Module and Programme Catalogue

Search site

Find information on

2008/09 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

PHIL1002 Introduction to Ethics

10 creditsClass Size: 800

Module manager: Nicholas Jones
Email: N.O.Jones@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2008/09

Module replaces

PHIL1200 Introduction to Ethics

This module is approved as an Elective

Module summary

This module provides students with an introduction to some important issues in philosophical ethics (also known as 'moral philosophy'). After a brief introduction featuring the egoist, who denies that anyone ever has a good reason to behave morally, we will consider central questions in the three main divisions in moral philosophy: 1) Meta-ethics: E.g. Are there certain kinds of act that are always and everywhere morally wrong, or is morality entirely relative to widely accepted cultural practices? 2) Normative ethics: What kinds of act are right, and what makes right acts right? Are there certain qualities of character we should aim to develop in order to live a flourishing human life, and if so, which ones? 3) Practical ethics: E.g. do the wealthy have a moral responsibility to meet the needs of the poor? The main aims of this, as with all Level 1 modules in the School of Philosophy, are to give students a basic understanding of the issues in question, as well as to enable students to acquire basic critical, oral, writing and analytical skills, and in addition a degree of intellectual autonomy, developing their own views and discussing them both in tutor-led and student-led groups.

Objectives

Understand some of the main concepts, principles, and positions in moral philosophy; read elementary writings in moral philosophy with understanding; interpret and analyse arguments in moral philosophy, and express this understanding in an essay.

Syllabus

Topics to be covered typically include:-

An introduction to the distinction between meta-ethics, normative theory and applied ethics; moral scepticism, moral relativism and moral objectivity; an introduction to the major theories in moral philosophy via the writings of some central figures in the history of moral philosophy, typically including consequentialism, deontology and virtue ethics; an issue in applied ethics.

Teaching methods

Delivery typeNumberLength hoursStudent hours
Proctorial51.005.00
Lecture111.0011.00
Tutorial61.006.00
Private study hours78.00
Total Contact hours22.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)100.00

Private study

Proctorial and tutorial preparation 20
Essay preparation 40
Associated reading 18

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Tutorial performance, first assessment

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 06/05/2009

Disclaimer

Browse Other Catalogues

Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team.PROD

© Copyright Leeds 2019