TRS4202 - Ethics - Philosophical and Theological

Objectives:

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:

(1) identify and distinguish between the most typical moral theories and some of the less textbook-bound approaches to moral philosophy;
(2) demonstrate an understanding of the variety of moral sources, norms, concepts and methods within Christian and some other traditions of moral thinking;
(3) analyze and construct philosophical and theological arguments using a variety of moral and social sources;
(4) distinguish between matters of bias, preference, taste and choice, and show a capacity for self-criticism;
(5) work in a group and use teaching aids to present and analyse a moral issue. KIT

Content:

Learners will be introduced to the foundational concepts of ethics as construed in the philosophical sense as well as the theological. A range of themes and topics will be explored, with a particular focus upon the differing but interrelated models of morality, for instance, morality as law, as inner conviction, as emotivism, virtue, conscience and faithfulness.

Other themes which will be explored will include, for example, cultural and subjective relativism, the sources of ethics, including Christian ethics, virtue ethics, utilitarian and consequentialist interpretations of the good, as well as the role of tradition and the Bible in moral decision making. Students will also be given the opportunity to engage with the debate on the specificity of Christian morality, in order to determine what, if anything, is unique about Christian ethics.
The question of inter-faith dialogue will also be discussed, with a view to determining how one can belong to a tradition which sustains the quest for goodness without being completely determined by it.

Learning and Teaching Information:

The course will be taught in plenary sessions which will make use of a blend of teaching and learning methods. These will normally include: lecture-style presentations by the tutor; seminar-style discussion of a particular topic; informal prepared presentations by students, followed by discussion; formal assessment by presentation to the rest of the group; other exercises as appropriate to material and group. Guidance on reading in preparation for each session and activity will be given; and learning will be supported where appropriate by VLE and other electronic resources.\
Guidance on research and essay-writing will be embedded in the learning and teaching process throughout the module; and may also be supported by tutorial guidance on essay plans and drafts if required.

Lectures / Seminars
Contact hours:40
Number of Groups:1

Assessment:

001 Essay 1 x 1500 words (end of sem 1) 30%
002 Portfolio 1 x 1000 words (end of Sem 2) 30%
003 exam 1 x 2 hours (end of sem 2) 40%


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