FIL1005 Ethical Theories

    • Number of credits
      10
    • Teaching semester
      2026 Spring
    • Language of instruction
      English
    • Campus
      Lillehammer
    • Required prerequisite knowledge

      None

Course content
  • Which actions are right, and which are wrong? What makes it the case that an action is right or wrong? How should one act? What has value in itself? Can there be moral facts? If so, are such facts objective?
  • Normative ethics, metaethics, and value theory attempt to provide systematic answers to these important questions.
  • This course will provide a thorough introduction to the most prominent ethical theories, including the theory of right and wrong behavior, the theory of value (goodness and badness), and the theory of virtue and vice.
  • We will investigate competing answers to the above questions and critically engage with them to examine their strengths and weaknesses.
  • Other topics, such as distributive justice, may also be covered.

Learning Outcome

Upon passing the course, students have achieved the following learning outcomes:

Knowledge

The student

  • has knowledge of the central issues and problems in normative ethics, metaethics and value theory, such as what makes an action right or wrong, whether moral knowledge can be objective and what can have value in itself
  • has knowledge of prominent theories and arguments to address these problems
  • is familiar with selected classical texts in ethics
  • is familiar with a variety of analytical methods used in normative ethics, metaethics, and value theory
  • knows how to independently expand and update their knowledge in these areas
Skills

The student

  • can explain central problems and debates in normative ethics, metaethics, and value theory
  • can discuss and evaluate different solutions to these problems in a critical and analytic manner
  • can articulate and defend their own viewpoints and positions regarding these problems
  • can apply their knowledge of ethics to other (professional and public) debates
  • can adjust their professional practice in response to feedback and supervision
  • can orient themselves in the relevant literature, both primary and secondary, and follow standard professional norms of attribution and reference
  • can write an argumentative essay on a chosen topic in ethics
General competence

The student 

  • understands how ethical issues are present both in concrete everyday situations and in larger questions about the values and development of society
  • can analyse philosophical texts and evaluate philosophical arguments
  • can write academic essays on complex issues
  • can plan and carry out independent academic work
  • can discuss complex problems, both orally and in writing
  • is familiar with novel ideas and innovation processes in philosophy
Teaching and working methods
  • Lectures
  • Seminars
  • Essay writing
  • Self-study
Required coursework

Two written assignments during the semester. They are graded as Pass or Fail, and the student must pass both assignments in order to take the exam.

Form of assessment

4-hours individual school exam.

Grading according to ECTS-system on scale A-E for passed and F for failed.

Assessments
Form of assessmentGrading scaleGroupingDuration of assessmentSupport materialsProportionComment
Written examination with invigilation
ECTS - A-F
Individual
4 Hour(s)
  • No support materials
100%
Professional overlap
NameCreditsDateComment
FIL1001 Etikk og moralske problemer.
10

Reading list

Faculty
Inland School of Business and Social Sciences
Department
Department of Law, Philosophy and International studies with history