Moral and Political Philosophy

This module aims to introduce students to key themes in practical philosophy, and to develop their ability to reason and think clearly about the question of how we ought to act and organise our interaction. The course aims to treat this issue both systematically and in an applied manner: to familiarise students with various accounts of moral and political theories, but also to use these theories to think critically about real-world problems. The course, though designed as an introduction to the advanced degree-level study of philosophy, will also function as a self-standing introduction to philosophy suitable for those seeking to better understand the foundations of modern moral and political thought. Areas of study will typically include: 1. Moral Philosophy: the study of how we should act, and what we should value. 2. Political Philosophy: the study of the values which underpin our political institutions and how we ought to organise our collective lives. 3. Gender and Philosophy: the study of the nature of gender and gendered thinking, and its relation to ethics and politics. 4. Ethical Controversies: the study of practical questions of ethics, such as the nature of animals rights, choices of life and death, the value of privacy, and problems of discrimination. 5. Applied Political Philosophy: the study of practical political issues, such as immigration rights, international inequality, the permissibility of war, free speech and propaganda from a philosophical standpoint. 6. Environmental Philosophy: the study of our relationship to nature, and how to respond to the environmental crisis.