TRS6202 - Social Ethics

Objectives:

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
Demonstrate a detailed knowledge of key issues in contemporary social ethics;
Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the responses of some theologians and ethicists to these issues;
Evaluate both ethical and theological approaches to various debates in the field of social ethics
Critically analyse and evaluate the arguments of various parties in these contentious areas, and show independent thought in relation to how some issues might be approached in contemporary society.

Content:

This module deals with questions of morality and justice in corporate and social settings such as business, international affairs, society and environment.

As well as theoretical approaches, a range of issues in social ethics will be introduced and discussed, which may include (for example):
• the relationship between morality and law;
• the ethics of sportsmanship;
• Business ethics and moral virtues;
• Media and morality;
• The rights of animals;
• Animal experimentation;
• The right to private property;
• The punishment of criminals;
• Peace, violence and war;
• Truth telling in cases of moral dilemma;
• Organ transplantation;
• Hypnosis and general anaesthesia;
• Environmental ethics;
• Eco-feminism;
• Feminist responses to social justice issues;
• Catholic Social Teaching;

Learning and Teaching Information:

Learning and teaching takes place in plenary sessions and using blended learning. It may also include group activities and also opportunities for individual help through face-to-face meeting or online means. Scheduled learning activities are varied and include include: lecture-style presentations by the module tutor or occasional guest speaker; seminar-style discussion of a particular topic; informal prepared presentations by students, followed by discussion; debates; and other exercises as appropriate to material and group. Students receive guidance on reading in preparation for each session and activity and learning is supported by the VLE (Moodle) and sometimes by readers and other resources. Guidance on research and essay-writing is integral to the learning and teaching process in each module and may also be supported by tutorial guidance on essay plans if requested.

Lecture
Contact hours: 20
Intended Group size: 25

Seminar, group work, tutorial, etc
Contact hours: 20
Intended Group size: 3-25

Guided independent study
Hours: 160

Assessment: