SE4373: Modern Moral Philosophy

School Philosophy
Department Code ENCAP
Module Code SE4373
External Subject Code 100337
Number of Credits 20
Level L6
Language of Delivery English
Module Leader Dr Joseph Adams
Semester Spring Semester
Academic Year 2022/3

Outline Description of Module

We will be studying in detail the two following books: David Hume’s Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals and Immanuel Kant’s Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals. We will aim to identify precisely what claims the chosen books are making, through assessing competing interpretations, and to evaluate their contributions to moral thought.

On completion of the module a student should be able to

  • Show knowledge of the key aims and components of the selected texts.
  • Be able to identify and engage with issues of textual interpretation.
  • Be able to understand and engage with evaluative claims concerning these texts in the secondary literature.
  • Be able to critically evaluate and give justified interpretations of these texts.

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

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.

Assessment Breakdown

Type % Title Duration(hrs)
Written Assessment 50 Essay 1 N/A
Exam online – Spring semester 50 Modern Moral Philosophy 4

Syllabus content

The module will be concerned with understanding the structure and components of the following texts and assessing their contributions to moral thought: David Hume’s Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals, Immanuel Kant’s Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals.


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