Contemporary Moral Problems

Catalog description

This course is intended for the beginning student in philosophy. In this course students, after acquiring some background in moral theory, will examine several different contemporary moral problems. The moral problems discussed may be roughly divided into two main categories: the social and the personal. In the category of social problems the course will explore different conceptions of diversity and social justice as they are applied to issues such as: the distribution of wealth and income, ethnic and racial equality, gender equality, LGBTQ+ equality, the freedom of thought and religious practice, the criminal justice system, generational justice, etc. The problems of the personal kind may include the following: conceptions of the good and the good life, truthfulness and honesty, the obligation to keep promises, obligations to friends and family, the place of friendship in a good life, obligations to oneself, etc.