Time Schedule:
Renee M. Conroy
PHIL 240
Seattle Campus
Critical introduction to various philosophical views of the basis and presuppositions of morality and moral knowledge. Critical introduction to various types of normative ethical theory, including utilitarian, deontological, and virtue theories.
Class description
This course is an introductory overview of some of the most central themes and theories in philosophical ethics. In this class, the student will be asked to challenge and refine his/her views about what makes certain acts right or wrong (i.e., deserving of moral praise or moral censure) by working carefully through several of the most influential texts in classical ethics, including selected writings of Plato, Aristotle, Thomas Hobbes, Jeremy Bentham, John Stuart Mill, and Immanuel Kant. In studying these philosophers, we will consider questions such as: What makes right acts right? What is the role of character in the moral life? Is pleasure the only ultimate good? Are there any limits to what morality may ask of us? The goal of the course is to familiarize the student with key texts in philosophical ethics, to improve his/her philosophical analysis of moral claims, and to prepare him/her for upper-level coursework in ethics. Requirements for the course include a mid-term, a final exam, and several short writing assignments.
Student learning goals
General method of instruction
Recommended preparation
Class assignments and grading
