Syllabus for Intrinsic Value

Intrinsikalt värde

Syllabus

  • 7.5 credits
  • Course code: 5FP074
  • Education cycle: First cycle
  • Main field(s) of study and in-depth level: Practical Philosophy G2F

    Explanation of codes

    The code indicates the education cycle and in-depth level of the course in relation to other courses within the same main field of study according to the requirements for general degrees:

    First cycle

    • G1N: has only upper-secondary level entry requirements
    • G1F: has less than 60 credits in first-cycle course/s as entry requirements
    • G1E: contains specially designed degree project for Higher Education Diploma
    • G2F: has at least 60 credits in first-cycle course/s as entry requirements
    • G2E: has at least 60 credits in first-cycle course/s as entry requirements, contains degree project for Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science
    • GXX: in-depth level of the course cannot be classified

    Second cycle

    • A1N: has only first-cycle course/s as entry requirements
    • A1F: has second-cycle course/s as entry requirements
    • A1E: contains degree project for Master of Arts/Master of Science (60 credits)
    • A2E: contains degree project for Master of Arts/Master of Science (120 credits)
    • AXX: in-depth level of the course cannot be classified

  • Grading system: Fail (U), Pass (G), Pass with distinction (VG)
  • Established: 2020-03-10
  • Established by: The Department Board
  • Revised: 2023-02-27
  • Revised by: The Department Board
  • Applies from: Autumn 2023
  • Entry requirements:

    57,5 credits in Philosophy

  • Responsible department: Department of Philosophy

Learning outcomes

After completing the course the students are expected to:

  • be able to describe the most important arguments for and against the existence of intrinsic value
  • have an overview of the debate on the logical and structural properties of intrinsic value and related concepts
  • be able to analyse the strengths and weaknesses of the main arguments in this debate
  • have an overview of the debate on the existence and properties of organic unities.

Content

Something has intrinsic value if it is valuable "in itself", or "for its own sake". This course focuses on the logical and structural properties of intrinsic value. How is the property of being intrinsically good related to the relation "better than"? Can intrinsic goodness and badness be defined in terms of betterness? Can intrinsic value be aggregated and measured in roughly the same way as, for example, length or mass? How is the value of a whole related to the values of its parts? These are some of the questions to be discussed in the course.

Instruction

Instruction takes the form of lectures.

Assessment

An essay of 3000 words. A student's active participation and good performance in class may be a positive factor in the overall assessment of the student's work for the course.

If there are special reasons for doing so, an examiner may make an exception from the method of assessment indicated and allow a student to be assessed by another method. An example of special reasons might be a certificate regarding special pedagogical support from the University's disability coordinator.

Other directives

The course may run jointly with the second cycle course 5FP068.

Syllabus Revisions

Reading list

Reading list

Applies from: Autumn 2023

Some titles may be available electronically through the University library.

Reading List

Information on course readings is announced here or in Studium at the latest five weeks before the course starts.

Print syllabus and reading list
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