PHL2156

Moral thinking

Jeanette Kennett and others

6 points - Second semester Berwick - Prerequisites: A first-year sequence in philosophy - This subject may be taught in flexible delivery mode if the student enrolment is small

Objectives On successful completion of this subject the student should have developed an understanding of core concepts, positions, and issues in both meta-ethics and normative ethics to the point where this will serve as a firm basis for further work in both theoretical and practical courses in moral philosophy.

Synopsis The subject deals with the following areas of philosophical ethics. (i) Meta-ethics: when we judge an action to be right or wrong, are we merely expressing our personal emotions? Or are we using our reason? Are we making a judgement which is capable of being true or false? The first part of this subject will examine these questions. (ii) Normative ethics: normative theories are theories about what is of value, or what acts are right. A major focus of discussion is the opposition between utilitarian theories and non-utilitarian theories. Utilitarian theories judge the rightness or wrongness of actions solely in accordance with their consequences. Can utilitarianism account for special obligations which arise from personal relationships based on love and friendship? Is there a limit to our responsibility to minimise suffering and to maximise happiness? To what extent are the objections to utilitarianism also objections to non-utilitarian theories? We close by considering feminist objections to the impartialist perspective of traditional ethical theory.

Assessment on-campus One essay of 2000 words: 40%Three expository exercises of 600 words each: 30%Examination (1 hour): 30%
Assessment flexible mode Two essays (2000 words each): 30% each - Two exercises: 10% each - One 1-hour examination: 20% - Full details of the assessment, which conforms to the Keller Plan, will be provided at the commencement of the course.

Prescribed texts

A collection of readings available from the Monash Bookshop
Singer P Ethics OUP

Recommended texts

Schaffer S Consequentialism and its critics OUP
Mackie J L Ethics: Inventing right and wrong Penguin

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