Master Of Philosophy in Applied Ethics

There are two routes which can be followed to achieve the Master of Philosophy

A. Master of Philosophy (by dissertation)

B. Master of Philosophy (by coursework and research paper)

Irrespective of whether route A or route B is taken the purpose of the MPhil in Applied Ethics is to provide leaders and potential leaders in various sectors of our society, including business, civil service, political legal, media and social sectors, with a combined study/research qualification at NQF Level 8 PG 3. It further aims

• To develop the ability to think clearly about complex ethical situations in a global world especially from a Catholic perspective.
• To develop a sensitivity to the ethical values at issue in a particular situation.
• To encourage the student to examine and articulate his or her own values and to understand how these values shape and are shaped by the workplace and its culture.
• To develop a sensitivity to different value perspectives of the various constituencies of society.

The programme aims to contribute to regional and national goals by developing ethical leaders for all constituencies in our society. The aim is to help build the moral fibre of our nation and to ensure that these ethical leaders will prioritise the common good of South Africa society. This the programme does through its focus on wide-ranging areas of specialization namely Bio-Ethics, Business Ethics, Ethics for the Legal Profession, Gender and Family Ethics, Media Ethics, Political Ethics and Social Ethics. The College hopes to become a centre of Applied and Professional Ethics.

Rationale for the qualification

The qualification is aimed at enabling professional leaders and other qualified people in various fields to contribute to the ethical transformation of society in both the civil service and the private sector, especially in the business, political, medical, legal media and social sectors among others. It provides the opportunity for these persons to upgrade their qualifications from NQF Level 6, 7 or 8 PG1 to NQF Level 8 PG 3.

This qualification assumes that the learner is competent in the language of instruction of the provider, and is able to demonstrate the applied competence which typically leads to the award of a qualification at Level 6, 7 or 8 PG1 on the NQF.

Recognition of prior learning (RPL )

Recognition of prior learning is given to relevant practical and theoretical experience in the field and subfield relevant to this qualification and is assessed by the academic board in conjunction with the rules of access quoted at 4 above.

N/A

The critical outcomes are integrated into the exit level outcomes.

These are as follows

The learners will

• be able to provide ethical leadership in their chosen profession.
• be able to make responsible decisions in ethical dilemmas based on sound moral judgement.
• be acquainted with core ethical dilemmas in their respective areas of specialization and professions and will be able to discern the nature and prevalence of unethical practices.
• have the skills to uphold the value and dignity of every person, of families and especially of disadvantaged persons, in their professions.

These exit level outcomes are supported by the specific outcomes of the component modules of the MPhil in Applied Ethics. The assessment criteria for this qualification will identify the degree to which the outcomes are clearly operative in the concrete performance of the candidate. They will identify the degree to which the candidate can apply his or her learning in an integrated way and so demonstrate an overall expertise.

Core modules

Outcomes of Dignity of the Human Person

The learner will be

• able to identify situations where dignity is overlooked or where reductionary or distorted accounts of dignity need to be critiqued.
• able to make responsible decisions and judgements in the diverse professions relating to family life, social and political order, education, justice and equality and human rights, human good and culture.
• acquainted with debates over multi-culturalism as well as the African view of the human being.
• able to engage contemporary development in feminist thought and gender issues.

Outcomes of Ethics A

The learner will

• have an overview of the nature of ethics and the three approaches to ethics, notably the analytical approach, the phenomenological approach and natural law and ethics based on human nature.
• be able to discern a good action from a bad one and will understand what constitutes a good human life.
• understand the relationship between human acts and moral virtue.
• understand the ethical dilemmas in our South African society and search for creative ways to confront these dilemmas.

Outcomes of research paper

The learner will

• have developed the ability to identify valuable areas and topics for research especially those linked to his/her own interest, concern or experience.
• be able to critically investigate a topic and ground it in an appropriate theoretical framework.
• be able to research the available literature on a topic.
• have demonstrated an understanding of the chosen field and an ability to apply the research methods appropriate to the field.
• be able to explore and analyse data forms in order to provide a (new) perspective or understanding of the problematic.
• be familiar with methods of scientific research including writing, referencing and correct style.
• be able to defend his conclusions with peers and qualified educators.

Elective modules

Outcomes for Bio-ethics A

The learner will

• have insight into current moral issues in bioethical situations.
• be able to apply the moral and philosophical principles and arguments so that he/she will be able to deal with bioethical problems in the workplace and in the community

Outcomes for Bio-ethics B

The learner will be able to

• deal with bioethical problems in the areas of sexual ethics, medical environments and HIV/AIDS.
• deal with human rights issues such as the right to live, the right to die, the right to refuse treatment, the right to allocation of medical resources.
• make a contribution in problems concerning the ethics of patient care (e.g. the doctor-patient relationship and nursing ethics.)

Outcomes for Bioethics C

The learner will

• have the know-how to contribute to the debate on bioethical issues in regard to cloning, experimentation with human embryos and stem cells.
• be able to deal with problems of justice in the use and allocation of health care resources.
• be able to handle ethical dilemmas in the research on animals and the natural environment.

Outcomes for Legal ethics

The learner will

• be able to add ethical reflections to the intellectual activities of lawyers.
• re-think the notions of justice and the common good and apply them in legal practice.
• be able to re-introduce and re-interpret traditional virtues in legal practice in order to make clear that the social and political responsibility of lawyers is an ethical responsibility.

Outcomes for Political ethics

The learner will

• be able to provide ethical leadership in political office and the wider political context.
• embrace the goals of political ethics which are peace, freedom and justice.
• be able to counteract the moral failure of politicians: political lies, diplomatic lies, misuse of power and self-enrichment.
• be able to make a constructive contribution to the ethics of political 'fighting'

Outcomes of Social Ethics

The learner will be

• familiar with contemporary social issues and their ethical implications.
• sensitised to issues of poverty and socio-economic justice and give an appropriate response.
• able to provide ethical leadership for the good of society.

Outcomes of Gender and Family Ethics

The learner will be

• acquainted with the history of family life and the problems facing the family in a post-industrial urban society.
• able to apply a model for ethical decision making in marriage and family matters.
• able to contextualize and understand specific concepts of traditional African life.
• able to link sexuality and spirituality and the development of a marriage and family spirituality.

Outcomes for Business Ethics A

The learner will

• be acquainted with the core issues of business ethics as an academic discipline which is relevant to the market place.
• understand the interrelationship between the purpose of business and the public good.
• appreciate the role of Christian business ethics within the market economy and so make ethical decisions in business practice.
• discern the nature and prevalence of unethical business practice within the South African economic system and will counteract fraudulent and corrupt practices.

Outcomes for Business Ethics B

The learner will

• have an overview of how ethical principles should be applied within the corporation.
• be acquainted with the growing use of virtue-concepts in business ethics and will see some of the implications for the discipline of business ethics if it is viewed through the lens of virtue ethics.
• be able to handle creative conflict within the firm in a multi-cultural society.
• be able to apply the principle of subsidiarity by fostering delegation and training as an empowerment tool for employees.
• be able to exercise authority, power and leadership with due responsibility and sound moral judgement.
• be able to work out a Christian/ethical response to problems such as retrenchment, unemployment and job creation.

Outcomes for Business Ethics C

The learner will

• have the ability to distinguish between moral accountability and the principle of justice on the one hand and bribery and corruption of companies at all levels of the economy i.e. at company and multi-national level.
• have an insight into the limitations of the current capitalist system as well as the negative aspects of globalization and the role of Christian business leaders in creating a universal solidarity.
• come to grips with the role of corporate responsibility as a means of redressing the excesses and limitations of a global economy.

Outcomes for Media Ethics

The learner will be

• able to evaluate and make responsible decisions regarding information to be disseminated to the community, in the light of human dignity.
• acquainted with the ethical dilemmas and conflicts facing media professionals.
• able to assess the national and international impact of their decision making.
• acutely aware of the impact of the media on the formation and education of youth and children.

Outcomes for Ethics B

The learner will be

• familiar with the nature of moral norms/rules and their application to particular circumstances.
• able to apply models of moral decision making in their personal and professional lives.
• able to recognize conflicts of value and to apply creative conflict management in such situations within diverse environments.

Integrated Assessment

Integrated assessment is aimed at evaluating foundational, reflexive and practical competence of the candidate. It evaluates the ability of the candidate to relate a solid historical and theoretical understanding of the subject with the capacity for Independent research and study and to apply philosophical knowledge and skills to a wide range of concrete situations related to the intellectual, social, political, moral, cultural and religious dimensions of the contemporary world.

Overall competence is shown when there is evidence that the candidate

• Demonstrates a solid depth of ethical and philosophical knowledge and a high level of theoretical understanding with regard to basic ethical positions, concepts, principles and methods.
• Is able to recognize the relevance of major ethical thinkers for contemporary questions.
• Is able to produce assignments that are well focused and carefully structured and which are presented in suitable format.
• Demonstrates a solid understanding of the different areas of ethics and applied ethics and their interrelationships as well as the relationship of applied ethics to other disciplines.
• is able to produce a research paper indicating independent and organized thought.
• is able to engage dialectically with different philosophical/ and ethical positions and traditions.
• is able to take responsibility for his or her own position whilst being adaptable and flexible enough to appreciate radically different viewpoints.
• Is confident in the use of research skills appropriate to applied ethics
• is able to apply ethical concepts and principles and methods to specific concrete issues.
• Is able to draw up position papers and reports on matters relating to the public good or to issues in the contemporary world.
• can apply ethical resources to the particular social and economic and cultural contexts of S.A.
• can engage in debates and seminars and contribute to interdisciplinary forums concerning matter of applied ethics, dignity and human rights, the relationship of law and morality etc.

The main methods of assessment will be participation in class debates and seminars, evidence of critical thinking, ability to offer accounts of experience that are phenomenologically accurate, ability to integrate different points and arguments; the ability to present philosophical positions are arguments; assignments, research papers and comprehensive final exams.