Technological advancement, globalization and human consumption have all contributed to a growing concern about humanity's relationship to itself and to the world. The Twenty-First Century has already seen a significantly shifting moral landscape over its first twenty-five years. Some issues, like the climate crisis, have simply become more and more serious. Other issues have been impacted by political populism and advancing technology. We explore five of the greatest moral problems facing the world today: freedom of speech and action, environmental ethics, war and peace, the ethics of A.I. and economic justice. Following a brief introduction to normative and meta-ethical theories, this course will examine some of the most contemporary approaches to these issues within applied ethics today.
Contemporary Moral Crises
This is an in-person course which requires your attendance at the weekly meetings which take place in Oxford.
Overview
Programme details
Courses starts: 21 Apr 2026
Week 1: Normative ethics
Week 2: Meta-ethics
Week 3: Paternalism and risk: freedom of speech
Week 4: Paternalism and risk: freedom of action
Week 5: Environmental ethics: intrinsic and instrumental value
Week 6: Environmental ethics: global responsibility
Week 7: A.I innovation, regulation and autonomy
Week 8: Just war and pacifism
Week 9: Pre-emptive force and terrorism
Week 10: International economic justice and rights
Recommended reading
All weekly class students may become borrowing members of the Rewley House Continuing Education Library for the duration of their course. Prospective students whose courses have not yet started are welcome to use the Library for reference. More information can be found on the Library website.
There is a Guide for Weekly Class students which will give you further information.
Recommended reading is optional and you are not required to purchase these books to study this course.
Optional preparatory reading:
- Being Good / Blackburn, S.
- Philosophy: The Basics / Warburton, N.
Certification
Credit Accumulation Transfer Scheme (CATS) Points
Only those who have registered for assessment and accreditation will be awarded CATS points for completing work to the required standard. Please note that assignments are not graded but are marked either pass or fail. Please follow this link for more information on Credit Accumulation Transfer Scheme (CATS) points
Digital Certificate of Completion
Students who are registered for assessment and accreditation and pass their final assignment will also be eligible for a digital Certificate of Completion. Information on how to access the digital certificate will be emailed to you after the end of the course. The certificate will show your name, the course title and the dates of the course attended. You will be able to download the certificate and share it on social media if you choose to do so.
Please note students who do not register for assessment and accreditation during the enrolment process will not be able to do so after the course has begun.
Fees
| Description | Costs |
|---|---|
| Course fee (with no assessment) | £300.00 |
| Assessment and Accreditation fee | £60.00 |
Funding
If you are in receipt of a UK state benefit, you are a full-time student in the UK or a student on a low income, you may be eligible for a reduction of 50% of tuition fees. Please see the below link for full details:
Tutor
Dr Magnus Moar
Magnus Moar is a graduate of Oxford and Sussex Universities with a doctoral thesis focussing on the work of Kierkegaard. Magnus has a published article on Kierkegaard and Levinas and has been teaching undergraduates for fifteen years.
Course aims
This course aims to enable students to engage with philosophical approaches to five of the most critical moral problems facing the world today.
The course will enable students to:
- Investigate philosophical approaches to moral philosophy.
- Develop a keen appreciation of the contributions made by moral philosophers.
- Identify the relationship between moral philosophy and political discourse.
Teaching methods
The course will be a mix of lecture-style teaching and seminar discussion based on weekly readings.
Learning outcomes
By the end of this course, students will be expected to understand:
- The key contributions made to moral philosophy of the thinkers studied.
- The impact their ideas have on the topics studied.
- What risks are posed to humanity by the issues covered.
- Key advice on how to write critically.
Assessment methods
Students can choose between either option of a single piece of coursework or two shorter pieces. Students will also have the opportunity to submit an essay proposal or plan as a formative assignment during the course.
Only those students who have registered for assessment and accreditation will submit coursework.
Application
To be able to submit coursework and to earn credit (CATS points) for your course you will need to register and pay an additional £60 fee per course. You can do this by ticking the relevant box at the bottom of the enrolment form or when enrolling online. Please use the 'Book now' button on this page. Alternatively, please complete an Enrolment form for short courses | Oxford University Department for Continuing Education
Students who do not register for assessment and credit during the enrolment process will not be able to do so after the course has begun. If you are enrolled on the Certificate of Higher Education you need to indicate this on the enrolment form but there is no additional registration fee.
Level and demands
The Department's Weekly Classes are taught at FHEQ Level 4, i.e. first year undergraduate level, and you will be expected to engage in a significant amount of private study in preparation for the classes. This may take the form, for instance, of reading and analysing set texts, responding to questions or tasks, or preparing work to present in class.