161-101 Moral Conflicts

Credit Points:

Coordinator:

Timetable:

Contact:

Subject Description:

A critical examination of (1) some of the sources, ancient and modern, of pessimism about the possibility of a rational and agreed basis for moral argument; (2) some of the main theories about the nature of moral value and the possibility of moral obligation; (3) a range of current moral conflicts, including animal rights, euthanasia, some problems about war. The subject will enable students to: recognise the distinctive nature of philosophical problems and their significance for other areas of human thought; know how to go about working through such problems; be in a position to engage with more advanced philosophical material in a wide range of areas; and to bring philosophical skills to bear upon their studies in other disciplines.

Assessment:

Prescribed Texts:

Teaching material will be made available in booklet form from the Philosophy Department.