing for seminars (Including blog entries) = 50 hours
5 hours a week background reading to lectures = 55 hours

73 hours preparation essays

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Progress monitoring:
Informal: meeting to receive feedback on essay plan;
Formal: blog entries; assessed essay; exam

Methods of assessment


Coursework
Assessment typeNotes% of formal assessment
Essay1 x 2500 word essay45.00
Essay1 x 2500 word essay45.00
Reflective logWeekly log 11 x 150-200 words10.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)100.00

An essay component is retaken via an equivalent essay (on a different topic). The format of the resit for the reflective log is submission of all weekly log entries in a document submitted on the VLE.

Reading list

There is no reading list for this module

Last updated: 27/04/2016

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