Instructor: Richard Lee, Office hours
Course number: Philosophy 4133 (Safari number: 02800)
Time: MWF 9:30 a.m. - 10:20 a.m.
Room: MAIN 325

Brief Description:

This course will consist of a careful look at theories of ethics advanced by philosophers in the twentieth century. We will begin with an exploration of utilitarianism, a prominent normative ethical theory. We will then look at key work from the beginnings of twentieth century ethical thought with the "open question argument" of G.E. Moore and the emotive theory of ethics. We will then turn to an exploration of moral skepticism and responses to skeptical arguments against morality. At the end of the course we will explore several diverse attempts to provide a foundations for moral obligations.

A background of at least one previous course in philosophy is required. Apart from that this course is open to all students interested in the foundations of moral right and wrong.

Text:

Louis P. Pojman, editor, Ethical Theory: Classical and Contemporary Readings (Wadsworth, 1998) [ISBN: 0-534-52961-5]

Other information:

• Course Requirements
• Important Dates
• Reading Schedule
• Policies
• Term Paper
• First Examination
• First paper assignment
• Second Examination
• Third Examination