Ethical Theory and Moral Practice, 7.5 credits

Main field of study

Course level

Advancement level

Course offered for

• Master´s Programme in Applied Ethics

Entry requirements

Bachelor's Degree 180 ECTS credits.

English corresponding to the level of English in Swedish upper secondary education (English 6/B).
Exemption from Swedish 3/B

Intended learning outcomes

On completion of the course, the students should be able to
- account for comprehensively knowledge of concepts, theories and problems within the field of ethics and applied ethics,
- develop a theoretically informed argumentation in specific problem areas of applied ethics,
- formulate theory-based policy recommendations and assessment regarding moral issue in one specific professional setting,
- express an open and critical attitude to positions and arguments.

Course content

Until recently, the term 'applied ethics' was taken quite literally: the application of ethical theory to issues in practical life. Nowadays, many ethicists acknowledge that the relationship between ethical theory and moral practice might be more interactive. Moral choices may be guided or criticised from the perspective of some ethical theory. But theories may also be criticised and adjusted from the point of view of well-considered moral judgements concerning concrete problems. In this course, various normative ethical theories will be studied, like natural law theory, utilitarianism, kantianism and virtue ethics. Students will learn to apply the theories to practical problems and to criticise and evaluate the theories in the light of their implications for practice.

Sub course 1. Introduction, 2 ECTS
Sub course 1 introduces the field of applied ethics and gives a survey of different subject areas.

Sub course 2. Theory and Practice, 5.5 ECTS
Sub course 2 focuses on the relation between ethical theory and moral practice.

Teaching and working methods

In the course, students read and analyse texts, participate in group discussions, write papers and are actively involved in seminar discussions. In addition, lectures are provided. Language of instruction: English.

Examination

The course is examined by oral presentations and writing a paper.

Students failing an exam covering either the entire course or part of the course twice are entitled to have a new examiner appointed for the reexamination.

Students who have passed an examination may not retake it in order to improve their grades.

Grades

Other information

Planning and implementation of a course must take its starting point in the wording of the syllabus. The course evaluation included in each course must therefore take up the question how well the course agrees with the syllabus. 

The course is carried out in such a way that both men´s and women´s experience and knowledge is made visible and developed.

Department