Students
PHIL705 – Foundations of Research in Ethics
2016 – S1 Day
General Information
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| Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Convenor, lecturer.
Mianna Lotz
Contact via By email
By appointment
Lecturer
Paul Formosa
Contact via By email
By appointment
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| Credit points |
Credit points
4
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| Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
Admission to MRes
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| Corequisites |
Corequisites
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| Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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| Unit description |
Unit description
This unit will equip students with foundational research knowledge and skills in the broad area of Ethics. The unit will focus on an in depth reading of foundational texts in the history of ethics and will examine their impact on current debates in the field on such topics as virtue, character, value, autonomy, and the nature of right action. Texts may include: Aristotle’s Nichomachean Ethics, Hume’s Treatise (Books II and III), Kant’s Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals, and Mill’s On Liberty.
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Important Academic Dates
Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
- In-depth familiarity with the foundational philosophical writings of Aristotle and Kant in the field of ethics.
- Sound comparative grasp of key common and contrasting themes in the work of these philosophers.
General Assessment Information
Please note that completion of ALL assessments in this unit is a compulsory requirement of completing this unit.
Assessment Tasks
| Name | Weighting | Due |
|---|---|---|
| Paper 1: Aristotle | 15% | Week 6 |
| Paper 2: Kant | 15% | Week 10 |
| Major Comparative Essay | 40% | 17 June |
| Presentations (x3) | 15% | 3 times in semester |
| Participation | 15% | Continuous |
Paper 1: Aristotle
Due: Week 6
Weighting: 15%
A short essay demonstrating familiarity with a central aspect of Aristotle's moral philosophy. Topic TBA. (1000-1250 Words)
On successful completion you will be able to:
- In-depth familiarity with the foundational philosophical writings of Aristotle and Kant in the field of ethics.
Paper 2: Kant
Due: Week 10
Weighting: 15%
A short essay demonstrating familiarity with a central aspect of Kant's moral philosophy. Topic TBA. (1000-1250 Words)
On successful completion you will be able to:
- In-depth familiarity with the foundational philosophical writings of Aristotle and Kant in the field of ethics.
Major Comparative Essay
Due: 17 June
Weighting: 40%
Close comparative analysis and critical discussion of a common concern in both Aristotle and Kant's moral philosophy. Topic TBA. (2500 words)
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Sound comparative grasp of key common and contrasting themes in the work of these philosophers.
Presentations (x3)
Due: 3 times in semester
Weighting: 15%
Each student will submit three written presentations, one for each section of the unit (Aristotle, Kant, and Aristotlve/Kant comparison). The presentations must develop a central theme from the assigned topic. The focus of the presentations must be on an argument or issue developed in an additional reading (i.e. not the required reading) to be sourced by students themselves, which connects with the core reading/topic for the relevant week's seminar. The presentation must provide a brief summary of the authors' main argument plus a critical assessment of it.
Presentations must be uploaded online to the relevant iLearn discussion forum in the week of the seminar, by the Friday of that week, for discussion in the following 'online-only' week. The presenter must lead the online discussion for that following week. Presentations must be approximately 500 words in length.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- In-depth familiarity with the foundational philosophical writings of Aristotle and Kant in the field of ethics.
- Sound comparative grasp of key common and contrasting themes in the work of these philosophers.
Participation
Due: Continuous
Weighting: 15%
Attendance at all fortnightly 'contact week' seminars and online contribution during 'online-only' weeks. To fulfill this assessment requirement each student must demonstrate that they have read all of the assigned reading for each seminar, and must have pre-prepared 5 questions from the required reading, for discussion (online and in seminar). These pre-prepared questions are to be posted to the online forum by 12pm on Tuesdays before the seminar, so that we can collate and discuss them during the seminar. This applies to External students as well as Internal students, as we need to include discussion of External Students' questions in the seminar as well.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- In-depth familiarity with the foundational philosophical writings of Aristotle and Kant in the field of ethics.
- Sound comparative grasp of key common and contrasting themes in the work of these philosophers.
Delivery and Resources
Delivery:
Fortnightly seminars (commencing with a short introductory seminar in Week 1).
Recorded via Echo360 if there are External students.
Set Texts (students are required to have their own copies):
Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, translated by J.A.K. Thomson (Penguin, London: 2004).
Kant, I. Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals,
Kant, I. The Metaphysics of Morals,
Sherman, N. Making a Necessity of Virtue: Aristotle and Kant on Virtue. (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press: 1997).
Other readings:
Unit Schedule
Week 1 (Mar 1): Introduction and Planning (Dr Lotz)
No reading requirement for this week, except to begin on the readings for Week 3 - they are long!
Week 3 (Mar 15): Aristotle I (Dr Lotz)
Required Reading:
Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, Books I-IV (pp. 4–111).
G.E.M. (Elizabeth) Anscombe, 'Modern Moral Philosophy'. Philosophy, Vol. 33, No. 124 (Jan., 1958), pp. 1-19.
Week 5 (Mar 29): Aristotle II (Dr Lotz)
Required Reading:
Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, Books V-VII (pp. 112–199).
Philippa Foot, ‘Virtues and Vices.’ In Stephen Darwall (ed), Virtue Ethics. (Oxford: Blackwell Publishing, 2003): pp. 105-120.
Mid Semester Break: April 11-22
Week 7 (April 26): Kant I (Dr Formosa)
Required Reading:
Kant, Groundwork 1-2
Barbara Herman, ‘On the Value of Acting from the Motive of Duty’, in Herman, The Practice of Moral Judgment (Harvard, Harvard University Press, 1996).
Week 9 (May 10): Kant II (Dr Formosa)
Required Reading:
Religion within the boundaries of Mere Reason, book 1. Kant. Metaphysics of Morals. Selection from Doctrine of Virtue.
Formosa, Paul. "Kant on the Radical Evil of Human Nature." The Philosophical Forum 38, no. 3 (2007): 221-245.
Week 11 (May 24): Comparative themes in Aristotle/Kant I: Virtue and the Emotions (Dr Lotz and Dr Formosa)
Required reading:
Nancy Sherman, ‘The Emotional Structure of Aristotelian Virtue’, Ch. 2 of Making a Necessity of Virtue: Aristotle and Kant on Virtue
Nancy Sherman, ‘The Passional Underpinnings of Kantian Virtue’, Ch. 4 of Making a Necessity of Virtue: Aristotle and Kant on Virtue
Week 13 (June 7): Comparative themes in Aristotle/Kant II: Love, respect and friendship (Dr Lotz and Dr Formosa)
Required reading:
Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, Books VIII and IX.
Kant, selections from the Doctrine of Virtue and The Groundwork
Nancy Sherman, ‘The Shared Voyage’, Ch. 5 of Making a Necessity of Virtue: Aristotle and Kant on Virtue
Policies and Procedures
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central. Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
Academic Honesty Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html
New Assessment Policy in effect from Session 2 2016 http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy_2016.html. For more information visit http://students.mq.edu.au/events/2016/07/19/new_assessment_policy_in_place_from_session_2/
Assessment Policy prior to Session 2 2016 http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy.html
Grading Policy prior to Session 2 2016 http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grading/policy.html
Grade Appeal Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html
Complaint Management Procedure for Students and Members of the Public http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/complaint_management/procedure.html
Disruption to Studies Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html The Disruption to Studies Policy is effective from March 3 2014 and replaces the Special Consideration Policy.
In addition, a number of other policies can be found in the Learning and Teaching Category of Policy Central.
Student Code of Conduct
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/student_conduct/
Results
Results shown in iLearn, or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au.
Student Support
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
Learning Skills
Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.
Student Services and Support
Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.
Student Enquiries
For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au
IT Help
For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/.
When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.
Graduate Capabilities
PG - Capable of Professional and Personal Judgment and Initiative
Our postgraduates will demonstrate a high standard of discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgment. They will have the ability to make informed choices and decisions that reflect both the nature of their professional work and their personal perspectives.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcome
- Sound comparative grasp of key common and contrasting themes in the work of these philosophers.
Assessment tasks
- Major Comparative Essay
- Presentations (x3)
PG - Discipline Knowledge and Skills
Our postgraduates will be able to demonstrate a significantly enhanced depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content knowledge in their chosen fields.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- In-depth familiarity with the foundational philosophical writings of Aristotle and Kant in the field of ethics.
- Sound comparative grasp of key common and contrasting themes in the work of these philosophers.
Assessment tasks
- Paper 1: Aristotle
- Paper 2: Kant
- Major Comparative Essay
- Presentations (x3)
- Participation
PG - Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking
Our postgraduates will be capable of utilising and reflecting on prior knowledge and experience, of applying higher level critical thinking skills, and of integrating and synthesising learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments. A characteristic of this form of thinking is the generation of new, professionally oriented knowledge through personal or group-based critique of practice and theory.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcome
- Sound comparative grasp of key common and contrasting themes in the work of these philosophers.
Assessment tasks
- Major Comparative Essay
- Presentations (x3)
- Participation
PG - Research and Problem Solving Capability
Our postgraduates will be capable of systematic enquiry; able to use research skills to create new knowledge that can be applied to real world issues, or contribute to a field of study or practice to enhance society. They will be capable of creative questioning, problem finding and problem solving.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcome
- Sound comparative grasp of key common and contrasting themes in the work of these philosophers.
Assessment tasks
- Major Comparative Essay
- Presentations (x3)
PG - Effective Communication
Our postgraduates will be able to communicate effectively and convey their views to different social, cultural, and professional audiences. They will be able to use a variety of technologically supported media to communicate with empathy using a range of written, spoken or visual formats.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcome
- In-depth familiarity with the foundational philosophical writings of Aristotle and Kant in the field of ethics.
Assessment tasks
- Paper 1: Aristotle
- Paper 2: Kant
- Major Comparative Essay
- Presentations (x3)
- Participation
PG - Engaged and Responsible, Active and Ethical Citizens
Our postgraduates will be ethically aware and capable of confident transformative action in relation to their professional responsibilities and the wider community. They will have a sense of connectedness with others and country and have a sense of mutual obligation. They will be able to appreciate the impact of their professional roles for social justice and inclusion related to national and global issues
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcome
- In-depth familiarity with the foundational philosophical writings of Aristotle and Kant in the field of ethics.
Assessment tasks
- Paper 1: Aristotle
- Paper 2: Kant
- Participation