General provisions

The course is offered to C level students and students at advanced level (master's students). For students at advanced level (master's students) the grade criteria are higher than for students at C level, see the heading Assessment.

Entry requirements

60 credits in Theoretical Philosophy or 60 credits in Practical Philosophy.

Learning outcomes

After completing the course the students are expected to:

• have an overview of some of the main debates in the philosophy of death
• be able to describe the most important theories in these debates
• be able to describe the most important arguments for these theories
• be able to analyse the strengths and weaknesses of these arguments

Content

The philosophy of death overlaps many different areas of philosophy, including metaphysics, axiology, normative ethics, and applied ethics. This course provides an introduction to some of the most important debates in the philosophy of death. Topics covered include: Do we cease to exist when we die? Is death bad for the one who dies? Under what circumstances is killing morally permissible?

Instruction

Lectures and seminars.

Assessment

One longer essay and two shorter writing assignments. 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.

Master's students are expected to write somewhat longer and more comprehensive essays than C-level students, and the requirements concerning scholarly quality are higher.

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.