Key facts
UNE unit code: ANCH320
*You are viewing the 2026 version of this unit which may be subject to change in future.
- Trimester 2 - On Campus
- Trimester 2 - Online
- Armidale Campus
- Yes
- No
- No
- 6
Unit information
Throughout recorded history humans have worried about how to be good, how to treat each other, how to live their lives and, most importantly, what ‘good’ actually means. In this unit you will explore Greek and Roman ideas about ethics – one of the three traditional branches of Greco-Roman philosophy. These ideas about ethics have informed the work of generations of thinkers and have infiltrated literature, law, government and popular culture.
By reading the original ancient texts closely and comparing the ideas of Greek and Roman authors with the conventions of the societies in which they lived, you will interrogate the connections between philosophy and society and gain an advanced understanding of what it meant to be good, or bad, in Greece and Rome both in the classroom and in the marketplace.
Offerings
For further information about UNE's teaching periods, please go to Principal Dates.
| Teaching period | Mode/location |
|---|---|
| Trimester 2 | On Campus, Armidale Campus |
| Trimester 2 | Online |
*Offering is subject to availability
Intensive schools
There are no intensive schools required for this unit.
Enrolment rules
Notes
Please refer to the student handbook for current details on this unit.
Unit coordinator(s)
Learning outcomes
Upon completion of this unit, students will be able to:
- demonstrate broad and coherent theoretical understanding of the major schools of Greek and Roman ethics and their historical context;
- independently research important aspects of Greek and Roman ethics and their historical context, thereby demonstrating autonomy, well-developed judgement and responsiblity as a learner;
- review critically, analyse, consolidate and synthesise knowledge about Greek and Roman ethics and their historical context from both Ancient and Modern sources;
- generate and critically evaluate complex ideas and concepts about the way in which Greek and Roman ethical frameworks have been constructed and interpreted, as well as about their relationship with society and culture in the Classical world; and
- construct and communicate a clear, coherent, evidence-based written argument dealing with ethical, historical and methodological issues pertaining to the Classical period.
Assessment information
Assessments are subject to change up to 8 weeks prior to the start of the teaching period in which you are undertaking the unit.
| Title | Must Complete | Weight | Offerings | Assessment Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Submission A | Yes | 25% | All offerings | Short essay No. Words: 1250 |
| Submission B | Yes | 25% | All offerings | Short essay No. Words: 1250 |
| Submission C - Assurance Task | Yes | 50% | All offerings | Written submission with interactive oral component Students must pass the Assurance Task in order to pass the unit. No. Words: 2500 (equivalent) |
Learning resources
Textbooks are subject to change up to 8 weeks prior to the start of the teaching period in which you are undertaking the unit.
Note: Students are expected to purchase prescribed material. Please note that textbook requirements may vary from one teaching period to the next.
Ancient Ethics
ISBN: 9780415940276
Meyer, S.S., Routledge 2008
Text refers to: All offerings
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