Ethical Theory

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2016:

170 hours

One of the following subjects is recommended but not required:

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

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.

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.

• 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.

Sahfer-Landau (ed) Ethical Theory: An Anthology (Blackwell 2007). This book will be available from the University bookshop at the start of semester.

This subject potentially can be taken as a breadth subject component for the following courses:

• Bachelor of Biomedicine
• Bachelor of Commerce
• Bachelor of Environments
• Bachelor of Music
• Bachelor of Science
• Bachelor of Engineering

You should visit learn more about breadth subjects and read the breadth requirements for your degree, and should discuss your choice with your student adviser, before deciding on your subjects.