POL3050 : The Ethics of Killing
- Offered for Year: 2024/25
- Module Leader(s): Dr Nicola Mulkeen
- Owning School: Geography, Politics & Sociology
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
Semester 1 Credit Value: | 20 |
ECTS Credits: | 10.0 |
European Credit Transfer System |
Aims
This module aims to:
• Foster knowledge and understanding of the basic concepts which inform theoretical and empirical discussions in the ethics of killing and saving lives.
• Demonstrate the interplay between normative and empirical considerations when it comes to assessing, proposing, and recommending policies.
• Equip students with the skills necessary to understand and critically analyse real-world arguments relating to the political significance of ethics of killing and saving lives.
• Help students to draw their own conclusions, and the relationship of these theories to specific practical public policy issues.
Outline Of Syllabus
Topics studied may include:
Methods and Moral Theory
Killing vs. Letting Die
The Doctrine of Double Effect
Do Intentions Matter for Permissibility?
Liability to Defensive Killing
Killing the Innocent in Self-Defence
Drones and Counterterrorism
Saving the Greater Number
The Non-Identity Problem
Killing Non-Human Animals
Essay writing workshop
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Structured Guided Learning | Lecture materials | 11 | 2:00 | 22:00 | Guided reading for seminar preperation |
Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 11 | 1:00 | 11:00 | PiP Lecture |
Structured Guided Learning | Lecture materials | 11 | 1:00 | 11:00 | Pre-recorded lecture materials |
Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 145:00 | 145:00 | Independent study/Assessment preparation and completion |
Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 11 | 1:00 | 11:00 | PiP Seminar |
Total | 200:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
Pre-recorded lecture materials
Connected Outcome
• Have a good understanding of the main normative issues at stake in ethics of killing and saving lives;
• Understand objections to the main solutions proposed in the literature;
• Be able to distinguish empirical from normative objections to specific proposals;
PiP Lecture
• Be able to relate these to current political debates, thus locating the relevant moral dilemmas within them;
• Be able to apply the arguments and approaches studied to real and hypothetical cases.
• team working skills;
• excellent oral skills.
• a more flexible and open-minded approach to complex moral issues.
Small group teaching
• Be able to relate these to current political debates, thus locating the relevant moral dilemmas within them;
• Be able to apply the arguments and approaches studied to real and hypothetical cases.
• the ability to critically analyse evidence and construct coherent arguments;
• team working skills;
• excellent oral skills;
• a more flexible and open-minded approach to complex moral issues.
Structured research and reading activities
• the ability to research, source and examine information thoroughly;
• intellectual independence and autonomy;
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Exams
Description | Length | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Written Examination | 120 | 1 | A | 75 | N/A |
Other Assessment
Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
---|---|---|---|---|
Written exercise | 1 | M | 25 | 1000 word Critical review |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
2 hour exam
• Have a good understanding of the main normative issues at stake in ethics of killing and saving lives;
• Understand objections to the main solutions proposed in the literature;
• Be able to distinguish empirical from normative objections to specific proposals;
• Be able to relate these to current political debates, thus locating the relevant moral dilemmas within them;
• Be able to apply the arguments and approaches studied to real and hypothetical cases.
• the ability to research, source and examine information thoroughly;
• the ability to critically analyse evidence and construct coherent arguments;
• Be able to relate issues surrounding ethics of killing and saving lives to current political debates, thus locating the relevant moral dilemmas within them;
• Be able to apply the arguments and approaches studied to real and hypothetical cases.
• Excellent written skills;
• Intellectual independence and autonomy;
Critical Review 1000 words
• Have a good understanding of the main normative issues at stake in ethics of killing and saving lives;
• Understand objections to the main solutions proposed in the literature;
• Be able to distinguish empirical from normative objections to specific proposals;
• Be able to relate these to current political debates, thus locating the relevant moral dilemmas within them;
• Be able to apply the arguments and approaches studied to real and hypothetical cases.
• the ability to research, and examine information thoroughly;
• the ability to critically analyse evidence and construct coherent arguments;
• excellent written skills
• intellectual independence and autonomy;
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- POL3050's Timetable