Course Catalogue

View Specification Document | Reading List

A Masters level course in Moral Philosophy which develops undergraduate level understanding of the field towards a foundation for postgraduate research in Philosophy. 

6 two-hour seminars and 2 one-hour occasional tutorials. In addition to the 2 one-hour tutorials, students receive (1) immediate oral feedback on presentations at seminars; (2) written feedback on short non-assessed essays written during the semester; (3) availability of course lecturers during office hours.

This course may not run every year. Options running this year are available on MyCampus.

Standard entry to Masters at College Level with the first degree being in Philosophy.

All courses in Philosophy associated with the MLitt Philosophy.

None

One 4000-5000 word essay

This course aims to:

■ Develop students' undergraduate level understanding of Moral Philosophy to a level which allow them to engage with contemporary positions and arguments in the field

■ Enable students to articulate and critically evaluate their own position within these contemporary issues

■ Provide a foundation in this field for future engagement in original research in Philosophy

■ Provide the opportunity to achieve a foundation that equips the student for research leading to a Ph.D.: The meaning of moral judgements, the nature of moral value, the nature of moral beliefs and desires, and the nature of emotion its place in moral philosophy.

By the end of this course students will be able:

■ To explain the leading contemporary positions and arguments in Moral Philosophy

■ To articulate arguments for and against these theories, and compare them fruitfully and critically

■ To recognise and incorporate contemporary positions and arguments in Moral Philosophy into their own developing research fields where relevant

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's

summative assessment."