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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences : Philosophy

Postgraduate Course: Ethics (Online) (PHIL11129)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences CollegeCollege of Humanities and Social Science
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate)
Course typeOnline Distance Learning AvailabilityNot available to visiting students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryThis course examines to what extent we can find a place for ethics in a naturalistic, scientific picture of the world. We start with the issue of whether or not we have free will. On the face of it this seems to be a precondition for the possibility of holding people morally responsible for their actions, and thus a precondition for there being moral requirements at all. We then move on to examine the nature of ethics, beginning with the topic of moral realism and the arguments for it. We then examine various challenges to the realist view, including challenges from evolutionary theory and neuroscience. We end by revisiting moral realism and asking what difference it makes whether or not moral realism is true.

Formative feedback available:
- students can submit a formative essay by the week 6 closing deadline.
Course description Not entered
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2014/15, Not available to visiting students (SS1) Quota:  None
Course Start Semester 2
Course Start Date 12/01/2015
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 200 ( Online Activities 20, Revision Session Hours 2, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 164 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 85 %, Practical Exam 15 %
Additional Information (Assessment) Students will be assessed by a 2500 word essay due at the end of the semester (85%) and successful participation in the on-line activities associated with the course (15%).

Essay deadline: Monday 20th April 2015 by 12 noon
Word limit: 2500 words maximum
Return deadline: Tuesday 12th May 2015
Feedback Not entered
No Exam Information
Learning Outcomes
Students will gain knowledge of some of the key issues in contemporary ethics. They will also develop their skills in critical thinking and in the oral and written presentation of philosophical arguments.
Reading List
None
Additional Information
Course URL Please see Learn page
Graduate Attributes and Skills Not entered
Additional Class Delivery Information This course is only for MSc/Dip/Cert Epistemology, Ethics and Mind students.
KeywordsNot entered
Contacts
Course organiserDr Deborah Roberts
Tel: (0131 6)51 5171
Email: D.Roberts@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMiss Lynsey Buchanan
Tel: (0131 6)51 5002
Email: Lynsey.Buchanan@ed.ac.uk
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