Philosophy and Ethics is an academic subject that is well respected by universities and an excellent grounding for any Arts or Social Science based degree course. It will enable you to develop the kind of skills which will enhance your study of other subjects. The ability to articulate idea and evaluate their strengths and weaknesses is one that is transferable and highly applicable to any career which involves communication, including Law, Public Relations, Education, Advertising and Marketing, therapy, journalism, retailing, social work, nursing, radio and TV, acting, teaching.
Studying Philosophy and Ethics helps students to develop analytical and evaluative skills. It particularly complements Humanities subjects, English and students intending to study medicine, as students learn about the ethics of medical issues.
Skills
Students will develop their analytical skills and be able to research different topics to provide reasoned explanations and the ability to expand on different points of view. Writing skills will be improved by the practice of the different teaching and learning activities.
Students study three papers:
Paper 1: Philosophy of Religion
In this module you must be prepared to ‘think for yourself’ and be willing to consider and evaluate logically the arguments of philosophers.
A number of topics are studied, such as:
- The ‘proof’ arguments for God’s existence, Evil and Suffering, religious language, Plato and Aristotle on the soul, afterlife, religious language.
Paper 2: Ethics
A study of the relationship between religion and morality, A study of ethical theories such as Utilitarianism Kantian ethics and Situation Ethics, A study of applied ethics; euthanasia and business ethics, sexual ethics.
Paper 3: Developments in religious thought Christianity
A study of key beliefs within Christianity and the impact of these beliefs in the world today. Liberation theology and Marx, feminist theology, pluralism and secularisation