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How we should live our lives is the most important question of all. What makes our actions right or wrong? Is it our culture, our emotions, facts about the world, or God's commands? Are pleasure and happiness all that really matters? What should we do when justice and freedom conflict with happiness or with each other? Should we always obey the law? Is taxation legalised theft? This course introduces students to moral and political philosophy by examining ideas and arguments about how we should live our personal, social and political lives.
There are two occurrences of this course -- an on-campus (C) occurrence and a distance (D) occurrence. This occurrence of the course is the distance one. If you are an on-campus student, please enrol in the other. Videos of all lectures are available online, and all assessment is submitted online.Not only is philosophy one of the most interesting and challenging subjects, it teaches skills that employers want: thinking outside the box, logic, ethics, and excellent writing and communication skills. At UC you can do either a BA or a BSc in Philosophy, or combine a Philosophy major with the LLB, BCom, or another degree.BA or BSc students who major in philosophy must normally take at least two 100-level PHIL courses, plus at least three 200-level PHIL courses (including PHIL233), plus at least 60-points from 300-level PHIL courses (including at least one course from this list: PHIL305; PHIL310; PHIL311; and PHIL317). For more information see the BA regulations and/or the BSc regulations.
Carolyn Mason
Contact Carolyn for further information.
Text book:Rachels, James and Rachels, Stuart. The Elements of Moral Philosophy. McGraw-Hill, 8th edition, 2014. (Available from U.B.S.)Required readings will be made available on Learn for the second section of the course.An optional text for reading on your own is: Weston, Anthony. A Practical Companion to Ethics. Oxford University Press, Any edition.(Image: "Fairness" by Nina Paley, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.)
Library portal Philosophy Essay Writing Guide (available to all enrolled Philosophy students)
Domestic fee $732.00
International fee $2,975.00
* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.
For further information see Humanities .