Length of Course: One semester (14 weeks)

 

Classroom Hours Per Week: 4 hours lecture

 

Number of Credits: 3 credits

 

Prerequisite: English 100

 

An introduction to the philosophical study of ethics. This course concerns questions of the nature of moral goodness, agency, the scope of moral concern, and surveys important normative ethical theories. Some portion of the course will be devoted to application of ethical theory to contemporary moral issues such as abortion, punishment, human rights, animal right, bioethical ethics, environmental ethics, business ethics, and social and human responsibility.

 

The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the discipline and to the sub-discipline known as ethics or moral philosophy. Topics covered include moral skepticism, moral agency and moral consideration, the nature of moral values, and why one should be moral. In addition, students are introduced to a selection of approaches to ethical reasoning, including consequentialist, deontological, and social examples.

 

Class participation 10%
In-class exams 20%
Short essays 40%
Final Exam 30%

 

Rachel, James and Rachels, Stuart, The Elements of Moral Philosophy, McGraw Hill, 2006.

 

SFU: PHIL 120(3)
UBC: with COLU PHIL 101 = UBC PHIL 100(6)
UVic: PHIL 100 level (1.5 units)