LSA Course Guide

< back	Printer Version

Class Detail:
FA 2010 Philosophy PHIL 429 - Ethical Analysis Section 001
Credits:	3
Waitlist Capacity:	99
Enforced Prerequisites:	PHIL 361 or 366 with a grade of C- or better, or graduate.
Repeatability:	May not be repeated for credit.
Primary Instructor:	Railton,Peter A
	(real time availability for all sections)

Questions about the nature and standing of morality arise in both theory and practice. Moreover, in recent years morality has served as a central example in wide philosophical debates about the nature of normativity — roughly, the idea that there are certain things we ought to do (morality), or the believe (epistemology), or to infer (reasoning), or to appreciate (aesthetics), or that there are values at stake in these domains of life. In this course we will critically investigate several of the most influential philosophical conceptions of morality, including historical as well as contemporary writings. Among the questions we will consider: In what sense, if any, is there a need for theory or "foundations" in morality? How are we to understand the meaning of moral terms? Are moral judgements capable of truth and falsity? In what sens, if any, can moral claims be objective? What is the relation of "ought" to "is"? What is the relation of moral evaluation to motivation and action? Midterm and final examinations; a term paper.

Course Syllabi Syllabi are available to current LSA students. IMPORTANT: These syllabi are provided to give students a general idea about the courses, as offered by LSA departments and programs in prior academic terms. The syllabi do not necessarily reflect the assignments, sequence of course materials, and/or course expectations that the faculty and departments/programs have for these same courses in the current and/or future terms. Search for Syllabus

Textbooks/Other Materials (data maintained by department in Wolverine Access)
Coursepack Location:	Dollar Bill


ISBN: 9780195107494	Moral discourse and practice : some philosophical approaches, Author: Darwall, Stephen L., 1946-, Publisher: Oxford University Press 1997
Required

	Immanuel Kant, Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals, trans. by J.W. Ellington (Hackett, 1993) [other translations of the Groundwork may also be used}
Required