Time Schedule:
J Bradley Mchose
PHIL 440
Seattle Campus
Critical examination of the concepts and judgments of value, including an analytical treatment of the notions of good and bad, right and wrong, and obligation. Emphasis varies from quarter to quarter.
Class description
This course will focus on contemporary discussions of the nature of morality. In the first part of the course, we will address the questions of whether there are moral facts and what we are doing when we make moral claims. In the second, longer part of the course, we will assume for purposes of discussion that there are moral facts and will address questions regarding the nature and content of these facts, e.g., whether they are in any interesting way relative to culture or belief, whether morality is purely consequentialist, what rights are, whether morality includes any such things, and what the relations are between morality, virtue and decency. Throughout the course, we will try to keep our feet on the ground by paying attention to how these questions relate to ordinary moral disputes, e.g., whether it is ever permissible to torture someone, to have an abortion, or to push someone you don’t really like onto some trolley tracks in order to save five people who usually vote for the right presidential candidate but sometimes lie to their friends for petty reasons. No prerequisites, but previous experience in philosophy is highly recommended. TEXTS: No Text Required
Student learning goals
General method of instruction
Recommended preparation
Class assignments and grading
