Course Description
This course investigates the theoretical nature of morality and its application in particular moral dilemmas. The course is designed to assist students in approaching, questioning, and refining their moral commitments and values, their understanding of the reasoned application of ethical principles, and, ultimately, their ethical practice in both their personal and professional lives. Among the theoretical questions posed and discussed are: Is morality simply relative to specific cultures? What are criteria for right and wrong? What is moral agency? Different ethical theories about the nature of a worthwhile life and concepts of morally sound behavior are examined. This course carries SUNY General Education Humanities and Diversity: Equity, Inclusion & Social Justice credit.
Topic Outline
1. 1. What is morality?
2. Are moral principles relative to society or culture? Are they universal? If so, in what sense?
3. Are there absolute moral rules?
4. Does morality depend upon religion or theism?
5. What is the good life? Why is it worth pursuing?
6. How is rightful behavior distinguished from wrongful behavior?
7. What is the relation between morality and other normative disciplines, such as law and etiquette?
8. To what extent is ethics connected to theories of human nature?
9. How is ethics connected to notions of justice? How might notions of justice be relevant as analytical rubrics or frameworks for examining or scrutinizing systems, networks, or institutional practices of oppression and inequality that perpetuate or reinforce arbitrary prejudice and discrimination along categories of race, sex, class, gender, sexual orientation, species membership, and disability status, among others?
10. How are principles of rights viable, and to what extent do they provide reasonable discourse for recognizing and addressing moral responsibilities and obligations to reform or repair social networks, past and current, that support, are based on, or are tainted by discriminatory practices that marginalize opportunities along categories of race, sex, class, gender, sexual orientation, species membership, and disability status, among others?
11. What moral principles are relevant and sound for developing conscientious agency and a sound (reasonable) moral self-identity in relation to others in the world, while remaining vigilant about how dynamics of power and privilege evolve to deny and exclude opportunities or participation along social categories of race, sex, class, gender, sexual orientation, species membership, and disability status, among others?
12. What moral principles or moral features are necessary and relevant for conceiving of the scope of the moral community, such that the interests and needs of its members are less subject to social structures, systems, and practices based in arbitrary discrimination, prejudice, and denial of opportunities along categories of race, sex, class, gender, sexual orientation, species membership, and disability status, among others?
13. How is ethics related to standards of self-interest?
14. What does it mean to be a (conscientious) moral agent?
15. What is the scope of moral responsibility?
16. Is there a fundamental moral principle or rule that can justify all of our moral duties?
17. What are our fundamental moral duties? Can any such moral duties be justified?
18. Which character traits count as virtues? Which ones count as vices? How and why is this distinction justified? Who should be our role models?
19. What is the status of moral claims? Can specific ethical theories, moral principles, or specific moral verdicts or judgments be true or properly justified?
20. Are we allowed to violate moral rules? If so, when, and how is that justified?
21. In what ways is egoism relevant, or not relevant, to understanding the nature of ethics and moral responsibility?
22. Do women and men think differently about ethics?
23. Are we obligated to give to the poor in our community or in other areas of the world?
24. Are individuals obligated to reduce their share of greenhouse gases?
25. Is torture always morally wrong? Why or why not?
26. Why might a virtuous person decide to become a whistleblower?