Introduction to Ethics (HUM322) Course Detail

Course Name Course Code Season Lecture Hours Application Hours Lab Hours Credit ECTS
Introduction to Ethics HUM322 General Elective 3 0 0 3 4
Pre-requisite Course(s)
N/A
Course Language English
Course Type Elective Courses
Course Level Bachelor’s Degree (First Cycle)
Mode of Delivery Face To Face
Learning and Teaching Strategies Lecture, Discussion, Question and Answer.
Course Coordinator
Course Lecturer(s)
  • Staff
Course Assistants
Course Objectives This course aims at introducing the central topics of ethics to the students, examining the works of the important philosophers in this field and showing the development of thinking on ethics.
Course Learning Outcomes The students who succeeded in this course;
  • The students who succeeded in this course; - Recognise the need for ethical thinking. - Analyse the pros and cons of a course of action. - Learn the different types of ethical principles, values and virtues. - Articulate philosophically an ethical judgment. - Learn the historical development of ethical thinking. - Detect the upsides and downsides of each type of ethical theory.
Course Content Analysing and discussing the central topics of ethics, such as egoism, eudaimonism, utilitarianism, the moral law and the ethics of self-determinism; also, examining the ethical thinking of Plato, Aristotle, Hume, Kant, Mill, Bentham and Sartre.

Weekly Subjects and Releated Preparation Studies

Week Subjects Preparation
1 (I. Introduction: What is Ethics?) The Problems of Ethics: An Example. Socrates and Thrasymachus. The Subject of Ethics. An Alternative Conception of Morality. An Introduction to Ethics, pp. 1-14. Routledge Companion to Ethics, pp. 31-40. Living Philosophy, pp. 19-45.
2 (I. Introduction: What is Ethics?, cont’d) Two Types of Ethical Theory. The Problem of Deontology. The Idea of a Moral Community. Ethical Theories and Moral Ideals. An Introduction to Ethics, pp. 14-24. Routledge Companion to Ethics, pp. 41-62. Living Philosophy, pp. 46-95.
3 (II. Egoism) The Wise Pursuit of Happiness. The Concept of Happiness. The Primary Argument for Egoism. Psychological Egoism. An Alternative Argument for Egoism. An Introduction to Ethics, pp. 25-39. Routledge Companion to Ethics, pp. 111-121. Living Philosophy, pp. 26-41.
4 (II. Egoism, cont’d) The Hobbesian Program. Troubles with the Hobbesian Program’s Derivations. Troubles with the Hobbesian Program’s Scope. Thrasymachus’ Challenge Again. An Introduction to Ethics, pp. 39-55. Routledge Companion to Ethics, pp. 88-98. Living Philosophy, pp. 27-29, 170-177.
5 (III. Eudaimonism) Egoism v. Eudaimonism. The Platonic Form of Eudaimonism. Perfectionist Objections to Hedonism. Epicurus’ Answer. Mill’s Defense of Hedonism. An Introduction to Ethics, pp. 56-70. Routledge Companion to Ethics, pp. 52-62. Living Philosophy, pp. 26-41.
6 (III. Eudaimonism, cont’d) Plato’s Ethics. Rationalism v. Naturalism. Aristotle’s Naturalism. A Problem in Aristotle’s Program. Prospects for Contemporary Eudaimonism. An Introduction to Ethics, pp. 71-92. Routledge Companion to Ethics, pp. 478-489. Living Philosophy, pp. 30-33, 227-236.
7 Midterm The questions prepared by the course instructor.
8 (IV. Utilitarianism) Impartiality. Two Problems. Consequentialism. Mill’s Restatement of Utilitarianism. An Introduction to Ethics, pp. 93-107. Routledge Companion to Ethics, pp. 144-155. Living Philosophy, pp. 118-127.
9 (IV. Utilitarianism, cont’d) An Inconsistency in Mill’s Restatement. Rule Utilitarianism. Act Utilitarianism Revisited. Is Act Utilitarianism Self-Refuting? When Act Utilitarianism Ceases to Be an Ethical Theory. An Introduction to Ethics, pp. 107-122. Routledge Companion to Ethics, pp. 181-191. Living Philosophy, pp. 127-136.
10 (V. The Moral Law) Two Theories of Moral Law. Divine Command Theory. Rational Intuitionism. Ethics and Mathematics. An Introduction to Ethics, pp. 123-140. Routledge Companion to Ethics, pp. 99-110. Living Philosophy, pp. 99-117.
11 (V. The Moral Law, cont’d) Kant’s Way. Formalism in Ethics. The Problem with Kant’s Formalism. An Introduction to Ethics, pp. 140-156. Routledge Companion to Ethics, pp. 156-167. Living Philosophy, pp. 63-95.
12 (VI. The Ethics of Self-Determination) Kant’s Step Into Metaphysics. The Formula of Humanity. Is the Formula of Humanity an Independent Principle? The Formula of Autonomy and the Kingdom of Ends. Answering the Charge of Excessive Formalism. An Introduction to Ethics, pp. 157-173. Routledge Companion to Ethics, pp. 456-466. Living Philosophy, pp. 99-117.
13 (VI. The Ethics of Self-Determination, cont’d) Rationalism Revisited. Personal Autonomy. Existentialist Ethics. The Excesses of Existentialism. Existentialist Ethics Pruned of Excess. An Introduction to Ethics, pp. 174-195. Routledge Companion to Ethics, pp. 230-240. Living Philosophy, pp. 137-160.
14 (VII. Practical Reason) Meta-Ethics. Meta-Ethical Disputes: An Illustration. Aristotle’s Answer and an Existentialist Response. Can There Be Motives That Aim at Doing Evil for Its Own Sake? The Obsolescence of Aristotle’s Answer. The Eliminability of Teleological Explanations. An Introduction to Ethics, pp. 196-216. Routledge Companion to Ethics, pp. 253-320. Living Philosophy, pp. 301-315.
15 (VII. Practical Reason, cont’d) Modern Skepticism about Practical Reason. Hume’s Meta-Ethics. Practical Reason in Modern Philosophy. Kant’s Notion of Practical Reason. Freedom and Reason. An Introduction to Ethics, pp. 216-232. Routledge Companion to Ethics, pp. 320-365. Living Philosophy, pp. 206-224.
16 Final Exam The questions prepared by the course instructor.

Sources

Course Book 1. John Deigh, An Introduction to Ethics [Etiğe Giriş], Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2010.
2. John Skorupski (ed.), Routledge Companion to Ethics [Routledge Etik El Kitabı], London: Routledge, 2010.
3. Ray Billington, Living Philosophy: An Introduction to Moral Thought [Yaşayan Felsefe: Ahlak Düşüncesine Bir Giriş], London: Routledge, 2003.

Evaluation System

Requirements Number Percentage of Grade
Attendance/Participation - -
Laboratory - -
Application - -
Field Work - -
Special Course Internship - -
Quizzes/Studio Critics - -
Homework Assignments - -
Presentation - -
Project - -
Report - -
Seminar - -
Midterms Exams/Midterms Jury 1 40
Final Exam/Final Jury 1 60
Toplam 2 100
Percentage of Semester Work
Percentage of Final Work 100
Total 100

Course Category

Core Courses X
Major Area Courses
Supportive Courses
Media and Managment Skills Courses
Transferable Skill Courses

The Relation Between Course Learning Competencies and Program Qualifications

# Program Qualifications / Competencies Level of Contribution
1 2 3 4 5
1 Makes the necessary measurement, evaluation, identification, analysis and planning by determining the near and far goals in line with the knowledge, concepts and principles specific to the field of physiotherapy and rehabilitation.
2 Determines the appropriate physiotherapy and rehabilitation treatment program by using the acquired knowledge, skills and evidence-based clinical decision-making processes, applies it systematically and safely, taking into account the principles of occupational safety, reorganizes or terminates it when necessary.
3 Uses information sources in the field of physiotherapy, collects data, keeps reports, plans, analyzes and conducts professional and academic studies independently, taking into account ethical and deontological approaches.
4 Takes responsibility individually within the team to solve problems encountered in applications related to the field of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, and cooperates interdisciplinary by using communication skills.
5 Adopts the principle of lifelong learning for the continuity of personal development, uses information and communication technologies, follows developments in the field, organizes and supports quality improvement programs.
6 Knows the duties, rights and responsibilities related to the profession of physiotherapy, acts in accordance with professional ethics, principles and standards, and maintains professional behavior in the international arena.
7 Contributes to the production and implementation of health policy in accordance with the changing and increasing needs of society in the field of physiotherapy and rehabilitation.

ECTS/Workload Table

Activities Number Duration (Hours) Total Workload
Course Hours (Including Exam Week: 16 x Total Hours) 16 3 48
Laboratory
Application
Special Course Internship
Field Work
Study Hours Out of Class 14 3 42
Presentation/Seminar Prepration
Project
Report
Homework Assignments
Quizzes/Studio Critics
Prepration of Midterm Exams/Midterm Jury 1 4 4
Prepration of Final Exams/Final Jury 1 6 6
Total Workload 100