Introduction to Ethics-Honors

Catalog description

3 Lecture. Students will study historical and contemporary ethical theories such as those put forward by Aristotle, utilitarian thinkers, Immanuel Kant, and John Rawls. These theories will be applied to ethical issues such as the rights of animals, social inequalities, immigration, biotechnological enhancement of the human genome, and duties to the world’s poorest. This course is designed to train students to think using the tools of ethical conceptual analysis and argument that have been developed by philosophers. This honors version is primarily intended for students who either want an academically enhanced experience or who intend to transfer to a university Honors College program. Students will be able to: 1.distinguish different schools of moral thought and the philosophers associated with them; 2. evaluate the strengths and limitations of major ethical theories; 3. identify and discuss the moral dimension of contemporary social problems verbally and in writing; 4. use philosophical methodologies such as the socratic method to refine moral concepts and to evaluate moral arguments; 5. apply their knowledge of important concepts such as (e.g.) ‘rights’, ‘equality’, and ‘duties’ to important social issues; 6. evaluate the arguments given in the texts and by their classmates by developing relevant counter-arguments or additional supporting arguments; 7. explain and use philosophical vocabulary in appropriate contexts verbally and in writing and be able to articulate philosophical arguments in an extended oral presentation. 8. partake in an extra-curricular experience, minimum two hours and typically not exceeding ten, such as a service project, an academic lecture or workshop, or an internship. General Education: Arts and Humanities