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

Postgraduate Course: Advanced Ethics (Online) (PHIL11134)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences CollegeCollege of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate)
Course typeOnline Distance Learning AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryOur focus in this course is on Normative ethics. Normative ethical theory aims to answer the questions 'How should I act?' and 'How should I live?'. This course provides a systematic comparison of some of the major normative traditions. The organizing theme will be the debate between theory and anti- theory in normative ethics. To that end we will spend some time on Bernard Williams' seminal work in this area: Ethics and the Limits of Philosophy.

Please note auditing is not allowed on this course. Students must only take for credit.
Course description Syllabus:

1: Introduction to Normative Ethics: Socrates' Question (Synchronous seminar)

Theory
2: Consequentialism (Synchronous seminar)
3: Kant's Ethics (Asynchronous forum seminar)
4: Contractualism (Synchronous seminar)
5: Virtue Ethics (Asynchronous forum seminar)

Anti-Theory
6: Williams against Utilitarianism (Synchronous seminar)
7: Ethics and the Limits of Philosophy (Asynchronous forum seminar)
8: Ethics and the Limits of Philosophy (Synchronous seminar)
9: Moral Particularism (Asynchronous forum seminar)
10: Moral Particularism (Synchronous seminar)
11: Review (Asynchronous forum seminar)
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Students MUST have passed: Ethics (PHIL11182)
Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements Students must have passed Ethics (PHIL11182) or equivalent during their previous studies at another institution before taking this course.
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesNone
High Demand Course? Yes
Course Delivery Information
Not being delivered
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. have a grasp of fundamental issues and views in normative theory and anti- theory
  2. critically analyse and engage with literature by key philosophers in this field.
  3. present arguments clearly and concisely both within a classroom context and in a summative essay.
  4. gain transferable skills in research, analysis and argumentation
Reading List
Representative Reading List

1: Bernard Williams 'Socrates' Question' Ethics and the Limits of Philosophy, Chapter one.

2: J. S. Mill Utilitarianism (chapter 3 optional)

3: Immanuel Kant, Groundwork of the Metaphysic of Morals, (Chapter one and chapter two)

4: T. Scanlon 'The Structure of Contractualism' in What We Owe To Each Other.

5: John McDowell 'Virtue and Reason' The Monist 62 (3):331-350 (1979)

6: Bernard Williams 'A Critique of Utilitarianism' in Smart and Williams
Utilitarianism For and Against

7: Bernard Williams, Chapters two and three of his Ethics and the Limits and Philosophy

8: Bernard Williams, Chapters four and five of his Ethics and the Limits of Philosophy

9: Jonathan Dancy 'What are the Options' Chapter one of his Ethics without Principles

10: Jonathan Dancy 'Holism and its Consequences' Chapter five of his Ethics without Principles
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Research, critical analysis, argumentation skills (both written and oral). Critical reading skills
KeywordsNormative Theory,normative anti-theory,Consequentialism,utilitarianism,kantianism,virtue ethics
Contacts
Course organiserProf Michael Cholbi
Tel:
Email: mcholbi@exseed.ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMs Olivia Coltman
Tel:
Email: ocoltman@ed.ac.uk
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