Module manager: Andrew Kirton
Email: a.kirton@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable
Year running 2026/27
This module is not approved as an Elective
Are you interested in the major ethical challenges that arise from Artificial Intelligence (AI) deployment across society? This module introduces you to the methodology and core theories of ethics, in relation to the challenge of widespread AI deployment in society. Requiring no background in philosophy or ethics, it provides the groundwork of understanding and skills needed to critically evaluate, through an ethical lens, how AI is used in society, how it may be used in the future, and the major ethical challenges that arise from this.
The module aims to equip you with the ethical analysis and argument skills to unpack and navigate specific ethical challenges raised by AI. It also aims to develop your background knowledge of ethics as a discipline; to gain familiarity with key ethical theories and approaches, and an appreciation of their use in evaluating technology from an ethical perspective. You will be given the opportunity to reflect on what ethics is and what it is not; to develop your critical awareness of what constitutes an ethical problem and how thinking about technology in ethical terms informs thinking about it in legal or technical terms.
The module’s learning activities will revolve around interactive workshops. Workshop activities will involve you using critical argument to defend your own reasoned views on ethical questions that are raised in prior assigned reading materials. Through discussion and debate with other students, you will develop your expertise in using ethics as a method of analysing and justifying solutions to dilemmas that result from AI use in society.
On successful completion of the module students will be able to:
1. Critically evaluate key normative ethical theories and their differing trade-offs when applied to AI ethics problems;
2. Articulate how ethical issues arise through technology usage and the kinds of ethical dilemma that AI use in society poses;
3. Develop insightful and rationally persuasive arguments when justifying solutions to ethical dilemmas raised by AI usage;
4. Weigh up different arguments and perspectives, using supporting evidence to form opinions, arguments, theories and ideas. (Academic, Work Ready and Sustainability skill);
5. Effectively communicate key facts, ideas and theories in written form. (Academic, Work Ready and Sustainability skill);
6. Search for, evaluate and use appropriate and relevant information sources to help strengthen the quality of academic work and research. (Academic, Work Ready, Enterprise and Sustainability skill);
7. Identify ethical questions, which involve considering what is morally right or fair, and how we make good choices; understands how decisions affect people and the world around. (Sustainability skill);
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seminar | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Seminar | 9 | 2 | 18 |
| Private study hours | 130 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 20 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 150 | ||
130
A 500 word blog style piece exploring an AI ethics issue. This piece will be reviewed mid semester with short feedback provided.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | Coursework | 100 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
Check the module area in Minerva for your reading list
Last updated: 30/04/2026
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team