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Thinking and Acting Ethically (PHIL90022)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
April
Email: a.alexandra@unimelb.edu.au
Overview
Availability | April |
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Fees | Look up fees |
Moral decision-making is a practical skill which we exercise many times a day, confidently and accurately. Sometimes, however, we face situations of moral complexity or novelty, where it is not obvious what we should do. In this subject, we look at the ways in which moral theory can assist us to think about such situations, particularly as they arise in our working and organisational life. We begin by examining the nature of moral reasoning, and then see how it can be applied to a number of ethical issues which we are likely to encounter in our professional lives. These issues may include, autonomy and paternalism, role morality and its relationship with personal morality, whistle-blowing, free speech in the workplace, personal and professional relationships, corruption and bribery, conflicts of interest, and privacy and confidentiality. We focus on the factors that help or hinder ethical action in organizational settings, including both structural elements (such as role clarity, avoidance of perverse incentives, accountability mechanisms) and personal traits (such as cognitive biases and moral (dis)engagement). Case studies will provide a focus for reflective work: students will be encouraged to develop case studies from their own experience, and pursue their own interests.
Intended learning outcomes
On successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:
- be familiar with key concepts and theoretical tools in ethics;
- apply these to the understanding of morally complex situations, including in their own working life; and
- contribute in an informed and reasoned way to ethical debate about such situations.
Generic skills
At the completion of this subject, students should gain the following generic skills:
- ability to engage critically with academic theorising;
- high-level argument analysis and presentation;
- research and analysis capacities that will enable them to undertake further independent research work of greater length and originality; and
- capacity for independent study.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
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: 3 November 2022
Assessment
Additional details
- An assignment, 1,500 words (30%), due at the end of the second week of the teaching period.
- An essay, 3,500 words (70%), due four weeks after the end of the teaching period.
- Hurdle: Students are required to attend a minimum of 80% of classes in order to pass this subject.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Dates & times
- April
Principal coordinator Andrew Alexandra Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours Total 24 hours: 1 x 4 hour seminar and 4 x 5 hour seminars, taught intensively over five weeks. Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 28 April 2017 to 26 May 2017 Last self-enrol date 3 May 2017 Census date 12 May 2017 Last date to withdraw without fail 9 June 2017 Assessment period ends 30 June 2017 April contact information
Email: a.alexandra@unimelb.edu.au
Time commitment details
170 hours
Additional delivery details
This intensive subject will be taught weekly over five weeks, beginning in April.
Please note: Students wishing to enrol in this subject must be admitted to the Executive Master of Arts
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
All required readings will be available in a subject reader, which will be available on the LMS.
Indicative Readings:
- Andrew Alexandra and Seumas Miller, Ethics in Practice: Moral Theory and the Professions. Sydney: University of New South Wales Press, 2009.
- Andrew Alexandra and Seumas Miller, Integrity Systems for Occupational Groups. Farnham: Ashgate, 2009.
- Margaret Coady and Sidney Bloch, Codes of Ethics and the Professions. Melbourne: MUP,1996.
- Neil Levy, Moral Relativism: A Short Introduction. Oxford: Oneworld, 2002.
- Mike Martin, Meaningful Work: Rethinking Professional Ethics. New York: OUP, 2000.
- Larry May, The Socially Responsive Self: Social Theory and Professional Ethics. Chicago: University of Chicago Press,1996.
- Justin Oakley and Dean Cocking, Virtue ethics and professional roles. Melbourne: Cambridge University Press, 2002.
- William Shaw and Vincent Barry, Moral Issues in Business (8th ed.). Florence, KY: Wadsworth, 2001.
- Dennis Thompson, Restoring Responsibility: Ethics in Government, Business, and Healthcare. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2004.
- Bernard Williams, Morality: An Introduction to Ethics. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1993.
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Informal specialisation EMA 200 point program - full time over 2 years Major EMA 150 point program - full time over 1.5 years Informal specialisation EMA 100 point program - full time over 1 year Informal specialisation EMA 200 point program - full time over 1.5 years - 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.
Additional information for this subject
Subject coordinator approval required
Last updated: 3 November 2022