Shorter Applied Ethics Thesis

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2015:

An average of 10 hours each week.

Enrolment in this thesis subject must be over two consecutive semesters.

Enrollment in the Masters by Coursework 102EU.

None.

Students enrolling in this subject must have completed a Bachelor of Arts degree or equivalent.

Students who have completed the Longer Applied Ethics Thesis (PHIL90017) are not permitted to enrol in this subject.

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry.The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

The thesis provides students with the opportunity to research, design and write an original thesis on a topic on applied ethics. Students will also acquire research skills and an understanding of the methods required for advanced research in philosophy.

Students who successfully complete this project will

• have developed an understanding of the fundamentals of philosophical argumentation and theory.
• be able to demonstrate a substantial knowledge of one or more areas in the study of applied ethics.
• understand the theoretical sources of the key concepts in these areas of study.
• have developed research and analysis skills to enable further study in the area of applied ethics at a higher academic level.
• understand the application of these concepts to their professional field or study area.
• present theories and arguments concisely and critically.

A thesis of 12,000 words on a topic to be approved by the course coordinator (due at the end of the second semester of enrolment).

Appropriate texts will be determined in consultation with the thesis supervisor.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

Students who successfully complete this project will

• understand and analyse complex ethical issues.
• detect ambiguity, vagueness, inconsistency, and other weaknesses in the expressions of ideas.
• distinguish different types of question, claim or argument, and respond to them appropriately.
• distinguish what is relevant to a given issue from what is not.
• see ways in which an argument or explanation could be improved.