Issues in Virtue Ethics

Catalog description

Taught by JST. Contemporary ethics is witnessing a resurgence of virtue and character-based modes of ethical reflection. However, one consistent challenge to this methodology is to question its adequacy as an action guide: is virtue ethics adequate to provide moral "traction" in difficult questions? How might a virtue-based approach affect analysis of moral issues? Students will delve into classical and modern virtue ethics rooted in the Thomistic/Aristotelian tradition, and will engage two topics of their own choice using virtue ethics methodology. Grading will be based on questions posted to the course Moodle site, final paper, class participation and class presentation. [One previous class in moral theology or Christian ethics at the graduate level, or extensive work in ethics at the undergraduate level; Faculty Consent required]