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 Alexander Bryan
Semester Spring Semester
Academic Year 2022/3

Outline Description of Module

In Metaethics we study the philosophical issues of what is it for something to be good or bad, right or wrong, what ought or ought not to be done. These questions lie behind or are presupposed by normative ethics (which is that part of ethics covered by the second year module, 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 debate on deontology versus consequentialism raises 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. 

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. 

  • Construct and evaluate arguments, both verbally and in writing 

  • Work independently 

How the module will be delivered

The module will be delivered through a mix of large group and small group sessions, including, where relevant, asynchronous materials such as lecture recordings. Full details on the delivery mode of this module will be available on Learning Central at the start of the academic year – and may be, in part, determined by Welsh Government and Public Health Wales guidance.   

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 

Transferable / Employability Skills

It is worth bearing in mind that, even though the point of the module is to do philosophy, many of the skills you’ll be developing are also highly valued by graduate employers. These include: 

  • Critical Thinking: e.g. the ability to understand, structure and critically evaluate the key points and arguments made in written texts and discussions––achieved through e.g. reading, small group activities in lectures and seminars, plenary discussions in seminars, reflecting on lecture materials, essay and exam preparation and writing. 

  • Communication: the ability to formulate and articulate your critical thinking, both orally and on paper, in ways that others can grasp and engage with––achieved through e.g. small group work in seminars, seminar discussions, essay/exam writing. 

  • Organisation: the ability to organise and coordinate workloads––achieved through balancing e.g. reading, seminar preparation, essay/exam preparation. 

  • Working with others: e.g. co-constructing ideas, responding sensitively to others––achieved through e.g. small group work in seminars, group presentations. 

How the module will be assessed

A blend of coursework and portfolio assessments.

Assessment Breakdown

Type % Title Duration(hrs)
Exam online – Spring semester 50 Metaethics 4
Written Assessment 50 Essay N/A

Syllabus content

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

  • 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 

Indicative schedule of topics, by semester week: 

  • Introduction  
  • Non-naturalism 
  • Moore’s open question argument 
  • Subjectivism 
  • Constructivism 
  • Reading week 
  • Response dependence 
  • Emotivism 
  • Expressivism 
  • Error theory 
  • Naturalism 

Indicative readings:   

Van Roojen, M. S. 2015. Metaethics : A Contemporary Introduction.  Abingdon: Routledge. 


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