| 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. |
