This course is part of the Humanities and Fine Arts General Education Requirements required for all students. It introduces students to central questions in moral philosophy and the frameworks that shape public discourse, political institutions, professional practice, and personal decision-making. The course employs an intentional reverse-chronological structure: students first confront modern moral uncertainties, such as relativism and skepticism, before working backward to examine the foundational traditions from which these dilemmas emerged. We critically analyze major Western frameworks, including utilitarianism, Kantian deontology, and social contract theory (Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau), alongside contemporary applied concerns. The study concludes with an exploration of Classical and non-Western traditions, focusing on the Virtue Ethics of Plato and Aristotle. This section includes a look at the Stoic school (notably Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius), examining their influence on internal resilience and cosmopolitan duty. By engaging with these diverse thinkers, students cultivate the reflective judgment and clarity in argumentation necessary to navigate complex moral landscapes in a global context.
PHILOSOPHY 101: Introduction to Philosophy and Critical Thinking (Fall 2025, Spring I 2026)
POLITICS 101: Contemporary Politics (Fall 2024, Fall 2023)
HUMANITIES 120: Understanding Greek Life and Culture (Fall 2023, Fall 2021)