PP3CMP: Current Moral Philosophy

Module code: PP3CMP

Module provider: Philosophy; School of Philosophy, Politics and Economics

Credits: 20

Level: 6

When you’ll be taught: Semester 1

Module convenor: Dr Luke Elson , email: luke.elson@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2025/6

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 3 April 2025

Overview

Module aims and purpose

Unlike many fields, ethics (moral philosophy) doesn’t become outdated—thinkers still take Aristotle’s ideas seriously today. In this module, you will be introduced to some of the most interesting ethical debates from the last 20 years. Some of these will tackle entirely new moral challenges, while others will offer fresh perspectives on classic questions, such as those that date back to Aristotle himself.

The Philosophy programme is designed to challenge you with increasingly complex ideas while building on your previous experience at each stage. This module is part of our structured approach to developing independent learning skills, building on what you covered in Part 2. Here, you’ll engage with current debates in ethics and see how topics from earlier modules are explored in contemporary and cutting edge philosophical research. You’ll also put your skills—such as independently reading and critically assessing philosophical arguments—to work in understanding and analysing recently published philosophical work.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Read and understand professional-level research in ethics,
2. Identify and explain key differences between the philosophers studied.
3. Explain and analyse their arguments by identifying their reasoning and assumptions.
4. Critically evaluate these arguments by assessing their strengths, weaknesses, and implications.
5. Gain knowledge of ‘live’ contemporary debates in ethics and be able to distinguish them from classic philosophical issues.
6. Explain how these current debates have evolved in response to past philosophical discussions.
7. Apply this understanding to your own philosophical research, whether in ethics or other areas, such as a dissertation or independent learning module.

Module content

Over the teaching weeks, we will cover between two and five (depending on their size) topics, selected from current issues in metaethics, normative ethics, and applied ethics.

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The module is taught by lectures and seminars. You are expected to attend all lectures and seminars. There will be two written assignments to complete, from lists of questions supplied by the module convenor. You are expected to read the core reading for each class, and are encouraged to be active in all classes, asking questions and trying to answer the questions posed by others. A reading list will be provided on Talis at the start of the course.

Study hours

At least 26 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: /cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Reassessment

Additional costs