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2020/21 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

PHIL1080 The Good, the Bad, the Right, the Wrong

20 creditsClass Size: 246

Module manager: Dr. Daniel Elstein
Email: D.Y.Elstein@leeds.ac.uk; c.duguid@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2020/21

Module replaces

PHIL1002PHIL1102PHIL1003

This module is approved as a discovery module

Module summary

This module will introduce students to central issues in moral philosophy and political philosophy. For example: Is morality just relative to one’s culture or belief system? What are the major moral theories? What is the nature of oppression? What is the nature of democracy, justice, and equality?

Objectives

On completion of this module, students should have a basic ability to:
• discuss philosophical issues with others of opposing views;
• construct an argument for a point of view, and express it in clear, concise prose;
• read philosophical texts critically and with attention to detail;
• explain and respond to central ideas in the work of the philosophers studied.

Learning outcomes
By the end of the module, students will be able to:
• display an understanding of the issues studied;
• construct an argument for a point of view, and express it in clear, concise prose;


Syllabus

Potential topics include:
• Moral relativism
• Moral Philosophy: Virtue ethics, consequentialism, contemporary Kantianism/deontology
• Political philosophy: Rawls’ theory of distributive justice, theories of legitimate authority
• Value theory in a contemporary context: Feminist philosophy, philosophy of race, the nature of ownership, liberty and toleration vs. other values, theories of civil disobedience
Each subfield will get roughly equal coverage. The module leader may choose to focus on one topic from each subfield, or to cover more topics in less detail.

Teaching methods

Delivery typeNumberLength hoursStudent hours
Discussion forum51.005.00
Lecture181.0018.00
Tutorial81.008.00
Private study hours169.00
Total Contact hours31.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)200.00

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Via online discussion group and tutorial participation, and performance in mid-term essay.

Methods of assessment


Coursework
Assessment typeNotes% of formal assessment
Essay1500 words mid module40.00
Essay2000 words end of module60.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)100.00

In light of the effect of COVID-19 and lockdown restrictions on students' learning experiences, the School of PRHS have made the decision to modify assessment in Semester 2 modules in the 2020-21 academic year. Changes may involve reducing the number of assessment points (e.g. assessing one essay rather than two) or reducing word counts where it is possible to do so whilst protecting the integrity of the module's Learning Outcomes. Information on any changes to assessment for this module is available to enrolled students in the Minerva module area, and can also be sought from the module leader or the PRHS SES team.

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 04/02/2021 11:40:44

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