Philosophy, Religion & Ethics

Course summary

During this course, you will learn about the fascinating disciplines of Philosophy and Ethics. In Philosophy, we start by looking at the history of western philosophy with a study of the ideas of Socrates, Plato and Aristotle before going on to look at the traditional arguments for God’s existence. You will also discover what different people mean by the terms ‘God’, ‘miracle’ and ‘religious experience’ and consider how the language we use shapes our experience of reality; and explore issues surrounding the afterlife and the distinction between our body and our ‘soul’. In Ethics, you will look at various ethical theories and how they relate to the world around us. From the strict rule-based systems of Kant to the simple, flexible principles of Situation Ethics, you will discover that there is more to ethical decision-making than meets the eye. You will also consider what we mean by the term ‘good’ - if it has any meaning at all - and how we make ethical judgements in different scenarios. Should businesses care about their employees, their consumers or the environment? Is it ever right to kill? What is conscience? The Development in Christian Thought unit will allow you to explore the philosophical and ethical issues the course brings up from a Christian perspective. It delves into the history of Jesus, the Bible and the establishment of the Christian Church and considers the impact it has had on society. We will unpack the impact early theological thought has had on gender, class and religious pluralism in society and how the Church has responded to a changing society.