Ethics (2023)

The study of Ethics provides an excellent grounding in evaluative theory and reasoning for a professional future in the public service, the health sector, social work, with environmental agencies, and in business. You will gain the tools and capabilities you need to become inspirational leaders in your community and in your working life, enabling you to feel confident in your capability to reflect on doing 'the right thing' and following through on that reflection.

Ethics may be taken as a minor.

To complete a minor in Ethics, students must complete 60 points, including at least 30 points above 100 level from PHILO106, PHILO215, PHILO217, PHILO218, PHILO225, PHILO309 and PHILO315.

Note: There will be no new enrolments in the Ethics major, Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma in 2021 and onwards. Students enrolled previously are encouraged to contact the Division of Arts, Law, Psychology and Social Sciences Office for programme advice.


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  • 100 Level

    Code Paper Title Points Occurrence / Location
    PHILO106Social and Moral Philosophy15.023A (Hamilton) & 23A (Online)
    An investigation of contemporary moral and social issues from a practical ethics perspective. Issues may include abortion, animal welfare, discrimination, euthanasia, freedom of speech, genetic enhancement, privacy, punishment, and your online life.
  • 200 Level

    Code Paper Title Points Occurrence / Location
    MAORI202Ngā Iho Matua: Māori Philosophy15.023A (Hamilton)
    This paper examines the philosophical underpinnings of seminal tikanga Maori concepts, and their influence both historically and in contemporary Maori culture.
    PHILO215Moral and Political Philosophy: A Historical Introduction15.023B (Hamilton)
    This paper introduces students to central issues in Moral and Political Philosophy, using texts from historical figures in philosophy to study questions about virtue, happiness, justice, liberty, democracy, tyranny, feminism, art, censorship, and moral education.
    PHILO217Environmental Ethics15.023H (Online)
    A study of ethical questions about the relation of humans to the rest of the natural world, including the attribution of value and rights to the non-human world and ethical issues in environment and development.
    PHILO218Ethics at Work15.023G (Online)
    A study of ethics as it relates to business and professional practice in New Zealand including material specifically for interest groups: eg computer science, psychology and social work.
    PHILO225Happiness and Wellbeing15.023A (Hamilton)
    Drawing on ancient wisdom and modern science, this paper investigates the meaning and value of happiness, and the role it plays in making our lives go well for us.
    POLSC201Modern Political Thinkers15.023A (Online)
    This course examines the ideas of a number of modern political thinkers such as Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Hegel, and Marx.
    POLSC224Terrorism, Violence and the State15.023B (Hamilton)
    Terrorism is an increasingly prominent global phenomenon. We will clarify it conceptually and situate it historically with theory and case studies in situating it in comparative political and International Relations analysis.
  • 300 Level

    Code Paper Title Points Occurrence / Location
    ALPSS390Directed Study15.023X (Hamilton)
    This paper allows students from the Division of Arts, Law, Psychology and Social Sciences to undertake research on a specific topic related to their major under the guidance of academic staff.
    PHILO309Experiments in Ethics15.023B (Hamilton)
    The paper uses thought experiments to introduce students to central issues in contemporary moral philosophy. The issues may include: What makes an action right? Are there any absolute duties? Is morality entirely subjective? Is it possible to have moral knowledge? How can we be sure our moral judgments are right?
    PHILO317Environmental Ethics15.023H (Online)
    Do we have moral obligations toward nature? How should human beings treat the natural world? This paper examines questions such as these in light of our current ethical theories.
    PHILO318Ethics at Work15.023G (Online)
    This is an applied ethics paper focussing on the professions, research and business. It examines contemporary issues relevant to a wide range of occupations graduates might enter.
  • 400 Level

    Code Paper Title Points Occurrence / Location
    LEGAL436Legal Ethics15.023A (Hamilton) & 23A (Tauranga)
    An introduction to the concept of a profession and the ethical and professional duties of practitioners and an introduction to ethical analysis, the applicability of legal analysis to legal practice and the wider responsibilities of lawyers in the community.

2023 Catalogue of Papers information current as of : 22 March 2024 8:11pm

This page has been reformatted for printing.