Outline

Overview

This unit draws on contemporary moral philosophy to shed light on some of the most pressing practical, ethical questions of our time, including euthanasia, abortion, surrogacy, censorship, animal rights, genetic testing and cloning and environmental ethics. By the end of the unit, students should have a good understanding of these practical ethical issues; and, more crucially, be equipped with the conceptual resources to think through new ethical questions and dilemmas as they arise in their personal and professional lives.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Philosophy
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	12 credit points at 1000 level
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	PHIL2517 or PHIL3617
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Caroline West, caroline.west@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s)	Caroline West, caroline.west@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s)	Lily Patchett, lily.patchett@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s)	Alyssa Meli, alyssa.meli@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Assignment	Take-home assignment 2 x 1250 word short essay on topics covered in weeks 7-13.	50%	Formal exam period Due date: 10 Jun 2025 at 23:59	2500 words
Outcomes assessed:
Participation	Tutorial participation Tutorial Participation	10%	Ongoing	Continuous
Outcomes assessed:
Tutorial quiz	Canvas Quiz Short multiple-choice quiz #earlyfeedbacktask	0%	Week 03	Short multiple-choice quiz
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Essay 1 x 2000 word essay on a topic covered in weeks 1-6.	40%	Week 07 Due date: 08 Apr 2025 at 23:59	2000 words
Outcomes assessed:
= AI allowed ? = early feedback task ?

Early feedback task

This unit includes an early feedback task, designed to give you feedback prior to the census date for this unit. Details are provided in the site and your result will be recorded in your Marks page. It is important that you actively engage with this task so that the University can support you to be successful in this unit.

Assessment summary

1.听Essay (2,000 words) worth 40% of final grade
2. Take-home assignment (2,500 words) worth 50% of final grade
3. Tutorial participation worth 10% of final grade
Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas

All assessments must be attempted in order to be eligible to pass this unit.

Attendance at all classes is required.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a High distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a Distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name	Mark range	Description
High distinction	85 - 100	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an exceptional standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Distinction	75 - 84	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a very high standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Credit	65 - 74	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a good standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Pass	50 - 64	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an acceptable standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Fail	0 - 49	When you don鈥檛 meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

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For more information see guide to grades.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

Except for supervised exams or in-semester tests, you may use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessments unless expressly prohibited by your unit coordinator.听

For exams and in-semester tests, the use of AI and automated writing tools is not allowed unless expressly permitted in the assessment instructions.听

The icons in the assessment table above indicate whether AI is allowed 鈥� whether full AI, or only some AI (the latter is referred to as 鈥淎I restricted鈥�). If no icon is shown, AI use is not permitted at all for the task. Refer to Canvas for full instructions on assessment tasks for this unit.听

Your final submission must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of automated writing tools or generative AI, and any material generated that you include in your final submission must be properly referenced. You may be required to submit generative AI inputs and outputs that you used during your assessment process, or drafts of your original work. Inappropriate use of generative AI is considered a breach of the鈥�Academic Integrity Policy听and penalties may apply.听

The Current Students website听provides information on artificial intelligence in assessments. For help on how to correctly acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the鈥�.听

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

5% per calendar day

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a听simple extension.鈥� The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can鈥檛 complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for听special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students,听听includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy听reflects the University鈥檚 commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Introduction	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 02	Life, Death and the Ethics of Killing	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 03	Abortion	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 04	Euthanasia	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 05	Animal ethics	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 06	Environmental ethics and climate change	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 07	Ethics and world poverty	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 08	Genetic engineering	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 09	AI Ethics	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 10	Consent to sex	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 11	Commercial surrogacy	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 12	Pornography, free speech and censorship	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 13	Moral ignorance	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance: According to Faculty Board Resolutions, students in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences are expected to attend 90% of their classes. If you attend less than 50% of classes, regardless of the reasons, you may be referred to the Examiner鈥檚 Board. The Examiner鈥檚 Board will decide whether you should pass or fail the unit of study if your attendance falls below this threshold.
Lecture Recording: Most lectures (in recording-equipped venues) will be recorded and may be made available to students on the LMS. However, you should not rely on lecture recording to substitute your classroom learning experience.
Preparation: Students should commit to spend approximately three hours鈥� preparation time (reading, studying, homework, essays, etc.) for every hour of scheduled instruction.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

Detailed Schedule of Lectures and Tutorials

Required Readings

All readings are available via the Canvas site for this unit, and also through the library鈥檚 E-reading system.

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Background Reading

鈥楻eading Philosophy鈥� (read this if you haven鈥檛 studied philosophy before)

P. Vallentyne, 鈥楥onsequentialism鈥�

McNaughton & Rawling, 鈥楧eontology鈥�

R. Hursthouse, 鈥榁irtue Theory鈥�

All in听Ethics in Practice, ed. Hugh LaFollette (Blackwell publishing, 3rd edition)

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Lecture 1: Life, Death and the Ethics of Killing

Tutorial 1: Introduction

No required reading for this tutorial. However, the background readings are highly recommended, particularly if you have not completed any other ethics courses.

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Lecture 2: Abortion and the Ethics of Killing

Tutorial 2: Abortion (Marquis)

Required Reading:听

D. Marquis 鈥榃hy Abortion is Immoral鈥�, Journal of Philosophy, LXXXVI, 4 (April 1989): 183202

Additional Readings:

M. Tooley 鈥楢bortion and Infanticide鈥櫬�, Philosophy and Public Affairs, Vol. 2, No. 1 (1972): 3765

P. Singer, Practical Ethics 3rd edition, (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2011), Ch. 4 鈥淲hat鈥檚 Wrong with Killing?鈥�

W. Sinnott-Armstrong, "You can't lose what you ain't never had: A reply to Marquis on abortion, Philosophical Studies 96(1) (1999): 5972.

P. McInerney, "Does a Fetus Already have a Future Like Ours?", The Journal of Philosophy 87(5) (1990): 264268.

A. Norcross, "Killing, Abortion, and Contraception: A Reply to Marquis",听The Journal of Philosophy 87(5) (1990): 268277.

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Lecture 3: Abortion

Tutorial 3: Abortion (Thomson)

Required Reading:

J. J. Thomson, 鈥淎 Defence of Abortion,鈥� Philosophy and Public Affairs 1 (1971): 4766

Additional Readings:

M. Little, 鈥淭he Moral Permissibility of Abortion,鈥� in A Cohen and C Wellman (eds.)听Contemporary Debates in Applied Ethics听(Malden MA: Blackwell Publishing, 2005)

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Lecture 4: Euthanasia

Tutorial 4: Euthanasia (Rachels)

Required Reading:

J. Rachels, 鈥淎ctive and Passive Euthanasia,鈥澨�The End of Life: Euthanasia and Morality听(Oxford University Press, 1986), ch. 7

Additional Readings:

T. Beauchamp, 鈥楯ustifying Physician Assisted Suicide鈥� in听Ethics in Practice, edited by Hugh LaFollette (Blackwell publishing, 3rd edition)

J. D. Velleman, 鈥淎gainst the Right to Die,鈥� New York Working Paper Series (August 13, 2007). Reprinted in听Ethics in Practice

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Lecture 5: Animal Ethics

Tutorial 5: Animal Ethics

Required Reading:听

P. Singer, 鈥淎ll Animals Are Equal,鈥� Animal Liberation (Avon Books, 1990)

Additional Readings:

C. Diamond, 鈥淓ating Meat and Eating People,鈥� Philosophy, 53 206 (1978): 465479

R. Hursthouse, 鈥淎pplying Virtue Ethics to Our Treatment of the Other Animals,鈥� in Jennifer Welchman (ed.)听The Practice of Virtue听(Hackett, 2006)

Korsgaard, Christine M. "A Kantian Case for Animal Rights." 2012. In Animal Law - Tier and Rect:Developments and Perspectives in the 21st Century, ed. Margot Michael, Daniela K眉hne, and Julia H盲nni, 3-27. Zurich: Dike Verlag. https://dash.harvard.edu/bitstream/handle/1/34903186/Korsgaard.A.Kantian.Case.for.Animal.Rights.pdf?sequence=1

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Lecture 6: Environmental Ethics and Climate Change

Tutorial 6: Environmental Ethics and Climate Change

Required Reading:听

W. Sinnott-Armstrong, 鈥淚t鈥檚 Not My Fault: Global Warming and Individual Moral Obligations,鈥� in Sinnott-Armstrong听and Howarth (eds.),听Perspectives on Climate Change, Ethics, Vol. 5 (2005)

Additional Readings:

鈥楽. Caney, 鈥楥limate Change and The Future: Discounting for Time, Wealth and Risk鈥�,听Journal of Social Philosophy 40听(2009): 163186

Kagan, S. "Do I make a difference?",听Philosophy and Public Affairs听39 2 (2011): 105鈥�141.

Gardiner, Caney, Jamieson & Shue, (eds).: Climate Ethics: Essential Readings. (Oxford University Press, 2010).

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Lecture 7: World Poverty

Tutorial 7: World Poverty

Required Reading:听

P. Singer, 鈥楩amine, 鈥淔amine, Affluence and Morality,鈥� Philosophy and Public Affairs听(1972): 229鈥�243

Additional Readings:

G. Cullity 鈥淚nternational Aid and the Scope of Kindness.鈥澨�Ethics听105 (1994): 99鈥�127

J. Carens, 鈥楢liens and Citizens: The Case for Open Borders,鈥櫶�Review of Politics听49 (1987): 251273

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Lecture 8: Genetic Engineering

Tutorial 8: Genetic Engineering

Required Reading:听

M. Sandel, 鈥淭he case against perfection,鈥澨�The Atlantic Monthly听293 (3): 5162

Additional Readings:

N. Agar, 鈥淟iberal Eugenics,鈥澨�Public Affairs Quarterly听12 2 (1998): 137 155)

F. Kamm, 鈥淚s There a Problem with Enhancement?鈥澨�American Journal of Bioethics听5 3 (2005): 5 14

J. Savluescu & G. Kahane, 鈥淧rocreative Beneficence and Disability: Is There a Moral Obligation to Create Children with the Best Chance of the Best Life,鈥澨�Bioethics听23 5 (2009): 274 鈥� 290

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Lecture 9: AI Ethics

Tutorial 9: AI Ethics

Required reading: TBA

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Lecture 10: Consent to Sex

Tutorial 10: Consent to Sex

Required Reading:听

Sarah Conly, 鈥淪eduction, Rape and Coercion,鈥澨�Ethics, 115 (2004): 96121

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. develop analytical and critical thinking skills, communication skills, research skills, lateral thinking skills and independent thinking skills
LO2. develop capacity to engage openmindedly with different viewpoints, analyse and evaluate arguments and to develop and communicate new perspectives clearly
LO3. reflect on, and appreciate personal, civic and professional ethical obligations
LO4. demonstrate attributes of philosophical scholarship, including understanding the methods of philosophical analysis and argument.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all 爆料王 graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one鈥檚 personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

No changes have been made since this unit was last offered.

Disclaimer

Important: the 爆料王 regularly reviews units of study and reserves the right to change the units of study available annually. To stay up to date on available study options, including unit of study details and availability, refer to the relevant handbook.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an .

爆料王

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Early feedback task

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

爆料王

PHIL2617: Practical Ethics

Semester 1, 2025 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Early feedback task

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links