Applied Ethics

Moral Problems

Moral problems occur in all areas of life: professional, personal, political or in business. Examples are: Should banks impose strict criteria on their clients to promote corporate social responsibility? How to distribute scarce medical resources during a global outbreak? What are our obligations to relieve famine in developing countries? Can it be justified to use biotechnology to change animal species in such a way that welfare problems in livestock are avoided (or should farming practices change instead)?

Reflection and Analysis

Such problems require reflection, not on the factual aspects of problems, but, importantly, on our basic moral values as well. The aim of the Master's programme in Applied Ethics is to develop academic skills necessary to analyse such moral problems, to propose and criticize possible answers, and to engage professionals and other people concerned to reflect themselves on the moral dimensions of their practice.

Interaction between Moral Practice and Ethical Theory

The programme focuses on the interaction between moral practice and ethical theory. Graduates will have a thorough knowledge of a number of ethical theories, be familiar with important methods and debates in applied ethics, and be aware of the implications of legal and political frameworks for ethical argumentation.

These areas are studied in the context of several fields of applied ethics, notably medical, animal and environmental, and political ethics.
You will learn about the various ways in which the analysis of concrete problems leads to theoretical philosophical questions and vice versa. This interaction is key to in depth ethical reflection.

Interdisciplinary Programme

The programme is interdisciplinary. In addition to philosophy, you will learn about the contexts in which moral problems arise and the different types of analysis that may be needed in various contexts. You will also experience how viewpoints from different disciplines can strengthen ethical reflection and moral argumentation.