Ethics, Values and Identity

Module description

The module equips students with the skills to understand their own values and commitments and those of others, especially with regard to issues of personal ethics. It identifies three main areas for debate and reflection.

1) Ethics: what are the main ethical approaches that can be taken in personal ethical life; can and should different approaches be combined?

2) Values: what are they; why have they become more visible in personal and organisational life; are they different from 'ethics' and 'rules'; do they really matter?

3) Identity: what is it; what role do values play; can our identities be questioned and debated and where are the limits?

The module engages students with these three areas (a) by general reflection and (b) through engaged reflection with a selection of ethical issues that are of immediate relevance today, such as justice versus care; care for others versus care for self; 'coddling' versus self-reliance. The approach is multidisciplinary, and we will be reading texts by authors with different standpoints and approaches.

Assessment details

 

 

Educational aims & objectives

This module equips students to engage in ethical debate and reflection on issues that go to the heart of personal identity, values, and ethical decision making.

Learning outcomes

Generic Skills
- Engage critically with primary and secondary textual sources
- Use the library and electronic resources to develop research skills and the independent acquisition of knowledge
- Present well-researched arguments coherently in assessment
- Communicate ideas orally and in writing
- Debate and disagree well

Module Specific Skills:
- Identify, reflect upon and debate their own deeply-held ethical convictions
- Demonstrate a critical understanding of the concepts of 'identity', 'values' and 'personal ethics' and how they relate to one another
- Select and apply appropriate resources and research methods for the chosen topic of study
- Discuss and debate contested issues of values and ethics in a respectful and empathetic way

Teaching pattern

1x two-hour combined lecture and seminar, weekly for ten weeks

Module description disclaimer

King’s College London reviews the modules offered on a regular basis to provide up-to-date, innovative and relevant programmes of study. Therefore, modules offered may change. We suggest you keep an eye on the course finder on our website for updates.

Please note that modules with a practical component will be capped due to educational requirements, which may mean that we cannot guarantee a place to all students who elect to study this module.

Please note that the module descriptions above are related to the current academic year and are subject to change.