Ethical Concepts and Methods

We will ask whether there are ways to rationally arrive at agreed answers to difficult ethical questions and whether our ethical views can ever be more than an expression of our subjective opinions, gut reactions, and arbitrary cultural influences. We will investigate the distinction between fact and value (or ‘descriptive’ and ‘normative’), introduce basic metaethical positions, and assess competing ethical frameworks, such as utilitarianism, Kantian ethics and virtue ethics.

We will then discuss basic ethical principles, such as principles relating to beneficence and justice. We will consider what is distinctive of practical ethics as such, and how it might be related to, yet different from, more theoretical forms of moral philosophy, and we will examine different methodological approaches to practical ethics, including reflective equilibrium and intuitionism.

We will also consider the relation between practical ethics and other disciplines, such as law, medicine, social science or neuroscience, and ways in which empirical knowledge from such disciplines can inform ethical reflection. We will look closely at prominent examples of influential work in practical ethics and try to identify the qualities that make them effective.

We will discuss different approaches to writing a strong essay and publishable papers in practical ethics and consider how writing in this area differs from that in other disciplines as well as other areas of philosophy.

This course consists of an intensive teaching week in Oxford to include lectures, seminars, discussion groups and student presentations.

The teaching week will be fully supported online via a Virtual Learning Environment to include essential readings, texts and online lectures. Students can continue discussions when away from Oxford using the online forums.

Students will also have access to:

• Oxford's Libraries online learning resources

• Facilities available at the Department for Continuing Education:
  • Graduate Room with study space, printing facilities, lockers and refreshments
  • Library 
  • Computer resource room
  • Common room and bar
  • Dining room

Assessment for each module will be based on a written assignment, which shall not be of more than 3,500 words.

This course can be taken with or without academic credit. All participants who satisfy the course requirements will receive a Certificate of Attendance. Those opting to take the course for credit and successfully complete an assignment will also receive 20 CATS points at FHEQ Level 7 (postgraduate). Credit points are recognised by many employers and universities in the UK and internationally.

• Applicants are normally expected to be predicted or have achieved a first-class or strong upper second-class undergraduate degree with honours (or equivalent international qualifications), as a minimum, in any subject.
• However, in the absence of an appropriate undergraduate degree, sufficient relevant professional experience and/or other educational attainment may be considered as evidence of suitability in some circumstances.
• For applicants with a degree from the USA, the minimum GPA normally sought is 3.6 out of 4.0.
• Applicants will need to have a good working knowledge of email, internet, word processing and Windows applications (for communications with course members, course team and administration).
• Where applicable, applicants will need to provide evidence of proficiency in English at the higher level required by the University.

If you hold non-UK qualifications and wish to check how your qualifications match these requirements, you can contact the National Recognition Information Centre for the United Kingdom (UK NARIC).