Morality and the Good Life
Undergraduate course
- ECTS credits
- 10
- Teaching semesters Autumn
- Course code
- FIL130
- Number of semesters
- 1
- Teaching language
- Norwegian and/or English
- Resources
- Schedule
- Reading list
Course description
Objectives and Content
This course offers an introduction to the key concepts, theories and methods in moral philosophy. We start by exploring major approaches to the question of how we ought to live - consequentialism, deontology, and virtue ethics, as well as feminist perspectives. We then discuss more specific questions about the nature of welfare, moral responsibility, and the boundaries of moral status. Finally, we address central issues in metaethics, including the nature of moral values and methods of ethical inquiry. The course will include both contemporary readings and classical sources. Through a combination of lectures and seminars, students will develop critical skills for analyzing ethical issues - from personal life decisions to big questions for humanity.
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge
After completing the course, the student should have:
- an overview of the major approaches in normative ethics and metaethics;
- an understanding of the key concepts, questions and arguments relevant to these approaches and to moral philosophy generally;
- a familiarity with important scholarly literature related to these themes.
Skills
After completing the course, the student should be able to:
- explain key concepts, questions, arguments, theories, and traditions in normative ethics and metaethics;
- identify strengths and weaknesses of different views in these fields;
- communicate ideas related to the course content both orally and in writing.
Competence
After completing the course, the student should be competent to:
- participate in scholarly debates in moral philosophy;
- contribute philosophical insights to public debates about ethical issues;
- study ethics and moral philosophy at an advanced level.
ECTS Credits
10 ECTS
Level of Study
Bachelor
Semester of Instruction
Fall
Place of Instruction
Bergen
Required Previous Knowledge
None
Recommended Previous Knowledge
A good proficiency in English is necessary since it ought to be assumed that much of the prescribed reading will be in English.
Access to the Course
The course is open to students admitted at the University of Bergen
Teaching and learning methods
Teaching will take the form of weekly lectures and seminars.
Students will spend approximately 40 hours in class over the course of the semester, and approximately 8 hours per week outside of class working on course-related tasks.
Class time will involve lectures or presentations by the instructor, discussions, and group work.
Compulsory Assignments and Attendance
Students must participate in at least 7 out of 10 lectures and at least 7 out of 10 seminars.
Students must complete at least 5 written assignments of around 500 words each. Deadlines will be set by the instructor(s).
Forms of Assessment
School exam (4 hours)
Grading Scale
From A to F
Assessment Semester
Fall
Reading List
The literature list will be available at uib.no on July 1 for the fall semester and December 1 for the spring semester.
Course Evaluation
The teaching will be evaluated from time to time.
Examination Support Material
None
Programme Committee
The teaching committee at the Department of Philosophy
Course Coordinator
The teaching committee at the Department of Philosophy
Course Administrator
The Department of Philosophy