Students
PHIL1032 – Happiness, Goodness and Justice
2020 – Session 2, Fully online/virtual
Notice
As part of Phase 3 of our return to campus plan, most units will now run tutorials, seminars and other small group learning activities on campus for the second half-year, while keeping an online version available for those students unable to return or those who choose to continue their studies online.
To check the availability of face to face activities for your unit, please go to timetable viewer. To check detailed information on unit assessments visit your unit's iLearn space or consult your unit convenor.
General Information
Download as PDF
| Unit convenor and teaching staff | Unit convenor and teaching staff |
|---|---|
| Credit points |
Credit points
10
|
| Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
|
| Corequisites |
Corequisites
|
| Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
|
| Unit description |
Unit description
This unit provides an introduction to major topics in ethics, moral theory and contemporary political philosophy. The first section focuses on the nature of happiness. Is pleasure essential to happiness? Or does the pursuit of pleasure harm our chances of lasting fulfilment? Must we be virtuous in order to be happy? What is the relationship between happiness and duty? The second section explores the nature of moral goodness. Is morality based ultimately in self-interest? What is the relationship between morality and religion? Are there moral principles that everyone is bound by reason to recognise? Or is the validity of moral standards relative to specific societies and cultures? In the third section we turn to questions of applied political philosophy, focusing on questions such as: What principles should govern the distribution of economic and social resources within a society? What are the obligations of wealthy nations to those less fortunate, including immigrants and refugees? And what issues of justice are raised by climate change? |
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:
- ULO1: Demonstrate elementary understanding of key moral and political theories.
- ULO2: Evaluate, in an elementary way, contemporary social issues that concern happiness, goodness, and justice, using philosophical ideas and methods.
- ULO3: Summarise and explain a philosophical text and its key features at an elementary level.
- ULO4: Reflect critically on philosophical theories and arguments at an elementary level.
- ULO5: Formulate and defend their own ideas with clarity and rigour, in a logical, structured argument, at an elementary level.
- ULO6: Engage constructively and respectfully with the views of others, even if they disagree with them.
Assessment Tasks
| Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
|---|---|---|---|
| Critical Essay | 40% | No | End of week 13 |
| Tutorial Participation | 20% | No | Ongoing |
| Reflection about Happiness | 20% | No | End of week 7 |
| Online quizzes | 20% | No | Ongoing |
Critical Essay
Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 35 hours
Due: End of week 13
Weighting: 40%
Critical discussion of a set question from parts 2 or 3 of the unit, demonstrating the critical questioning and philosophical knowledge has been learnt throughout the unit.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Demonstrate elementary understanding of key moral and political theories.
- Summarise and explain a philosophical text and its key features at an elementary level.
- Reflect critically on philosophical theories and arguments at an elementary level.
- Formulate and defend their own ideas with clarity and rigour, in a logical, structured argument, at an elementary level.
Tutorial Participation
Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: Ongoing
Weighting: 20%
Demonstrate engagement with course materials by responding to questions and contributing to tutorial discussions.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Reflect critically on philosophical theories and arguments at an elementary level.
- Formulate and defend their own ideas with clarity and rigour, in a logical, structured argument, at an elementary level.
- Engage constructively and respectfully with the views of others, even if they disagree with them.
Reflection about Happiness
Assessment Type 1: Reflective Writing
Indicative Time on Task 2: 15 hours
Due: End of week 7
Weighting: 20%
A short reflective exercise about what has been learnt from part one of the unit. The reflection will have three sections requiring the student to consider their view of happiness held when beginning the unit; to describe a relevant theory of happiness; and to reflect on whether their view of happiness has changed.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Demonstrate elementary understanding of key moral and political theories.
- Evaluate, in an elementary way, contemporary social issues that concern happiness, goodness, and justice, using philosophical ideas and methods.
- Summarise and explain a philosophical text and its key features at an elementary level.
Online quizzes
Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: Ongoing
Weighting: 20%
A weekly online quiz on the topic covered that week. There are 10 quizzes in total.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Demonstrate elementary understanding of key moral and political theories.
1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:
- the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
- the Writing Centre for academic skills support.
2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation
Delivery and Resources
Required Readings
All required readings and most supplementary readings are available from the library via Leganto, which should be accessed via the link on iLearn. You are responsible for gaining access to the readings. A schedule of the required readings is provided on iLearn.
Technologies used
This unit has an online presence in iLearn where activities are set and subject materials distributed. Students will require access to reliable broadband and a computer. Some assessments are conducted through this site, and written tasks will be submitted using Turnitin, a plagiarism scanning program.
Contacting the Teaching Staff
The first point of contact is the tutor. Please see iLearn for email details. Should the tutor be unable to assist, the tutor will forward the inquiry to the convenor, Kelly Hamilton.
Policies and Procedures
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
- Academic Appeals Policy
- Academic Integrity Policy
- Academic Progression Policy
- Assessment Policy
- Fitness to Practice Procedure
- Grade Appeal Policy
- Complaint Management Procedure for Students and Members of the Public
- Special Consideration Policy (Note: The Special Consideration Policy is effective from 4 December 2017 and replaces the Disruption to Studies Policy.)
Students seeking more policy resources can visit the Student Policy Gateway (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/student-policy-gateway). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.
If you would like to see all the policies relevant to Learning and Teaching visit Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/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/study/getting-started/student-conduct
Results
Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) 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 or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@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 help you improve your marks and take control of your study.
The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources.
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
If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@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.