Overview

The emphasis in this Applied Ethics for Professionals program at University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg  is on learning methods and techniques for thinking about ethical issues of any sort, not just those of immediate interest to this or that profession. 

Key Facts

Courses will introduce participants to the principal ethical theories such as utilitarianism and deontology, and critically investigate topics in applied ethics such as, for example, social justice, the value of life, or the risks of artificial intelligence.

The development of skills such as defending a point of view through clear and careful argumentation, offering cooperative criticism, and receiving and responding to such criticism, is an essential part of the programme. Participants can also expect to see improvements in their argumentative writing, through careful attention to it, and extensive feedback on it, from the lecturers.

No background in philosophy is required, and we do not expect our graduates to be philosophers as such upon completion of the degree. But successful participants will be able to think, discuss, and write much more clearly, fully, and deeply about any ethical issues they encounter as a result of their approaching such issues in both the theoretical and practical manner emphasised in this Programme.