Dr. Julie A. Allen
allenj@yorku.ca
S445 Ross
(416) 736-2100 ext. 77541

This course is designed as an introduction to moral philosophy from an historical and critical point of view.  The philosophers we'll study investigate central questions concerning human conduct and character.  This course explores some of the most important and influential ethical theories developed in the tradition of  Western philosophy.  We will carefully study a selection of canonical texts, including works by Plato, Aristotle, Hobbes, Kant, and Mill.  We will consider issues arising from these texts which are relevant to both normative and meta-ethics.  Although the course focuses on historical works and a comparison of the moral doctrines therein expressed, we will undertake this study with an eye to their recurrent influence within contemporary moral philosophy.

There are six  required books for this course.

Plato. Protagoras. Trans. G.M.A. Grube. Hackett, 1992.   ISBN: 0-87220-094-9

Plato. Five Dialogues: Euthyphro, (Apology, Crito, Meno, Phaedo.) Trans.Stanley Lombardo & Karen Bell, Hackett, 1981.  N.B.  Only the Euthyphro will be read in this course. ISBN: 0-87220-633-5

Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics. Trans. David Ross.  O.U.P. 1980.  ISBN: 0–19-283408-x

Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan. Ed. John Gaskin.  Oxford University Press, 1998. (Selections)

ISBN: 0–19-2834883

Immanuel Kant, Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals.  Trans. James W. Ellingson.  Hackett, 1993.

John Stuart Mill, Utilitarianism. Ed. George Sher.  Hackett, 1979.

Short analysis & summary assignment       10%

Two  short essays  (20% each)                    40%

Lecture & Tutorial  Participation                  10%

Final Exam                                                      40%

The class will be conducted remotely/online until at least January 31st.  An announcement will be made if part or all  of the course switches to in person. You are required to attend weekly tutorials.   Your tutorials  are an integral part of the course and should not be regarded as optional.   TUTORIALS  will commence on Monday January 17^th.  You will be graded not merely for attendance but also for active engagement and participation.

Students will learn canonical answers to the following questions:

What is "ethics"?  Is there a difference between "ethics" and "morality"?

What do we mean by the terms `good', ‘valued’ or ‘pious’ or ‘holy’?  Is something good because it is desirable or desirable because it is good?

What relation, if any, is there between morality and various accounts of "human nature"?

Is there something which is the good for human beings? How does the good relate to happiness or eudaimonia?

Additionally, students will be provided with the tools to develop their ability to analyse a text and provide a critical summary of central arguments.