Courses / Module

• Identify the main arguments for and against the two main opposing theories on the issue of the proper relation of morality to law, namely: (1) that the law should legislate against immorality as such and (2) that the law should legislate only against that which is damaging to society.
• Distinguish the meaning of the concept of punishment from the question of the moral justification of punishment, with reference to the three main theories of punishment (the retributive, reformative and deterrent theories).
• Analyse metaphors used in the debate between crime and punishment and assess their value and effectiveness in the debate on the question of the morality of punishment.
• Describe the significant historical influences on the development of the concept of moral and legal rights (e.g. Natural Law theory, Original State of Nature theories, The French, American, and English Revolutions) and recognise different definitions of the concept of a right (as, e.g., a liberty, a permission, a claim, a judicial remedy, a power, an interest, a relative duty).
• Address philosophically controversial rights (e.g. right to life, right to revolt, right to strike, right to peace, right to property, right to a clean environment, right to freedom of expression, right to censorship).
• Identify and discriminate between moral and non-moral dimensions in the debate of examples or case-studies relating to issues of moral concern in society today.
• Present and articulate, in scholarly written format, a cogent argument for a position taken in relation to a philosophical topic in moral philosophy.
• Demonstrate ability to select and think-through a response that is of relevance to the set essay-assignment tasks in addressing moral issues of concern in society today.

• 20 lecture hours (10 weeks x 2 lecture hours per week); 3 tutorial hours (x 15 tutorial groups); reading, reflection, discussion and writing.

• Module Graded (numeric value) or Ungraded (Pass/Not Passed): Graded
• Continuous Assessment detail(s): 10% = Attendance at Tutorials. 20% = Tutorial Essay-Assignment (c. 1,000 words). 70% = Final Essay-Assignment (c. 2,000 words).

• Pass standard: 40%
• Could the result of this module be capped? No
• Penalties: As outlined in Department Student Handbook

This timetable is not currently available, please contact the Philosophy Department.