Ethics, Social Responsibility and the Law

• • Introduction & Academic Integrity
  • Frameworks for Ethical Decision Making: moral reasons
  • Frameworks for Ethical Decision Making: utilitarianism
  • Frameworks for Ethical Decision Making: deontology
  • Frameworks for Ethical Decision Making: virtue ethics
  • Role of the Law
  • Professions and professional ethics -lawyers
  • Medical ethics
  • Corporate social responsibility
  • Situational crime prevention
  • When things go wrong: Banking Royal Commission
  • Conclusion

No eligibility requirements

Additional requirements

No additional requirements

Become better prepared to understand concepts of ethics, social responsibility and the law and how these shape individual and collective behaviour in modern society. Sustainable inspirational leadership can only evolve from a legitimate, ethical and socially responsible base. Equally, reputations can be damaged as a result of conduct that is unethical or unlawful and which may have come about as a result of poor judgment and lack of insight and reflection.  

This subject will challenge your current thinking and ask you to explore different perspectives around ethics, social responsibility and the law and their interconnections. It will equip you to navigate complex professional ethical dilemmas and make positive choices that are individually affirming and socially responsible. Social responsibility is also explored at the collective level and how this is shaping the modern corporate world with growing expectations on companies to demonstrate corporate social responsibility.  

You will learn theoretical philosophical principles that encompass ethical decision-making and explore how ethical frameworks can assist a person to make appropriate, rationally defensible decisions within a range of settings: professional ethics, with a particular focus on how ethics influences the life of a legal professional; medical ethics and the contemporary research environment; business ethics and the ethical expectations underpinning corporate social responsibility; and the context of policy settings to minimise criminal behaviour.

The subject will equip you to navigate complex professional ethical dilemmas and make positive choices that are individually affirming and socially responsible. Social responsibility is also explored at the collective level and how this is shaping the modern corporate world with growing expectations on companies to demonstrate corporate social responsibility.

• Multiple Choice Test (Online) on Moral Theories (20%)
• Weekly Online Quizzes Weeks 6-13 (36%)
• Online Quiz on Moral Reasons (4%)
• Reflective Essay (40%)

Current study term: 10 Jul 22 to 16 Oct 22

Next study term: 19 Feb 23 to 28 May 23