Module manager: Joseph Bowen
Email: J.Bowen@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable
Year running 2024/25
This module is not approved as an Elective
The module covers key concepts and theories in moral and political philosophy – such as competing conceptions of welfare, consequentialism, and deontology – before building on this theoretical basis to address particular global problems and challenges. Examples of such challenges include those concerning climate change, public health, collective harm, freedom of expression, and global justice.
This module provides students with a grounding in core aspects of moral and political philosophy, equipping them with a strong grasp of important ethical concepts and theories, including: welfare, consequentialism, deontology, egalitarianism, prioritarianism, and exploitation. These powerful theoretical tools will be applied to issues of global moral concern, such as poverty, public health, markets, inter-cultural tolerance, and freedom of speech.
On completion of the module, students should have provided evidence of being able to:
1. Understand in depth of some of the key concepts, issues, debates, and approaches in contemporary moral and political philosophy.
2. Apply this theoretical knowledge and understanding in such a way as to make sense of specific global challenges, both orally and in writing.
3. Demonstrate advanced analytical skills when critically discussing texts and topics orally in seminars.
4. Present in writing clear, cogent, sustained arguments, based on relevant research.
Understand in depth of some of the key concepts, issues, debates, and approaches in contemporary moral and political philosophy.
Apply this theoretical knowledge and understanding in such a way as to make sense of specific global challenges, both orally and in writing.
Analysing and criticising philosophical arguments and theories clearly and incisively.
Thinking through complex philosophical questions with independence of mind.
Arguing for a philosophical position and expressing this argument effectively both in writing and orally.
The topics explored will include such things as:
Human Welfare
Consequentialism & Deontology
Consequentialist & Deontological approaches to global poverty
Aggregation and Duties of Rescue
Public Health: Egalitarianism, Prioritarianism, and Utilitarianism
Morals & Markets: Addressing Exploitation
The problem of collective harm
Duties to future people
Cultural Relativism
Freedom of Expression
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seminars | 11 | 2 | 22 |
| Individual Support | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Independent online learning hours | 11 | ||
| Private study hours | 266 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 23 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 300 | ||
Independent online learning – watching weekly pre-recorded lectures and completing associated online self-study tasks: 11 hours (roughly one hour per week)
Weekly reading and preparation for seminars: 99 hours (roughly 9 hours per seminar)
Preparation for presentation: 15 hours
Research and preparation for essay supervision: 80 hours
Further research and drafting for essay: 72 hours
Formative feedback will be given in the following ways:
In the weekly two-hour seminars, the module leader will respond to student questions and support understanding based on the module content and readings.
In a one-to-one supervision (one hour), the module leader will comment and provide guidance and feedback on an essay plan submitted by the student.
Feedback will be delivered on the presentations in the weekly seminar, and written feedback will also be sent to the student.
Office hours offered by the module leader and tutorial leader (if these are different)
Student progress will be monitored in the following ways:
A 10-minute presentation, given by each student at some point during the semester.
Submission of a 5,000-word essay submitted at the end of the module.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Essay | 5000 words | 80 |
| Oral Presentation | 10 minutes | 20 |
| 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: 29/04/2024
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team