The Ethics and Moral Psychology of Good and Evil
UndergraduateMAQ-PHIX20262025
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- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Entry requirements
- Prior study needed
- Duration
- 13 weeks
- Start dates
- 24 Feb 2025
- Loan available
- HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP available
The Ethics and Moral Psychology of Good and Evil
About this subject
On successful completion of this subject, you will be able to:
- draw on sources used in the unit to give clear accounts of the relevant philosophical moral concepts and theories
- demonstrate a good general understanding of how contemporary philosophical and psychological research contributes to our understanding of moral agency, judgement and motivation
- analyse and critically evaluate relevant competing philosophical theories and arguments.
- apply the theoretical knowledge gained to the analysis and evaluation of selected case studies in moral psychology
- construct sound arguments in support of your own ethical positions, judgements and values
- A week-by-week guide to the topics you will explore in this subject will be provided in your study materials.
What is it that makes us good or evil, virtuous or vicious? What does it mean to be a competent agent who can be held responsible for moral as well as immoral action? And what does morality and moral theory require of us as agents? Thinking about what motivates morality raises important questions about the role played by reason, will, emotion and intuition in bringing about moral behaviour. It also offers a basis for critically examining prominent ethical theories to see how well they can accommodate the lived realities of human agency and motivation. And it invites further questions about the contribution of social context and psychopathic conditions in explaining ordinary and extreme forms of wrongdoing. This unit will critically examine the philosophical and psychological literature on moral agency, virtue, goodness, and evil, as well as exploring historical and contemporary philosophical accounts of the importance of such things as integrity, character, autonomy and respect for others in moral life and moral relations.
- Research Essay (40%)
- online viva/oral examination (30%)
- Literature Review (30%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
This research-intensive university in north-western Sydney offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. With over 44,000 current students, Macquarie has a strong reputation for welcoming international students and embracing flexible and convenient study options, including its partnership with Open Universities Australia.
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Entry requirements
Prior study
You must have successfully completed the following subject(s) before starting this subject:
one of
- MAQ-PHIX1031-The Philosophy of Human Nature
- MAQ-PHIX1032-Happiness, Goodness and Justice
- MAQ-PHIX1037-Critical Thinking
Others
Pre-requisite
40cp at 1000 level or above
NCCW (pre-2020 units)
PHIL226
NCCW (2020 and onwards)
PHIL2026 The Ethics and Moral Psychology of Good and Evil
Additional requirements
No additional requirements
Study load
- 0.125 EFTSL
- This is in the range of 10 to 12 hours of study each week.
Equivalent full time study load (EFTSL) is one way to calculate your study load. One (1.0) EFTSL is equivalent to a full-time study load for one year.
Find out more information on Commonwealth Loans to understand what this means to your eligibility for financial support.
What to study next?
Once you’ve completed this subject it can be credited towards one of the following courses
UndergraduateMAQ-ART-DEG
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