Moral Theory

(3 Credit Hours) · Undergraduate

Taught as PHIL3003 - 'Moral Theory' at a host institution. The core of this unit consists of intensive study of two or more influential moral theories. Students engage both with contemporary readings and with certain classic texts such as those of Aristotle, Kant and Mill. The details vary from year to year, but typically include (1) introduction (one week)—What is a moral theory? What is it designed to do? How does one evaluate moral theories?; (2) Consequentialism (three weeks)—students engage with a number of texts including John Stuart Mill's classic work, Utilitarianism; (3) Kantianism (three weeks)—students engage with a number of texts, including Immanuel Kant's classic work, Groundwork of the Metaphysic of Morals; and (4) Virtue Ethics (three weeks)—students engage with a number of texts including Aristotle's classic work, Nicomachean Ethics.