Singapore University of Social Sciences

Values and Ethics

Values and Ethics (HUMN330)

Synopsis

This course focuses on the process of practical ethics as a way of resolving moral conflict and of understanding professional responsibility in a culturally diverse society without devaluating specific viewpoints of ethical or metaphysical theory, ideology, or religion. Students will use proposals, value judgments, observation statements, assumptions, and alternate-world assumptions in arguing contemporary issues of moral importance. With this basic moral logic, students will resolve issues in terms of rights, responsibilities, and the community of rational beings; in terms of consequences and contingencies; and in terms of habituated virtues and character. Free and unrestricted discourse will be encouraged so as to let students find common ground in diversity.

Level: 3
Credit Units: 5
Presentation Pattern: Every semester
E-Learning: BLENDED - Learning is done MAINLY online using interactive study materials in Canvas. Students receive guidance and support from online instructors via discussion forums and emails. This is supplemented with SOME face-to-face sessions. If the course has an exam component, this will be administered on-campus.

Topics

  • Introduction to Values and Ethics (I)
  • Introduction to Values and Ethics (II)
  • Ethical Relativism (I)
  • Ethical Relativism (II)
  • Utilitarianism and Deontology (I)
  • Utilitarianism and Deontology (II)
  • Personhood, Rights, Justice, Socrates, Plato and the Good Life (I)
  • Personhood, Rights, Justice, Socrates, Plato and the Good Life (II)
  • Virtue Theory and Contemporary Perspectives (I)
  • Virtue Theory and Contemporary Perspectives (II)
  • Case Studies in Virtue.
  • Gender and Ethics.
  • Applied Ethics.

Learning Outcome

  • Recognize and write about the role and importance of ethics in personal, professional, and social life.
  • Demonstrate in writing an understanding of the psychological, sociological, historical, and philosophical background of ethics.
  • Discuss the role of reason, happiness, personal responsibility, personal freedom, choice, and consequence in historical and contemporary ethical systems.
  • Explain the various arguments for and against the major historical and contemporary ethical systems.
  • Identify and apply ethical principles to contemporary ethical problems.
  • Engage in organized debate regarding the various solutions to contemporary ethical problems using differing ethical systems, for example, through participation in an Ethics Bowl.
  • Respond to contemporary ethical problems in the media by critically analyzing the problem and applying various ethical systems to suggest a resolution to the issue.
  • Conduct research on a topic in ethics and generate a written analysis using a standard documentation system;
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