BASS Philosophy and Criminology

Scholarships and bursaries, including the Manchester Bursary , are available to eligible home/EU students.

Some undergraduate UK students will receive bursaries of up to £2,000 per year, in addition to the government package of maintenance grants.

You can get information and advice on student finance to help you manage your money.

Topics include:

Moral Conflict/Dilemmas - Political Action - Public/Private Distinction - Dirty Hands - Plural and Conflicting Values - Deontological versus Consequentialist moral theories.

Case studies:

'Dirty Hands' scenarios: 'Ticking Bomb' problem, Targeted Killing
Political Morality: Stafford Cripps - lying in public office

This course investigates the tensions that arise at the interface between morality and politics. It (i) introduces students to deontological and consequentialist thinking on morality, the issue of moral dilemmas and the potential problems this raises for those persons holding political office; (ii) examines the notions of a 'political ethic' and 'dirty hands': whether such notions are coherent and, if so, their necessary and sufficient conditions, scope and effect on political behaviour; (iii) offers some insights into, and the possible resolution of, the tensions that exist between strong and effective political action (realpolitik) and the constraints of morality.

Lectures
Tutorials

1 essay 1800 words (40%)

1 exam (60%)

Politics staff will provide feedback on written work within 15 working days of submission via Blackboard (if submitted through Turnitin).

Students should be aware that all marks are provisional until confirmed by the external examiner and the final examinations boards in June.

For modules that do not have examination components the marks and feedback for the final assessed component are not subject to the 15 working day rule and will be released with the examination results. This applies to Semester 2 modules only. Semester one modules with no final examination will have their feedback available within the 15 working days.

You will receive feedback on assessed essays in a standard format. This will rate your essay in terms of various aspects of the argument that you have presented your use of sources and the quality of the style and presentation of the essay. If you have any queries about the feedback that you have received you should make an appointment to see your tutor. Tutors and Course Convenors also have a dedicated office hour when you can meet with her/him to discuss course unit specific problems and questions.

On assessments submitted through Turnitin you will receive feedback via Blackboard. This will include suggestions about ways in which you could improve your work in future. You will also receive feedback on non-assessed coursework, whether this is individual or group work. This may be of a more informal kind and may include feedback from peers as well as academic staff

 1. de Wijze  2023. ‘50 Years of Dirty Hands: An Overview’. The Journal of Ethics.  
   (Co-Author: Christina Nick). 27/4.
2. Huxley, Aldous. (1994) Grey Eminence, Flamingo, London. 
3. Sartre, J.P. (1948) Dirty hands (Les mains sales), trans. K Black, Methuen, London 
4. Walzer, M. (1973) 'Political action: the problem of dirty hands' in Philosophy & Public Affairs, 2:2. 
5. de Wijze, S. (1994) 'Dirty Hands: Doing wrong to do Right' in South African Journal of Philosophy, 13:1. 
6. Coady, C.A.J. (1993), 'Politics and the Problem of Dirty Hands', in Peter Singer (ed.) A Companion to Ethics 
 

Information
This course is available to all students. 



Length of course: 10 weeks