southampton

Module overview

Business can be understood narrowly as the part of life in which we exchange services and goods. But in contemporary society, many of us spend a large part of our lives conducting business—either working within firms or for ourselves—and all of us engage in, or are affected by, such exchanges. As business activity shapes our lives in this pervasive way, the ethical questions that that activity raises are relevant to, and important for, us all. These questions take many forms. For example, what are the proper aims of the management of firms? Is it only to maximise returns to their shareholders? Or is it for firms to address broader ethical issues that society faces? Can anything and everything be bought and sold? If not, what restrictions should be imposed? This module will explore some of these questions.

Linked modules

Can not be take alongside PHIL3aXX - Business, Morality, and Markets.

Aims and Objectives

Learning Outcomes

Transferable and Generic Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

Work effectively to deadlines
Undertake significant independent work, including identifying and using appropriate resources
Express views clearly and concisely.
Take notes from talks and written materials

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

Advanced ethical theory about the behaviour of businesses.
Advanced ethical questions about the behavior and limits of markets

Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

interpret, synthesise and critically evaluate complex texts and ideas.
present and debate advanced ideas in an open minded and rigorous way.

Learning and Teaching

Teaching and learning methods

Teaching methods include

In-class discussion
Lectures

Learning activities include

Attending lectures
Contributing to discussion in lectures
Doing research for and writing assessed essays
Applying techniques and skills learnt to your reading and writing inside and outside the module

Study time
Type	Hours
Independent Study	117
Lecture	33
Total study time	150

Resources & Reading list

Internet Resources

Business Ethics, at the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.

Business Ethics, at the Internet Encylcopedia of Philosophy.

Textbooks

Gibson, K.. Ethics and Business, ch1-3, 8-9. Cambridge University Press.

Velasquez, M. G. Business Ethics, ch1-5. Pearson Education, inc.,.

Michael Sandel. The Moral Limits of Markets.

Assessment

Formative

This is how we’ll give you feedback as you are learning. It is not a formal test or exam.

Essay proposal

Assessment Type: Formative
Feedback: Written feedback will be provided; further feedback can be given on request and/or in Advice&Feedback hours.
Final Assessment: No
Group Work: No
Percentage contribution: 100%

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Breakdown
Method	Percentage contribution
Essay	50%
Essay	50%

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.

Breakdown
Method	Percentage contribution
Timed Assignment	100%

Repeat

An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.

Breakdown
Method	Percentage contribution
Essay	50%
Essay	50%

Repeat Information

Repeat type: Internal & External

Business, Morality, and Markets