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In this course we will engage in several approaches to thinking philosophically about ethical issues. First, we will be studying two of the major systematic traditions in modern ethical theorizing--utilitarianism and Kantianism. These theories of right and wrong action have their conceptual basis in premises about what is ethically significant in human life. As we will see, such premises and their associated theories shed different perspectives on current social issues such as multiculturalism, racial discrimination, international aid, and punishment. A further section of the course will be devoted to feminist challenges to these dominant strains of modern ethical theorizing. Finally, we will turn to consider aspects of ethical thinking that tend to be occluded by a preoccupation with theories of right action: namely, questions of what sorts of virtues or character traits are good to have, and what sorts of persons we should aspire to be. We will end the course by shifting from standard forms of philosophical prose to a text that intertwines ethical reflection with biographical narrative.
Unless preregistered students attend the first class meeting or communicate directly with the instructor prior to the first class, they will be dropped from the class list. NOTE: Students must still submit a completed Drop/Add form to the Registrar's Office.
COURSE FORMAT: Lecture/Discussion
Level: UGRD Credit: 1 Gen Ed Area Dept: HA PHIL Grading Mode: Student Option
Prerequisites: NONE
Last Updated on MAR-26-2001
Copyright Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut, 06459