B. MacKinnon, Chapter 3: Descriptive vs. Normative Ethical Relativism. Individual vs. Cultural Relativism. Reasons Supporting Ethical Relativism.Are these Reasons Convincing? Is Relativism Self-Contradictory? Moral Realism. Moral Pluralism. Readings: Louis Pojman, Who's to Judge? Richard Rorty, Moral Relativism. Week 4: Egoism, Altruism, and the Social Contract. B. MacKinnon, The Moral Point of View. Chapter 4: Psychological Egoism. Ethical Egoism. Why be Moral? Readings: Plato, The Ring of Gyges (from Republic); Thomas Hobbes, Self Love (from Leviathan); Steven Pinker, Social Contract and Altruism (from The Blank Slate). Quiz I Week 5: Utilitarianism. B. MacKinnon, Chapter 5: Weighing Consequences. Historical Background. The Principle of Utility. Pleasure and Happiness. Calculating the Greatest Amount of Happiness. Quantity vs. Quality of Pleasure. Evaluating Utilitarianism. The Trolley Problem. Act and Rule Utilitarianism. "Proof" of the Theory. Reading: John Stuart Mill, Utilitarianism. Week 6: Deontological Ethics. B. MacKinnon, Chapter 6: Deontology and the Ethics of Duty. Immanuel Kant. The Categorical Imperative. Evaluating Kant's Moral Theory. Perfect and Imperfect Duties. Variations on Kant and Deontology. Reading: Immanuel Kant, Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysic of Morals. Week 7: Natural Law and Human Rights B. MacKinnon, Chapter 7: Natural Law Theory. Historical Origins. Evaluating Natural Law Theory. Natural Rights. Evaluating Natural Rights Theory. Is There a Human Nature? Readings. Thomas Aquinas, On Natural Law. John Locke, Second Treatise of Civil Government. Quiz II Week 8: Virtue Ethics, Feminist Thought and the Ethics of Care. B. MacKinnon, Chapter 8: Virtues and Everyday Life. Aristotle. Cross-Cultural and Contemporary Virtue Ethics. Evaluating Virtue Ethics. Readings: Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics. Philippa Foot, Virtues and Vices.
B. MacKinnon, Chapter 3: Descriptive vs. Normative Ethical Relativism. Individual vs. Cultural Relativism. Reasons Supporting Ethical Relativism.Are these Reasons Convincing? Is Relativism Self-Contradictory? Moral Realism. Moral Pluralism. Readings: Louis Pojman, Who's to Judge? Richard Rorty, Moral Relativism. Week 4: Egoism, Altruism, and the Social Contract. B. MacKinnon, Chapter 4: Psychological Egoism. Ethical Egoism. The Moral Point of View. Why be Moral? Readings: Plato, The Ring of Gyges (from Republic); Thomas Hobbes, Self Love (from Leviathan); Steven Pinker, Social Contract and Altruism (from The Blank Slate). Quiz I Week 5: Utilitarianism. B. MacKinnon, Chapter 5: Weighing Consequences. Historical Background. The Principle of Utility. Pleasure and Happiness. Calculating the Greatest Amount of Happiness. Quantity vs. Quality of Pleasure. Evaluating Utilitarianism. The Trolley Problem. Act and Rule Utilitarianism. "Proof" of the Theory. Reading: John Stuart Mill, Utilitarianism. Week 6: Deontological Ethics. B. MacKinnon, Chapter 6: Deontology and the Ethics of Duty. Immanuel Kant. The Categorical Imperative. Evaluating Kant's Moral Theory. Perfect and Imperfect Duties. Variations on Kant and Deontology. Reading: Immanuel Kant, Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysic of Morals. Week 7: Natural Law and Human Rights B. MacKinnon, Chapter 7: Natural Law Theory. Historical Origins. Evaluating Natural Law Theory. Natural Rights. Evaluating Natural Rights Theory. Is There a Human Nature? Readings. Thomas Aquinas, On Natural Law. John Locke, Second Treatise of Civil Government. Quiz II Week 8: Virtue Ethics, Feminist Thought and the Ethics of Care. B. MacKinnon, Chapter 8: Virtues and Everyday Life. Aristotle. Cross-Cultural and Contemporary Virtue Ethics. Evaluating Virtue Ethics. Readings: Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics. Philippa Foot, Virtues and Vices.