PHIL 151: Introduction to Ethics

PHIL 151-DL1: Introduction to Ethics
(Fall 2020)

03:00 PM to 04:15 PM MW

Online

Section Information for Fall 2020

PHIL151 fulfills the requirement for a course in Philosophy or Religious Studies for students whose major is in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences.

The fundamental question of ethics is: how should I live my life? In this course, we will explore ethics through its connection to and interaction with four major spheres of our everyday lives:

  • happiness and well-being
  • judgment and decision-making
  • relationships and autonomy
  • community

Within those broader themes, students will read traditional philosophical works from the Western canon, including Aristotle, Immanuel Kant, and J.S. Mill, as well as more contemporary works that challenge and modernize those traditional works, including texts by Hannah Arendt, Emma Goldman, Marilyn Friedman, Lawrence Thomas, José-Antonio Orosco, and María Lugones.

Students will be challenged to charitably read and explain a variety of philosophical theories, concepts, and arguments as well as develop and defend their own ethical positions.

Dialogue and writing will be the primary modes of learning and evaluation. Students will be expected to participate regularly in synchronous online class meetings, asynchronous discussion board posts, and one-on-one conversations with their peers. They will have the chance to hone their ability to write engagingly for a diverse public audience with a series of targeted writing exercises, multiple paper drafts, and regular opportunities for instructor and peer feedback. 

PHIL 151 DL1 is a distance education section.

Tags:

Course Information from the University Catalog

Credits: 3

Considers some perennial issues in ethical theory. Limited to three attempts.
Schedule Type: Lecture
Grading:
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.

The University Catalog is the authoritative source for information on courses. The Schedule of Classes is the authoritative source for information on classes scheduled for this semester. See the Schedule for the most up-to-date information and see Patriot web to register for classes.