phi2epp ethics
ETHICS: PRIVATE AND PUBLIC
PHI2EPP
2018
Credit points: 15
Subject outline
This subject is concerned with moral problems that arise in private and public life. We will focus on a selection of controversial topics drawn from a number of areas. One of these may concern questions of life and death, including the sanctity of life, abortion, and euthanasia. Another may focus on ethical issues raised by new technologies, such as the use of drones in war, reproductive choice, genetic enhancement, and sex selection. In any one year we may also examine social issues, such as stereotyping, bullying or racism, and/or global issues, such as the international trade in organs and body parts, global poverty, and the ethics of climate change policy.
SchoolSchool of Humanities & Social Sciences
Credit points15
Subject Co-ordinatorGeorge Vassilacopoulos
Available to Study Abroad StudentsYes
Subject year levelYear Level 2 - UG
Exchange StudentsYes
Subject particulars
Subject rules
PrerequisitesN/A
Co-requisitesN/A
Incompatible subjects PHI2AET
Equivalent subjectsN/A
Special conditionsN/A
Learning resources
Readings
| Resource Type | Title | Resource Requirement | Author and Year | Publisher |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Readings | Provided through LMS | Prescribed | Various | Various |
Graduate capabilities & intended learning outcomes
01. Locate, review and analyse unfamiliar ideas and arguments using methods that take into account relevant cultural and other background assumptions.
- Activities:
- In forum posts and replies identify ideas or claims in the set texts that you believe reveal their underlying assumptions and cultural contexts and explain how these impact on the strength of an argument.
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Speaking,Cultural Literacy)
- Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Speaking,Cultural Literacy)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Personal and Professional Skills(Autonomy and independence,Ethical behaviour,Study and Learning Skills)
- Personal and Professional Skills(Autonomy and independence,Ethical behaviour,Study and Learning Skills)
- Personal and Professional Skills(Autonomy and independence,Ethical behaviour,Study and Learning Skills)
- Discipline -Specific Knowledge and Skills(Discipline-Specific Knowledge and Skills)
02. Identity and analyse the underlying issues and problems in contemporary debates about controversial social issues and assess strategies to resolve the problems.
- Activities:
- Read set passages from key texts, think about and answer a series of questions about the propositions they make.
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Speaking,Cultural Literacy)
- Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Speaking,Cultural Literacy)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Personal and Professional Skills(Autonomy and independence,Ethical behaviour,Study and Learning Skills)
- Discipline -Specific Knowledge and Skills(Discipline-Specific Knowledge and Skills)
03. Develop a coherent and well-structured argument in relation to a complex philosophical claim concerning a contemporary social issue.
- Activities:
- Choose one of the main research topics, read the set text, think about and discuss a philosophical claim and objections with a view to developing a coherent argument.
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Speaking,Cultural Literacy)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Personal and Professional Skills(Autonomy and independence,Ethical behaviour,Study and Learning Skills)
- Personal and Professional Skills(Autonomy and independence,Ethical behaviour,Study and Learning Skills)
- Discipline -Specific Knowledge and Skills(Discipline-Specific Knowledge and Skills)
Subject options
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Melbourne, 2018, Semester 1, Blended
Overview
Online enrolmentYes
Maximum enrolment sizeN/A
Enrolment information
Subject Instance Co-ordinatorGeorge Vassilacopoulos
Class requirements
Lecture/SeminarWeek: 10 - 22
One 2.0 hours lecture/seminar per week on weekdays during the day from week 10 to week 22 and delivered via blended.
Unscheduled Online ClassWeek: 10 - 22
One 2.0 days unscheduled online class per week on any day including weekend during the day from week 10 to week 22 and delivered via online.
Assessments
| Assessment element | Comments | % | ILO* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Task 1 Blog posts and replies to other students (1600 words) | 40 | 01, 02 | |
| Task 2: Staged research essay stage one: annotated bibliography and proposal (800 words) | 20 | 01, 02, 03 | |
| Task 2 Staged research essay stage two: Essay (1600) | 40 | 01, 02, 03 |