Moral Philosophy

Inleiding

considers normative ethicsdiscusses the four major moral theories that attempt to formulate basic principles of morality

Content

What is right and wrong, virtue or vice? What ought we to do? What is the (Highest) Good? The course considers normative ethics and discusses four major moral theories that attempt to formulate basic principles of morality: virtue ethics, deontology, utilitarianism and contractualism. We will also turn to meta-ethics and moral psychology to discuss more foundational issues: What are the background assumptions of the theories? Where do they show their limits? And what about their applicability to concrete moral problems in different fields of moral agency? We will discuss so called “moral dilemma cases”. In such cases, agents seem to be condemned to moral failure, they have a choice between plague and cholera. In which way and to what extent can each of the four theories help to evaluate and / or (re-)solve such dilemmatic situations?

The course is accompanied by a training of philosophical debating skills.

Prior knowledge

No prior knowledge is necessary. 

Language

English; lectures will be recorded

Period

Bachelor 1, block 4B; 29 May until 1 July 2023

Course guide & literature

Please consult the course guide for the timetable and literature. The timetable will be published by the end of July.