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DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2014/2015
- ARCHIVE as at 1 September 2014

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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
Course typeOnline Distance Learning AvailabilityNot available to visiting students
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) Credits20
Home subject areaPhilosophy Other subject areaNone
Course website Please see Learn page Taught in Gaelic?No
Course descriptionThis 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 Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Additional Costs None
Course Delivery Information
Delivery period: 2014/15 Semester 2, Not available to visiting students (SS1) Learn enabled:  Yes Quota:  None
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 )
Additional Notes
Breakdown of Assessment Methods (Further Info) Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 85 %, Practical Exam 15 %
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
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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