PHIL 106: Introduction to Moral Philosophy

Wellesley College | Fall 2018 |

DRAFT, SUBJECT TO CHANGE

A study of central issues in moral philosophy, with readings drawn from historical and contemporary texts. Topics include the nature of morality, conceptions of justice, views of human nature and their bearing on questions of value, competing accounts of the bases of moral judgment, and questions in contemporary applied ethics.

Readings:

Tuesday, 9/4

Introduction: Some basic tools for the course.

• The Pink Guide to Philosophy

Normative Ethics:

Friday, 9/7

Utilitarianism 1: Introduction

• Peter Singer, “Famine, Affluence, and Morality”

Tuesday, 9/11

Utilitarianism 2: Hedonism

• Jeremy Bentham, Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation, selections.
• Robert Nozick, Anarchy, State, and Utopia, “The Experience Machine”
• Martha Nussbaum, "Human Capabilities" (selection)

Friday, 9/14

Utilitarianism 3: Aggregation

• John Rawls, “Classical Utilitarianism.”
• Ursula K. LeGuin, “The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas”

Tuesday, 9/18

Utilitarianism 4: Consequentialism

• Julia Driver, "Consequentialism and Feminist Ethics"

Friday, 9/21

Kant 1

• Immanuel Kant, Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals, selections.

Tuesday, 9/25

Kant 2

• Immanuel Kant, Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals, selections.

Friday, 9/28

Kant 3

• Rae Langton, "Maria von Herbert's Challenge to Kant"

Tuesday, 10/2

Virtues and Vices 1

• Nomy Arpaly, "Moral Worth"

Friday, 10/5

Virtues and Vices 2

• Rima Basu, "The Wrongs of Racist Beliefs"

Fall Break

Friday, 10/12

Virtues and Vices 3

• Ryan Preston-Roedder, "Faith in Humanity"

Tuesday, 10/16

Virtues and Vices 4

• Cheshire Calhoun, "The Virtue of Civility"

Meta-Ethics:

Friday, 10/19

Meta-Ethics 1: Cultural Relativism

• Michelle Moody-Adams, Fieldwork in Familiar Places: Intro: 1-7; Ch 1: 13-17, 22-43

Tuesday, 10/23

Meta-Ethics 2: Historical Relativism

• Michelle Moody-Adams, Fieldwork in Familiar Places: Ch 2: 61-62, 68-71, 85-88, 95-106

Friday, 10/26

Meta-Ethics 3: Irresolvable Disagreement, Emotivism, and Moral Methodology

• Michelle Moody-Adams, Fieldwork in Familiar Places: Ch 3: 107-116, 125-130, 130-145

Friday, 11/2

Meta-Ethics 4: Morality and Culture Reconsidered

• Michelle Moody-Adams, Fieldwork in Familiar Places: Ch 5: 187-200, 214-224

"Applied" Ethics:

Tuesday, 11/6

Analyzing Oppression

• Iris Marion Young, "Five Faces of Oppression"

Friday, 11/9

Resisting One's Own Oppression 1:

• Carol Hay, "The Obligation to Resist Oppression"

Tuesday, 11/13

Resisting One's Own Oppression 2:

• Daniel Silvermint, "Resistance and Well-being"

Friday, 11/16

Resisting Structural Injustice 1:

• Ashwini Vasanthakumar, "Epistemic Privilege and Victims' Duties to Resist their Oppression"

Tuesday, 11/20

Resisting Structural Injustice 2:

• Tamara Jugov and Lea Ypi, "Structural Injustice, Epistemic Opacity and the Responsibilities of the Oppressed"

Thanksgiving Break

Tuesday, 11/27

Resisting Structural Injustice 3:

• Robin Zheng, "What is My Role in Changing the System? A New Model of Responsibility for Structural Injustice"

Friday, 11/30

Resisting Violence

• Lee-Ann Chae, "Pacific Resistance: A Moral Alternative to Defensive War"

Tuesday, 12/4

Resisting Organizational Power 1: Whistleblowing:

• Candice Delmas, "The Ethics of Government Whistleblowing"

Friday, 12/7

Resisting Organizational Power 2: Authoritarian Employers

• Elizabeth Anderson, "Private Government"

Tuesday, 12/11

Conclusion