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DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2018/2019

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

Undergraduate Course: Theory of Virtue (PHIL10165)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences CollegeCollege of Humanities and Social Science
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryThe course will introduce students to central ideas in the theory of virtue from the ancient, early modern and contemporary periods, illustrating the development of this area of moral philosophy, the various ways in which the concept of virtue has been interpreted, and the different views which have been held about its significance for ethics.
Course description The course will cover the treatment of virtue in the ancient world (Socrates, Plato, Aristotle and the Stoics), in the mediaeval period (Aquinas), in the early modern period (Hume and Kant), and in more recent philosophy, where it has become central to a distinctive philosophical movement, that of virtue ethics. Topics explored will include moral character, the individual virtues, and the connection of virtue with human happiness or flourishing.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Students MUST have passed: Mind, Matter and Language (PHIL08014) AND Knowledge and Reality (PHIL08017)
Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesVisiting students should have at least 3 Philosophy courses at grade B or above (or be predicted to obtain this). We will only consider University/College level courses.
High Demand Course? Yes
Course Delivery Information
Not being delivered
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Students will acquire an understanding of some major issues in the theory of virtue
  2. Students will acquire an understanding of some historic texts in the theory of virtue
  3. Students will acquire an understanding of connections between historical and contemporary philosophy
  4. Students will acquire the ability to understand and analyse arguments
  5. Students will acquire the ability to present and defend arguments
Reading List
Plato, Protagoras, Meno, Republic Books II-IV.
Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, Books I-IV.
Aquinas, Treatise on the Virtues.
D. Hume, Treatise on Human Nature, Book III, Part 3. and Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals, Appendix 4.
I. Kant, The Doctrine of Virtue.
D. Statman , ed. Virtue Ethics: A Critical Reader.
R. Crisp and M. Slote, eds, Virtue Ethics (Oxford Readings in Philosophy).
R. Crisp, ed. How Should One Live? Essays on the Virtues.
J. Driver, Uneasy Virtue.
A. Macintyre, After Virtue.
R. Hursthouse, On Virtue Ethics
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Not entered
KeywordsPhilosophy,ethics,virtue
Contacts
Course organiserDr Andrew Mason
Tel:
Email: A.S.Mason@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMiss Ann-Marie Cowe
Tel: (0131 6)50 3961
Email: Annmarie.Cowe@ed.ac.uk
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