Contemporary Ethical Controversies

Module description

This module equips students with the skills to question and understand what makes a good society, especially regarding issues of social ethics. Through engagement with contemporary ethical controversies, this module will respond to live ethical debates, explore how the social problems we are confronted with can be responded to ethically, and encourage students to reflect on perspectives that differ from their own in an empathetic manner.

 

Sample Topics: gender and sexuality, marriage and relationships, environmental ethics, fast fashion, human rights, social justice, the internet and social media, humour, and free speech.

 

The approach is multidisciplinary, and we will be reading texts by authors with different standpoints and approaches.

 

Assessment details

2,500 word essay (70%); 1,000 word essay (30%)

Educational aims & objectives

This module aims to build student competence and confidence in engaging critically and empathetically with a range of contemporary ethical controversies and reflecting on their own and others' social values to understand what counts as a good society.  

Learning outcomes

Generic skills:

Ability to:

• Analyse texts and arguments

• Summarise, present, discuss and debate issues in a respectful and empathetic way.

• Select and apply appropriate resources and research methods and present an argument for the chosen topic of study

 

Module-specific skills:

• Familiarity with the nature and range of ‘social ethics’

• Critical and reflective understanding of some key debates, approaches and theorists in contemporary ethical controversies

• Development of a critical sense of the relevance of social ethics for contemporary social and political issues

• Greater self-awareness about one’s own social values.

Teaching pattern

1 two hour lecture weekly

Module description disclaimer

King’s College London reviews the modules offered on a regular basis to provide up-to-date, innovative and relevant programmes of study. Therefore, modules offered may change. We suggest you keep an eye on the course finder on our website for updates.

Please note that modules with a practical component will be capped due to educational requirements, which may mean that we cannot guarantee a place to all students who elect to study this module.

Please note that the module descriptions above are related to the current academic year and are subject to change.