Module: Philosophy of Values: Ethics & Aesthetics

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Philosophy of Values: Ethics & Aesthetics
Module Code	PHE1009 (ITS: PHIL3)
Faculty	Humanities & Social Sciences	School	Theology, Philosophy & Music
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	15

Description

The first part of this module introduces students to the practice and theory of ethics and moral philosophy. Students will study the role of ethics in clarifying, testing and systematising our common-sense moral beliefs and facilitating their application to issues such as the enforcement of morality under the law, freedom of expression and censorship and abortion. What is art? What is beauty? How do we identify what is artistic and beautiful (and what is not) in the world around us? The second part of this module looks at how Philosophy can help us to better understand and question art, from classical to contemporary approaches, through the study of a number of philosophical problems and debates.

Learning Outcomes

1. Investigate essential features involved in aesthetic experience and ways of defining and analysing different forms of art
2. Analyse key concepts and issues connected to theories of beauty and art that have historical origins in Plato and Aristotle's theories and which remain living options in philosophical aesthetics today
3. Examine the criteria that one needs to know and apply in order to aesthetically evaluate a work of art
4. Assess central theories of ethics that have historical roots and remain significant living options in moral philosophy today
5. Appraise a philosophical argument in ethics through investigating arguments for and against a particular theory
6. Apply the principles of ethical reasoning in assessing controversial moral issues in society today

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Tutorial	15	No Description
Online activity	60	No Description
Independent Study	300	No Description
Total Workload: 375

Section Breakdown
CRN	11727	Part of Term	Semester 1 & 2
Coursework	100%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	N
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Fiachra O'Brolchain	Module Teacher	Bláithin Duggan, Shirley Anne O'Brien

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Essay	n/a	10%	n/a
Completion of online activity	Online discussion & blog	30%	n/a
Project	n/a	60%	n/a

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	l,
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

PART 1: AESTHETICS

Unit 1: Introduction and Classical Conceptions of Art and Beauty 1: Plato

Unit 2: Classical Conceptions of Art and Beauty 2: Aristotle

Unit 3: Establishing a Standard of Taste: Empiricist versus Rationalist Approaches

Unit 4: Kant's Critique of Judgement

Unit 5: Artistic Evaluation 1: Aesthetic Formalism

Unit 6: Artistic Evaluation 2: Categories of Art

Unit 7: Aesthetic Appreciation of Nature

Unit 8: Introducing Film Aesthetics

Unit 9: Some Examples of Film Philosophy

Unit 10: Conclusion

PART 2: ETHICS

Unit 11: Methods, Scope and Value of Ethics, and One of its Central Topics

Unit 12: Morality and Truth: Realism, Subjectivism and Relativism

Unit 13: Utilitarianism - A Results-Based Ethic

Unit 14: Kant's Reason-Based Ethic

Unit 15: Rawls' Theory of Justice - Towards a Contractualist Ethic

Unit 16: Virtue Ethics and the Ethics of Care

Unit 17: Morality, Society and the Law

Unit 18: Freedom of Expression and Censorship

Unit 19: Abortion: The Ethical Arguments

Unit 20: Ethics and the Environment

Indicative Reading List

Books:

Bennett, C: 2010, What is this thing called ethics?, Routledge, London,
Vaughn, Lewis: 2012, Ethics: Moral Reasoning and Contemporary Issues, Third, W. W. Norton, London,
Cahn, S. M. and Meskin, A., eds.: 2008, Aesthetics: A Comprehensive Anthology, Oxford, Blackwell,
0: For additional readings please consult Loop.,

Articles:
None

Other Resources

None