ETHICS

Professor Christopher Schiavone

PHL 103-01

Wednesdays, 11:30 AM - 12:45 (plus independent work to be completed weekly online)

Charlestown Campus - Room B113

Email the professor

To text or call: 508-250-0223

Office hours by appointment on campus or by Zoom

No Class November 11

Next Class November 18

Before the next class:

Complete Independent Study #4
Complete readings distributed in class:
- - - - de Beauvoir - Ethics of Ambiguity
      - Arendt - Eichmann in Jerusalem
      - Weil - Waiting for God
Independent Study #5 (Note: The above readings are part of this assignment which should also be completed before November 18's class)

independent study links

PHILOSOPHY IN THE NEWS

Periodically, when I see articles or essays in the publications I routinely read, I may share them here if I think they're relevant to the course.

One essay is from The Atlantic--a somewhat surprising, but fairly interesting critique of empathy as an ethical consideration. In a few weeks, when we're discussing Sentimentalism, we'll want to see how the arguments against empathy hold up.

The other is a book review talking about the the subject of evil. If Ethics has something to do with the principles by which we determine what is morally good and desirable in a human life, and what is morally bad and undesirable in a human life, what does it mean to say that an action is "evil," or that "evil exists in the world?"

The third is an Instagram post which, if you watch it, feels for all the world like Aristotle's Virtue theory expressed in modern therapeutic terms.

Why ‘Suicidal Empathy’ Has Caught On - The Atlantic.pdf

This Philosopher Thinks It’s Time We Call Out Evil in Our WorldIn a new book, Susan Neiman argues that by defining evil in terms of individual monstrousness we fail to perceive its widespread hold on our culture.

Karin Haysbert on Instagram: "👑 AWARENESS is the first step to healing‼️ Which spoke to you the most? . #mindset #midlifewomen #healingjourney #mindsetshift #growth"178K likes, 1,425 comments - karinhaysbert on October 29, 2026: "👑 AWARENESS is the first step to healing‼️ Which spoke to you the most? . #mindset #midlifewomen #healingjourney #mindsetshift #growth".

Are You a Platonist or an Aristotelian?Your answer may determine how happy you can be.

Opinion | The Democrats Are in Trouble. This Man Can Save Them.The theories of the 20th-century philosopher John Rawls can inspire a new way for Democrats to find relevance.

What John Stuart Mill Knew About HappinessThe great philosopher of liberty and liberalism had the ultimate advice for how to approach your “hoped-for heaven” in this earthly life.

Opinion | Should We Cancel Aristotle?He defended slavery and opposed the notion of human equality. But he is not our enemy.

Column: A thank you to the undocumented on the eve of Trump's deportation storm I’ve spent my career trying to sway skeptics that people here illegally are no different from native-born citizens. That nearly all embody the immigrant spirit.

If you hit a pay wall linking to the article above, you can use this link to download a PDF of it. It's definitely worth reading in light of our class discussion about the so-called fairness argument against permitting undocumented immigrants to remain in the U.S.