Undergraduate Module Descriptor

PHL3013: Virtues and Vices

This module descriptor refers to the 2021/2 academic year.

Module Aims

This module aims to introduce students to virtue ethics and to contrast it with other approaches in moral philosophy. It will familiarise students with a major tradition in ethics and equip them with the techniques required to read, understand and criticise philosophical arguments. It will complement other modules in ethics and political philosophy, and is also available to students from other schools and departments.  

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

This module's assessment will evaluate your achievement of the ILOs listed here – you will see reference to these ILO numbers in the details of the assessment for this module.

On successfully completing the programme you will be able to:
Module-Specific Skills1. think knowledgeably about the virtues and vices;
2. read and understand key texts in ethics;
Discipline-Specific Skills3. reflect clearly and rationally on ethical questions;
4. articulate and defend a point of view and assess the views of others;
Personal and Key Skills5. write coherent, well-argued essays; and
6. think carefully and independently.

How this Module is Assessed

In the tables below, you will see reference to 'ILO's. An ILO is an Intended Learning Outcome - see Aims and Learning Outcomes for details of the ILOs for this module.

Formative Assessment

A formative assessment is designed to give you feedback on your understanding of the module content but it will not count towards your mark for the module.

Form of assessmentSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
Students are required to write one essay plan Approximately 500 words1-6Written comments and classroom discussion

Summative Assessment

A summative assessment counts towards your mark for the module. The table below tells you what percentage of your mark will come from which type of assessment.

CourseworkWritten examsPractical exams
50500

...and this table provides further details on the summative assessments for this module.

Form of assessment% of creditSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
Essay503,000 words1-6Comments in margin and on cover sheet
Exam502 hours1-6Comments in margin and on cover sheet

Re-assessment

Re-assessment takes place when the summative assessment has not been completed by the original deadline, and the student has been allowed to refer or defer it to a later date (this only happens following certain criteria and is always subject to exam board approval). For obvious reasons, re-assessments cannot be the same as the original assessment and so these alternatives are set. In cases where the form of assessment is the same, the content will nevertheless be different.

Original form of assessmentForm of re-assessmentILOs re-assessedTimescale for re-assessment
EssayEssay (3,000 words)1-6August/September reassessment period
ExamExam (2 hours)1-6August/September reassessment period