Learning Objectives
At the end of this course, you will be able to:
- identify and explain the main characteristics of deontological, consequentialist and virtue-based approaches to ethical analysis;
- identify and explain the relevant empirical considerations that may affect the ethical analysis of the moral problems considered in this course;
- apply deontological, consequentialist and character-based frameworks to the analysis of the specific moral issues considered during the semester;
- develop and present arguments in support of your own position on the specific moral problems considered in this course; and
- critically evaluate arguments that have been advanced in the philosophical literature on the specific moral problems covered in the course.
In addition, students should be able to:
- understand and critically evaluate the arguments on various sides in regard to at least four of the following topics: abortion, euthanasia, the death penalty, assisted reproductive technologies, racism, sexism, poverty and welfare, animal rights, environmental ethics, war and peace, and world hunger;
- understand the strengths and weaknesses of at least two of the following approaches to social ethics:
- consequence-based approaches;
- rule-based approaches;
- virtue-based approaches;
- care-based approaches;
- justice-based approaches;
- rights-based approaches.
