PHI-10013 - Module Specification
School of Social Sciences
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

Programme/Approved Electives for 2024/25

Available as a Free Standing Elective

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2024/25

This module introduces students to fundamental questions in moral philosophy and to their most influential answers by taking into account also the topical issue of religious belief and its relevance for our moral lives. It also introduces the distinction between ethics and meta-ethics.
The module would be of interest to all beginning students, whether or not registered in a Philosophy programme or with previous philosophical training.
In its first part, the module explores issues in philosophical ethics, such as whether there are moral truths or whether we have reasons to be moral. The second part focuses on classical positions in normative ethics, for instance, hedonism and discourse ethics. Finally, by reflecting on the relevance of religion for our moral lives, the module explores the relationship between morality and religion by considering several key problems in the philosophy of religion: divine power and human freedom, divine goodness and the nature of evil, or the existence of God and the nature of moral values.

1) To introduce students to the key problems in moral philosophy, its links with religion, and to the distinction between ethics and meta-ethics.
2) To enable students to enhance and complement the subject-specific knowledge and skills, as well as the employability skills acquired from the two first-year Philosophy core modules and the other first-year programme elective.

Intended Learning Outcomes

recognise and define the main concepts and distinctions in moral philosophy and philosophy of religion: 1,2
identify and illustrate the philosophical underpinnings of the positions presented in lectures and discussed in seminars: 1,2
demonstrate rigour in the critical assessment of arguments presented in texts: 1,2
identify, present and interpret opposing arguments in order to evaluate them and conclude on their persuasiveness: 1,2
explain and discuss the relationship between arguments in moral philosophy and philosophy of religion, as presented in the course and appreciate the distinction between ethics and meta-ethics: 1,2

Study hours

Active learning hours:
12 hours attendance at lectures
10 hours attendance at seminars
68 hours preparation for seminars and engagement with pre-recorded material on Teams
Independent study hours:
25 hours researching and writing the short essay
35 hours researching and writing the long essay

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment