Philosophy 205 - Ethics

What is the right thing to do? What makes a life good? The purpose of this course is to critically examine some of the key theoretical approaches to answering these questions. We will focus on three main ethical theories: (1) virtue ethics, exemplified by the Chinese philosopher Mengzi; (2) utilitarianism, as defended by the English philosopher John Stuart Mill; and (3) Kantianism, named for the German philosopher Immanuel Kant. We will also discuss contemporary alternatives to and criticisms of these traditions. Finally, we will evaluate some arguments for and against the objectivity and universality of ethics. Is there such a thing as moral truth?