Handbook home
Ethical Theory (PHIL20008)
Undergraduate level 2Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
Semester 2
Email: jonek@unimelb.edu.au
Overview
Availability | Semester 2 |
---|---|
Fees | Look up fees |
This subject critically studies the three classical approaches to moral philosophy: Aristotle 'virtue ethics, Immanuel Kant' deontology, and John Stuart Mill's Utilitarianism. As well as examining works by these great thinkers, we look at debates among the contemporary heirs to the traditions they started.
Intended learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete this subject will:
- understand the main approaches to the nature of morality, including understanding the historical antecedents to important contemporary approaches to the nature of morality;
- be able to charitably reconstruct arguments from classic philosophical texts and evalutate their strengths and weaknesses;
- become more able to defend, and not just coherently state, one's own position with regard to controversial questions in normative ethics;
- have acquired a background for one'w own further philosophical reflection on morality;
- work individually, and in groups, to create and test arguments.
Last updated: 27 April 2024
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Recommended background knowledge
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
PHIL10002 | Philosophy: The Big Questions | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
PHIL10003 | Philosophy: The Great Thinkers | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 27 April 2024
Assessment
Additional details
- A 2000 word essay, due mid-semester (50%)
- A 2000 word take home exam, due in the end of semester examination period (50%)
Hurdle Requirement:
- students must attend a minimum of 75% of tutorials in order to pass this subject
- all pieces of written work must be submitted to pass this subject
Note: Assessment submitted late without an approved extension will be penalised at 10% per day. After five working days late assessment will not be marked. In-class tasks missed without approval will not be marked.
Last updated: 27 April 2024
Dates & times
- Semester 2
Principal coordinator Karen Jones Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 35 hours - 2 x 1-hour lectures each week and 1x 1-hour tutorial in weeks 2-12 Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 24 July 2017 to 22 October 2017 Last self-enrol date 4 August 2017 Census date 31 August 2017 Last date to withdraw without fail 22 September 2017 Assessment period ends 17 November 2017 Semester 2 contact information
Email: jonek@unimelb.edu.au
Time commitment details
170 hours
Additional delivery details
it is recommended that students enrolling in this subject have completed a first year philosophy subject, however this is not a requirement.
Last updated: 27 April 2024
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
Sahfer-Landau (ed) Ethical Theory: An Anthology (Blackwell 2007). This book will be available from the University bookshop at the start of semester.
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Major Philosophy Informal specialisation Graduate Diploma in Arts - Philosophy Minor European Studies Major Philosophy Major Informal specialisation Graduate Certificate in Arts - Philosophy - Breadth options
This subject is available as breadth in the following courses:
- Links to additional information
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
Last updated: 27 April 2024