Introduction to Philosophical Ethics

Catalog description

H- This philosophy course is designed to help students better understand, develop, and evaluate moral claims through an examination of the theoretical criteria upon which those claims are based. Students will be introduced to classic and contemporary works in philosophy that examine issues like: why be moral, what makes right acts right, the role of character in ethical behavior, whether pleasure is the only ultimate good, the nature of justice, and whether there are moral facts. Influential ethical theories such as utilitarianism, deontology, virtue ethics, and contractarianism will be surveyed. Students will come away from the course with a deeper understanding of the basis of morality and be better equipped to think critically about ethical issues they face in their own lives.