ATS2839 Ethics
Faculty of Arts
ATS2839 Ethics is a level 2, 6-credit-point, undergraduate unit from the Faculty of Arts, offered in 2023 in Semester 2 at Clayton. It has no prerequisites.
- Credit points
- 6
- Offered in 2023
- Semester 2
- Clayton
- Assessment
- No exam
- 4 tasks
- Workload
- 144 hours
- per semester
This is the 2023 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.
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Requisites
Before ATS2839
No prerequisites or corequisites besides the enrolment rules below.
After ATS2839
No unit lists ATS2839 as a prerequisite in the 2023 handbook.
Enrolment rules
Prerequisite: Twelve credit points of first-year Arts units. It is highly recommended that students only take this unit after they have completed two first-year level units in Philosophy or Bioethics.
Prohibitions: ATS1839, AZA2939, AZA3939
Overview
This unit examines major issues in ethical theory. One aspect of this is an inquiry into central questions in the philosophical sub-discipline known as 'metaethics'. Some of these questions include: are there objective moral facts? Is moral judgment grounded primarily in reasoning, or emotion, or something else? And what motivates people to do what they believe is right? The unit also involves an exploration of the strengths and weaknesses of consequentialist ethical theories, like Utilitarianism, which assess the morality of people's actions solely in terms of the consequences of those actions. The unit examines debates between these theories and rival theories that incorporate other elements, such as duties, rights, contractualist principles, and people's character and virtues.
Offerings in 2023
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Second semester | Clayton | On campus |
Assessment
- Quiz/QuizzesOther20%
- Analytical exerciseAssignment15%
- Essay25%
- Take-home final assessmentOther40%
Learning outcomes
When you finish this unit, you should be able to:
- 1
Explain key concepts, arguments, and principles in ethical theory;
- 2
Summarise and interpret contemporary and historical texts in the field of ethics;
- 3
Analyse and evaluate detailed philosophical arguments in contemporary and historical texts in the field of ethics;
- 4
Put into practice bibliographical skills that are relevant to the discipline of philosophy, including referencing and citation techniques;
- 5
Compose original research essays, using the argumentative conventions of philosophical essay-writing, and demonstrating independent critical judgment.
Workload and teaching
- Lectures12 hours
- Tutorials24 hours
- Teaching approachActive learning
Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online engagement.
This unit engages students in actively applying their knowledge, skills and attributes in interactive, collaborative and reflective activities.
Where it fits
ATS2839 is part of 4 areas of study in the 2023 handbook.
Contacts
- Unit Coordinators
- Dr Simon Duffy
- Chief Examiners
- Professor Jacqueline Broad
Common questions
What are the prerequisites for ATS2839?
ATS2839 has no prerequisites, but enrolment rules apply.
When is ATS2839 offered?
In 2023, ATS2839 runs in Semester 2 at Clayton.
How much work is ATS2839?
The handbook expects about 144 hours of study across the semester. No students have rated its difficulty yet.
Does ATS2839 have an exam?
No. ATS2839 has 4 assessment tasks and no exam.
Which majors and minors include ATS2839?
ATS2839 is part of Bioethics and Philosophy.