SE4367: Metaethics

School Philosophy
Department Code ENCAP
Module Code SE4367
External Subject Code 100337
Number of Credits 20
Level L6
Language of Delivery English
Module Leader Dr Charlotte Newey
Semester Autumn Semester
Academic Year 2015/6

Outline Description of Module

The aim of this module is to investigate and understand the central questions of metaethics.

 

In Metaethics we study the philosophical issues that lie behind or are presupposed by normative ethics (which is that part of ethics covered by the second year course, Contemporary Ethical Theory). For example, when someone says ‘stealing is wrong’ they are making a normative ethical claim, but when they follow it up by saying ‘but that is just my opinion, I wouldn’t want to impose it on anyone else’ they have shifted to taking a position in metaethics, a position that morality is merely a matter of opinion rather than a matter of fact. And of course, we can wonder whether that is right. The second year course on moral philosophy spent some time on deontology versus consequentialism, and behind that debate lies another metaethical question: whether moral requirements are requirements of rationality, requirements that any rational agent is committed to simply in virtue of being a rational agent or whether they depend instead on our preferences or attitudes.

 

More broadly, metaethics is concerned with the questions of what is it for something to be good or bad, right or wrong, what ought or ought not to be done; whether moral properties are objective features of the world, and if so, whether they are natural or non-natural features, or whether they depend on the attitudes or responses or rational willing of subjects; whether moral discourse is truth apt or whether its semantics must be given in other terms; whether moral judgements are cognitive or non-cognitive states and whether they are necessarily motivating.

On completion of the module a student should be able to

  • demonstrate knowledge and critical understanding of the doctrines and arguments of current analytical philosophers on metaethics.

 

How the module will be delivered

The module will be delivered through one lecture per week, plus seminars as appropriate. Seminars will take the form of discussion sessions led by a member of staff or discussion sessions where students work independently in small groups.

 

This module will be taught using printed books and also using journal articles which are available online (e.g. via Learning Central) or from the library.

Timetabled sessions will be supplemented with written material in the form of a detailed summary of the session content, questions and/or instructions for discussion and a list of further reading. This supplementary material will be provided on Learning Central and will be projected during the sessions using PowerPoint or OHP acetates. Any supplementary material in a permanent form (e.g. a paper handout or downloadable document) will be made available on Learning Central at least 24 hours before the session.

 

Still images or diagrams will be used in this module as an occasional supplement to illustrate points which are also presented verbally (e.g. in text or by means of a caption).

 

Sound, video and other multi-media resources are not used in this module.

Skills that will be practised and developed

Students will practise and develop the following skills:

  • the ability to describe several main theories about metaethical questions
  • the ability to critically assess the main strengths and weaknesses of these theories 
  • the ability to extract material relevant to a particular problem from a body of literature
  • the ability to evaluate chains of complex reasoning
  • the ability to classify philosophical arguments as valid or invalid, convincing or unconvincing the ability to work independently

How the module will be assessed

The formative assessment for this module will take the form of two essays each of 1,500 words maximum.

The summative assessment for this module will take the form of one 3-hour unseen written examination.

This module is assessed according to the Marking Criteria set out in the Philosophy Undergraduate Student Handbook.

There are academic or competence standards which limit the availability of adjustments or alternative assessments for students with disabilities. To ensure fairness in proving core academic and competence standards all students for whom this module contributes to their degree must sit the exam.

Assessment Breakdown

Type % Title Duration(hrs)
Exam - Autumn Semester 100 Metaethics 3

Syllabus content

Doctrines and arguments of current analytical philosophers on the metaethical topics of:

  • moral realism and anti-realism
  • moral subjectivism and objectivism
  • emotivism and expressivism
  • response dependence: constructivism and sensibility
  • moral cognitivism and non-cognitivism
  • naturalism and non-naturalism
  • error theory and fictionalism
  • moral epistemology

Essential Reading and Resource List

These books, in some parts, are indicative of the subject matter.  You are advised not to purchase books until seeing the reading list. Miller 2003; Huemer 2005; Fisher and Kirchin 2006

Fisher, A. & Kirchin, S. 2006. Arguing About Metaethics.  London: Routledge. 

Online at http://www.loc.gov/catdir/enhancements/fy0654/2006043950-d.html

Huemer, M. 2005. Ethical Intuitionism.  Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. 

Miller, A. 2003. An Introduction to Contemporary Metaethics.  Cambridge: Blackwell.

Background Reading and Resource List

These books, in some parts, are indicative of the subject matter.  You are advised not to purchase books until seeing the reading list.

 

Fisher, A. & Kirchin, S. 2006. Arguing About Metaethics.  London: Routledge. 

Online at http://www.loc.gov/catdir/enhancements/fy0654/2006043950-d.html

Huemer, M. 2005. Ethical Intuitionism.  Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.

Miller, A. 2003. An Introduction to Contemporary Metaethics.  Cambridge: Blackwell.


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