Postgraduate Course: Ethics (Online) (PHIL11129)
Course Outline
School | School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences |
College | College of Humanities and Social Science |
Course type | Online Distance Learning |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Credits | 20 |
Home subject area | Philosophy |
Other subject area | None |
Course website |
Please see Learn page |
Taught in Gaelic? | No |
Course description | This 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 closing deadline. |
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Additional Costs | None |
Course Delivery Information
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Delivery period: 2014/15 Semester 2, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
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Learn enabled: Yes |
Quota: None |
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Web Timetable |
Web Timetable |
Class Delivery Information |
This course is only for MSc/Dip/Cert Epistemology, Ethics and Mind students. |
Course Start Date |
12/01/2015 |
Breakdown of 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 )
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Additional Notes |
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Breakdown of Assessment Methods (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
85 %,
Practical Exam
15 %
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No Exam Information |
Summary of Intended 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. |
Assessment Information
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 |
Special Arrangements
None |
Additional Information
Academic description |
Not entered |
Syllabus |
Not entered |
Transferable skills |
Not entered |
Reading list |
Not entered |
Study Abroad |
Not entered |
Study Pattern |
Not entered |
Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
Course organiser | Dr Deborah Roberts
Tel: (0131 6)51 5171
Email: D.Roberts@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Miss Lynsey Buchanan
Tel: (0131 6)51 5002
Email: Lynsey.Buchanan@ed.ac.uk |
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© Copyright 2014 The University of Edinburgh - 29 August 2014 4:37 am
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