Last modified: 31 May 2022 13:05
We examine questions such as: Is eating animals immoral? Is being a good or bad person a matter of luck? If so, are we justified in punishing bad people? Should anyone be able to set limits on what you can do with your own body, even if it's ‘for your own good’? Should everyone be allowed to state their mind, even if their views are harmful or offensive? Is censorship ever justifiable? Do you have a moral obligation to help those worse-off? Are you unknowingly biased against underprivileged groups?
| Study Type | Undergraduate | Level | 1 |
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| Term | First Term | Credit Points | 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits) |
| Campus | Aberdeen | Sustained Study | No |
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Contemporary philosophical debate includes a number of difficult and controversial questions which divide academic opinion. Some of these are moral questions about what we should do in a particular circumstance, while others are metaphysical questions concerning the nature and structure of reality. On this course we will look at one of these questions each week. Using this method, we will gain an overview of some of the most hotly contested areas of philosophy, and we will also have a chance to practice some key philosophical skills, including the analysis and evaluation of philosophical arguments.
The controversial questions we will be discussing this year are: Is it morally wrong to eat meat? Should animal experimentation be permitted? Is euthanasia morally wrong? Should we be permitted to affect the genetic make-up of our offspring? How should limited medical resources be distributed? What do we owe to those in extreme poverty? Is being a good or bad person merely a matter of luck? Should immigration be unrestricted? Does God exist? And, do we have immaterial souls?
Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 50 | |
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| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback | ||||
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
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| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 50 | |
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| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
Written on essay and marking sheet; office hours/appointment; peer questions and comments during in-class presentations |
Word Count | 1000 | |
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
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There are no assessments for this course.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 100 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback | Word Count | 1500 | ||
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
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| Factual | Remember | ILO’s for this course are available in the course guide. |
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