Module manager: Carl Fox
Email: c.a.fox@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 1 Jan to 28 Feb View Timetable
Year running 2025/26
This module is not approved as an Elective
The module aims to provide a philosophical basis for critically examining a range of controversial and consequential moral issues at the end of life, such as: palliative care; suicide; active and passive euthanasia; withdrawal of treatment.
The aims of this module are to gain an understanding of philosophical debates about significant moral questions that arise at the end of life; to critically analyse and evaluate arguments made in those debates; and to articulate, explain, and defend reasoned views about them.
The aims will be achieved through:
- Interactive lectures/ seminars where you will be introduced to core concepts, readings, and arguments
- Independent study where you will be encouraged to read texts critically and reflect on and analyse these arguments and concepts.
- Seminar discussion and group work where you can develop you own arguments on the topics and test these through critical reflection with other learners and academic staff.
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 ethics at the end of life
2. Apply insights from theory to specific problems that arise in end-of-life care
3. Articulate and defend your own views on issues at the end of life through insightful and sophisticated arguments
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 to support knowledge and analysis of topics (Academic, Work Ready, Digital and Sustainability skill)
7. Apply ethical perspectives to practical problems in end-of-life care (Academic, Work Ready, Sustainability and Enterprise skill)
Topics may include, for example:
- The wrongness of killing
- Consequentialism and non-consequentialism
- Suicide and assisted suicide
- Palliative care
- Quality of life and best interests
- Rights and interests of the dead
- Withdrawing treatment
- Active and passive euthanasia
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seminar | 8 | 2 | 16 |
| Private study hours | 134 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 16 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 150 | ||
In addition to the formative feedback available to students in student hours and discussion board-based 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 | 100 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
The reading list is available from the Library website
Last updated: 17/02/2025
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team