Since 2002, the Wits Philosophy Dept has offered an integrated, part-time Programme in Applied Ethics for Professionals. The Programme is tailored for experienced people in all walks of professional life. It has been specially structured and scheduled to accommodate the needs of working professionals in the Gauteng area. The Programme consists of a year and a half of course work, followed by a supervised Research Report of 10,000 -15,000 words, typically on an ethical topic related to the participant’s professional field.
Programme Details - Applied Ethics for Professionals
Ethics is the cornerstone of society. Philosophy should play a vital role in helping to think clearly and rigorously about difficult ethical questions, and clarifying the theoretical frameworks we use for thinking about such questions.
South Africa faces urgent practical questions that require systematic analysis from an ethical perspective. Such questions relate to:
- HIV/Aids (treatment, testing and counselling)
- Patents
- Economic development
- Affirmative action
- Uses of state resources (e.g. what counts as corruption)
- Animal rights
- BEE
- Political symbols
- The brain drain
Research
WiCE generates and publishes research about ethics of relevance to the southern African region, with respect to both theoretical and practical questions.
Teaching
WiCE supports the teaching of ethics not only to students in professional tracks but also to established professionals in business, medicine and politics.
Advocacy
WiCE engages the community through public advocacy and consultancy. WiCE organises conferences, workshops and lectures all of which are open to the public. Such events are vital not just to the development of research but also to developing and strengthening the community of scholars both at Wits and nationally.
