Module Details
The information contained in this module specification was correct at the time of publication but may be subject to change, either during the session because of unforeseen circumstances, or following review of the module at the end of the session. Queries about the module should be directed to the member of staff with responsibility for the module.
Title ETHICS
Code PHIL101
Coordinator Prof T Schramme
Philosophy
T.Schramme@liverpool.ac.uk
Year CATS Level Semester CATS Value
Session 2018-19 Level 4 FHEQ First Semester 15

Aims
  1. Students will become familiar with key concepts in ethics – both meta-ethics and normative ethics. 
  2. Students will gain an acquaintance with the main approaches to moral theory (such as virtue ethics, deontology, consequentialism), as well as key debates in meta-ethics (subjectivism vs objectivism, naturalism vs non-naturalism).

    3. Students will tackle central questions in ethics, such as ‘is a good action more about good intentions than beneficial outcomes?’, ‘does lying possess an objective property of badness?’, ‘ought different people to follow different moral codes?’ and ‘what activities lead to a good life?’.

Learning Outcomes
Students will be able to distinguish between some main concepts in ethical debates, past and present.
Students will be able to explain recent developments in meta-ethics and normative ethics.
Students will be able to evaluate some of the main theories in the history of moral philosophy and contemporary ethics.
Students will be able to analyse concepts and arguments relating to ethical issues.
Students will be able to identify philosophical assumptions underlying ethical claims and judgments.
Students will be able to structure a discussion of issues in ethics.
Students will be able to speak with confidence and clarity on issues of moral philosophy.
Students will be able to explain details of canonical texts in moral philosophy.

Students will be able to articulate and defend basic positions in classic and contemporary moral philosophy.

Students will be able to write coherently and rigorously about abstract philosophical issues raised by ethical debates.

Syllabus
1 

The module gives an overview of major ethical theories, both on the normative and the meta level. After a general introduction, the module discusses topics such as natural law theory, consequentialism, Kantian deontology, social contract theories, virtue ethics, feminist ethics, ethical pluralism, skepticism, nihilism and moral rights theories.

Library resources will be accessible through the module reading list and/or the module coordinator, other key learning resources will be accessible through VITAL. The mandatory reading for this module will be extracts of classic texts from the history of ethics and contemporary ethics. Students will be expected to read, discuss and present assigned readings in seminars. All other readings will be recommended. The readings will be availa ble in the Library, in both physical and electronic format.

The essay questions will be based on the lectures and workshop activities. 


Teaching and Learning Strategies

Lecture - Weekly one hour long, standard lectures in which the lecturer presents the weekly topic to students.

Seminar - Groups of around 10 students will read and discuss a selected written piece that connects to the topic of the weekly lecture.

Formative Feedback (e.g. peer, revision sessions) - Submitted formative assignments that receive formative feedback.

workshop - Two-hour workshops run four times a semester (in weeks 4, 7, 10, 12). Students in groups of five analyze and discuss, with the help of tutors, key ethical arguments in preparation for formative assessment


Teaching Schedule
  Lectures Seminars Tutorials Lab Practicals Fieldwork Placement Other TOTAL
Study Hours 11
Weekly one hour long, standard lectures in which the lecturer presents the weekly topic to students.
11
Groups of around 10 students will read and discuss a selected written piece that connects to the topic of the weekly lecture.
      2
Submitted formative assignments that receive formative feedback.
8
Two-hour workshops run four times a semester (in weeks 4, 7, 10, 12). Students in groups of five analyze and discuss, with the help of tutors, key ethical arguments in preparation for formative assessment
32
Timetable (if known)              
Private Study 118
TOTAL HOURS 150

Assessment
EXAM Duration Timing
(Semester)		 % of
final
mark		 Resit/resubmission
opportunity		 Penalty for late
submission		 Notes
Unseen Written Exam  2 hours  1  85  Yes    Assessment 1 
CONTINUOUS Duration Timing
(Semester)		 % of
final
mark		 Resit/resubmission
opportunity		 Penalty for late
submission		 Notes
Practical Assessment  5-10 minutes  1  15  No reassessment opportunity    Seminar presentation There is no reassessment opportunity, Reassessment is not possible due to the nature of the task: seminar presentation that cannot be repeated. Notes (applying to all assessments) Examination (85%). In the exam students answer two out of six essay style questions. Assessed presentation (15%). Presentations occur in seminars and are assessed by the seminar tutor. It is not possible for assessed presentations to be marked anonymously. Formative assessment activities (0%) will be set in the workshops and marked with comments, as a means of teaching essay skills prior to summative work in PHIL101 and other modules. There are also formative assessment activities tied to the workshops of 2000 words.  

Recommended Texts
Reading lists are managed at readinglists.liverpool.ac.uk. Click here to access the reading lists for this module.
Explanation of Reading List: