The object of the course is to introduce students to some major ethical theories and to the philosophical discussion of a number of contemporary moral and social issues.

The class will have a 'lecture and discussion' format. The professor will introduce a topic with a summary of the relevant arguments or a commentary on a text. This will be followed by questions and discussion of the material by the class as a whole (e.g., points of clarification or criticism and of comparison; comments on the relations between or among different issues).

Students are expected to have prepared the readings before class, to attend all of the classes and to participate in discussion.
Students who have more than 4 unjustified absences in a term will be subject to sanctions.

It is essential in learning how to do philosophy that students be prepared to ask and answer questions in class.

Students should make a point of reading and reviewing the material on these web pages.

• Introduction to ethics
• what ethics is
• What is it to be moral?
• to do what is in my self interest (egoism) or what I think is moral (subjectivism)
• to do what my culture says is moral (cultural relativism / cultural subjectivism)
• to promote the greatest amount of happiness (Mill)
• to do one's duty (Kant)
• to follow natural laws (Maritain)
  
• to become the best person one can be (perfectionism and virtue theory) (Aristotle)

• What is the standard for right action? (What makes an act "moral" or "right"?)
• How can this standard be determined?
• To whom does it apply?
• Is there any difference between being "ethical" as distinct from following law, custom, prudence, personal inclination or love of self?

Term II

• details of topics to be covered, to be announced.

Texts:

• Edward Westermarck, Ethical Relativity (1932).
• Jacques Maritain, Natural Law: reflections on theory and practice, South Bend, IN: St Augustine's Press, 2001
• Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, (trans. Martin Ostwald) Bobbs-Merrill (ISBN 0-672-60256-3)
• I. Kant, Groundwork of the Metaphysic of Morals, (trans. H.J. Paton), Harper Torchbooks. (This translation has a very useful "analysis of the argument" at the beginning and a commentary on some difficult passages at the end.)
• J.S. Mill, Utilitarianism, (Ed. George Sher) Hackett Publ.

Supplementary reading:

• Bernard Mandeville (1670 - 1733) (on egoism) "The Fable of the Bees; or, Private Vices, Publick Benefits (1714)" and "The Grumbling Hive: or, Knaves Turn'd Honest (1705)."
• Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan (1651) (selections).
• Ayn Rand, The Virtue of Selfishness
• J.S. Mill, On Liberty (Ed. Elizabeth Rappaport) Hackett Publ.

Supplementary text:

• (Not required, but useful) Fagothey's Right and Reason, (ninth edition) by Milton A. Gonsalves (Merrill Publ. Co: 1989). Previous editions (catalogued as Right and Reason by Austin Fagothey) may be helpful.

Method of Evaluation:

• First term quiz (October): 20% 
• Class summaries, attendance, and participation:  10 %
• Short essay (November): 20%
  
• December examination: 50%