Ethical Theory and Moral Practice, advanced course, 7.5 credits

Main field of study

Course level

Advancement level

Entry requirements

• Bachelor's degree equivalent to a Swedish Kandidatexamen
• English corresponding to the level of English in Swedish upper secondary education (English 6)
  Exemption from Swedish

Intended learning outcomes

On completion of the course, the students should on an advanced level be able to:

• account for and analyse theories and problems within the field of ethics and applied ethics
• develop a theoretically informed argumentation in specific problem areas of applied ethics
• formulate theory-based policy recommendations and assessment regarding moral issues in one specific professional setting
• express an open and critical attitude to positions and arguments

Course content

Until recently, the term 'applied ethics' was taken quite literally: the application of ethical theory to issues in practical life. Nowadays, many ethicists acknowledge that the relationship between ethical theory and moral practice might be more interactive. Moral choices may be guided or criticised from the perspective of some ethical theory. But theories may also be criticised and adjusted from the point of view of well-considered moral judgements concerning concrete problems. In this course, various normative ethical theories, like natural law theory, utilitarianism, kantianism and virtue ethics, will be investigated. Focus will be on the application of these theories to practical problems. It will then be investigated how to criticise and evaluate the theories in the light of their implications for practice.

Teaching and working methods

The approaches to teaching in this course include lectures, the reading and analysis of texts, participation in group discussions, seminars with active student involvement, and the writing of a short essay. In addition, students undertake self-studies.

Language of instruction and examination: English

Examination

The course is examined by:

• oral presentations in groups, grades: UG
• active participation in seminars, grades: UG
• individual written examination, grades: ECTS

For a final grade of Pass (E), grades of at least Pass (E) are required for all elements. A higher grade will be based on the individual written examination.

Detailed information can be found in the course's study guide.

If special circumstances prevail, and if it is possible with consideration of the nature of the compulsory component, the examiner may decide to replace the compulsory component with another equivalent component.

If the LiU coordinator for students with disabilities has granted a student the right to an adapted examination for a written examination in an examination hall, the student has the right to it.

If the coordinator has recommended for the student an adapted examination or alternative form of examination, the examiner may grant this if the examiner assesses that it is possible, based on consideration of the course objectives.

An examiner may also decide that an adapted examination or alternative form of examination if the examiner assessed that special circumstances prevail, and the examiner assesses that it is possible while maintaining the objectives of the course.

Students failing an exam covering either the entire course or part of the course twice are entitled to have a new examiner appointed for the reexamination.

Students who have passed an examination may not retake it in order to improve their grades.

Grades

Other information

Planning and implementation of a course must take its starting point in the wording of the syllabus. The course evaluation included in each course must therefore take up the question how well the course agrees with the syllabus. 

The course is conducted in such a way that there are equal opportunities with regard to sex, transgender identity or expression, ethnicity, religion or other belief, disability, sexual orientation and age.

If special circumstances prevail, the vice-chancellor may in a special decision specify the preconditions for temporary deviations from this course syllabus, and delegate the right to take such decisions.

Department