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CENTRAL PRINCIPLES OF ETHICAL REASONING

Module code: PH219
Credits: 5
Semester: 1
Department: PHILOSOPHY
International:

	Overview
	Ethical reasoning is a manner of thinking employed within philosophy to determine the moral rightness or wrongness of human actions in proportion to some notion of the good. This module examines a range of significant moral theories from the philosophical tradition which remain abiding options for human life in the present, namely, virtue ethics (Aristotle), utilitarian ethics (Mill), the ethics of duty (Kant), existential ethics (Kierkegaard), and ethics as first philosophy (Levinas). During this course, attention will also be given to the application of these theories to specific moral dilemmas (e.g., the �trolley problem�) as well as to some pertinent moral issues facing civilization today, such as the complexity of existing as both an individual and a member of society, the tension between our responsibility toward others and the freedom of our personal will, and the difference between simply following a set of conventional moral rules and committing oneself to one�s own moral intuitions.

Overview

Ethical reasoning is a manner of thinking employed within philosophy to determine the moral rightness or wrongness of human actions in proportion to some notion of the good. This module examines a range of significant moral theories from the philosophical tradition which remain abiding options for human life in the present, namely, virtue ethics (Aristotle), utilitarian ethics (Mill), the ethics of duty (Kant), existential ethics (Kierkegaard), and ethics as first philosophy (Levinas). During this course, attention will also be given to the application of these theories to specific moral dilemmas (e.g., the �trolley problem�) as well as to some pertinent moral issues facing civilization today, such as the complexity of existing as both an individual and a member of society, the tension between our responsibility toward others and the freedom of our personal will, and the difference between simply following a set of conventional moral rules and committing oneself to one�s own moral intuitions.

	Learning Outcomes
	On successful completion of the module, students should be able to: distinguish ethical reasoning as a particular manner of thinking within philosophy; outline and compare various philosophical notions of the good (i.e., Aristotle�s concept of happiness, Mill�s principle of utility, Kant�s categorical imperative, Kierkegaard�s account of personal commitment, and Levinas�s description of the good beyond being); identify the reasoning process behind what makes a human action morally right for each of the thinkers presented; apply some of the philosophical approaches examined to certain moral dilemmas; recognise the difference between an abstract and concrete approach toward ethical reasoning; discern the significance of Levinas�s establishment of ethics as heteronomous responsibility as opposed to autonomous freedom; explain and assess central tenets of ethical reasoning and philosophical approaches toward pertinent moral issues in society today.

Learning Outcomes

Teaching & Learning methods

Assessment

	Autumn Supplementals/Resits
	Are supplemental/resit registrations permitted? Yes Autumn sitting of a final written examination (60%), with continuous assessment mark carried over to autumn sitting. University scheduled written examination (Autumn): 120 minutes Is Supplemental Continuous Assessment registration permitted? No Is Supplemental Continuous Assessment capped? No

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

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Courses / Module

CENTRAL PRINCIPLES OF ETHICAL REASONING