Module manager: Rob Lawlor
Email: R.S.Lawlor@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 1 Nov to 31 Jan View Timetable
Year running 2025/26
This module is not approved as an Elective
This module explores questions relating to environmental ethics and the ethics of climate change. The modules asks you to consider how we ought to think of the environment, and to consider whether non-human animals, species, eco-systems etc are morally significant in their own right, or only in relation to their instrumental value – the ways they are valuable to us. The module also considers risk, responsibility and collective action, as they relate to the environment and climate change, as well as environmental ethics and the ethics of climate change as they relate to professions and to businesses.
The main aim of this module is to enable you to develop, articulate, and defend reasoned views of your own about our environmental responsibilities at the individual and societal level, and the extent to which businesses and professions are obligated to limit environmental harm caused by their operations. It will explore reasons that can motivate a respect for the environment and generate obligations, and how these ethical claims should be weighed against other kinds of considerations and obligations of a personal, national, political, professional and commercial kind, with which they may appear to conflict or compete.
These aims will be achieved through:
- Learning resources such as online documents which you will work through in your own time
- Further independent study where you are encouraged to read texts critically and reflect on and analyse arguments and concepts
- A webinar where you will interact with the tutor and other students to discuss and evaluate concepts and arguments
- Online discussion boards, where you will be prompted to engage in detailed critical discussion with the tutor and other students about concepts and arguments.
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following learning outcomes relevant to the subject:
1. Critically analyse and evaluate concepts, arguments, and positions central to debates about environmental ethics and the ethics of climate change
2. Apply insights from theory to specific problems in applied and professional ethics
3. Articulate and defend your own views on issues in environmental ethics and the ethics of climate change through insightful and sophisticated argument
Skills Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following skills learning outcomes:
4. Communicate ideas and understanding clearly and concisely, using appropriate academic language (Academic and Work Ready skill)
5. Critically analyse source material and demonstrate independence of thought (Academic and Work Ready skill)
6. Independently search for and utilise appropriate material [or information] to support knowledge and analysis of topics (Academic, Work Ready, Digital and Sustainability skill)
7. Effectively communicate, participate and collaborate in an online environment (Digital and Work Ready skill)
Details of the syllabus will be provided on the Minerva organisation (or equivalent) for the module.
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| On-line Learning | 8 | 2 | 16 |
| WEBINAR | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Independent online learning hours | 33 | ||
| Private study hours | 100 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 17 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 150 | ||
In addition to the formative feedback available to students in student hours and discussion board activities, each student is invited to complete ONE piece of formative work which will receive written feedback.
Students are given a choice of: essay plan; exposition of an argument; objection and reply.
To ensure that students get the formative feedback that they need, they are asked to read and reflect on (i) the feedback they received in previous summative assessments, (ii) the PRHS marking criteria and (iii) the specific guidance provided on the summative assessment in this module. This requires students to critically engage with previous feedback, current expectations, and play an active role in honing their knowledge and skill development.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | Essay | 90 |
| Coursework | Contributions to online discussion boards | 10 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
The resit for the discussion contributions will be an essay demonstrating familiarity with a wide range of debates and will be descriptively as opposed to analytically focused.
The reading list is available from the Library website
Last updated: 03/03/2025
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team