Moral Reflection in a Perilous World: Ethics, Injustice, and the Vagaries of Fortune

Catalog description

In this class, we will explore both historical and contemporary ethical reflection on what it means to lead good lives as human persons. We will examine deontological, virtue, and utilitarian approaches to ethical reflection. In particular, we will focus on the ways in which forces beyond our complete control-for instance, the unjust structures we live within, fate, or luck-can intersect with our lives in ways that can impact our moral obligations and our capacities to either understand or execute on those moral obligations. As such, the class focuses on questions of: a) the role of character in understanding the ‘good life’, b) the impact of fate or fortune on our responsibilities and our moral lives, c) how to evaluate actions morally, and d) how structural or systemic injustices affect and relate to our individual responsibilities. We will engage both theological and philosophical thinkers, from Plato to Iris Murdoch and from Augustine to Howard Thurman. Satisfies Religious Studies major and minor requirement. Satisfies Philosophical and Religous Perspectives requirement. Satiafies Justice, Equality and Community requirement.