MAP 503 - Three Rival Moral Theories

Credits: (3)
Aristotle, Hume, and Kant represent rival approaches to ethics. To have wrestled with them is to have contended with three of the basic philosophical options in moral theory. After an initial introduction to each thinker through primary source readings, this course will engage in an in-depth study of a contemporary representative of each approach. Among the questions considered will be the following: 1) What is the nature of morality? 2) What reason, if any, do we have for being moral? 3) Is morality objective? 4) Is morality based upon reason or the passions? 5) How do we know what action is the right action? NB: This course will present an opportunity to study moral theory and will not be directly focused on the morality of specific acts or practices (e.g., famine relief, reparations, warfare, cloning, abortion, gun control, affirmative action, etc.).