The module aims to give students a critical understanding of a range of questions in contemporary philosophical ethics. 

Ethical enquiry addresses a number of related questions, including: ‘How should one live?’, ‘What is a good life?’, ‘What should we do if self-interest and morality conflict?’, ‘What actions are morally right and wrong?’, ‘What duties do we have to others?’. Ethical theories attempt to provide answers to such questions, and to justify these answers in a rigorous and systematic way. The module examines a range of theories and debates in contemporary philosophical ethics. 

• demonstrate knowledge and critical understanding of some main views and debates within and about contemporary ethical theory. 
• demonstrate abilities to read and to critically evaluate recent work in philosophical ethics. 

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.   

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. 

The assessment(s) for this module will be published in due course.

The module critically examines a range of theories and debates in contemporary philosophical ethics. For example, topics we investigate may include consequentialist, Kantian, and contractualist approaches to altruism; whether you should be aiming to maximize the amount of good you do; what we owe to animals; and what we owe to future generations.  

Indicative content (the following indicates likely topics and core readings – please note that these are indicative and could change): 

Peter Singer, ‘Famine, Affluence, and Morality’ 

Onora O’Neill, ‘Kantian Approaches to Some Famine Problems’ 

T.M. Scanlon, ‘Contractualism and Utilitarianism’ 

John Taurek, ‘Should the Numbers Count?’ 

Jeff McMahan, ‘Doing Good and Doing the Best’ 

Peter Singer, ‘All Animals Are Equal’ 

Abelard Podgorski, ‘The Diner’s Defence: Producers, Consumers, and the Benefits of Existence’ 

James Lenman, ‘Consequentialism and Cluelessness’ 

Nick Beckstead, ‘A Brief Argument for the Overwhelming Importance of Shaping the Far Future’