MA Contemporary Ethics

What does the programme cover?

The programme relates the discourse of ethics to questions raised in contemporary society. Its focus is prompted by the emergence of new and complex ethical questions which arise from cultural, social and technological changes in the modern world. 

The opening core module lays the foundation for the study of ethics by giving you an introduction to some major themes in ethical theory and areas of contemporary debate. Themes studied include: major influences on ethical debate (relativism, utilitarianism, Kantianism); the distinctive contributions of Christian ethics; conscience; Human Rights; law and morality. In studying the second core module Moral Development, Reasoning and Decision Making you will be helped to think in an informed and structured way about the meaning, role and patterns of moral growth.

The selection of options allows you to choose contemporary ethical debates for further study. For example, the Ethical Issues Today module leads you to consider issues related to the environment, the mass media, political obligation, work and professionalism, intellectual property rights, war and peace, and punishment of criminals. Business Ethics is dedicated to the study of topics connected to advertising and the creation of ‘wants’; the influence of the ‘ethical’ investor; just wage; the influence of transnational corporations; business and the environment.