PHIL 163.001 – Practical Ethics: Moral Reasoning and How We Live

Instructor: Fabian Wendt. This course meets MWF 2:40 – 3:30 p.m. via remote synchronous (RS) instruction.

This course draws on contemporary moral philosophy to shed light on some of the most pressing ethical questions of our time. We will look at arguments that help us answer practical questions like: Should abortion be allowed? Is it ok to eat meat? Are we obligated to make donations to relieve people from poverty? Should we end the war on drugs? Is affirmative action justified? What should we do about sweatshops? Should the death penalty be abolished? By the end of the course, you should have a good understanding of these and other practical ethical issues, and, more crucially, be equipped with the conceptual resources to think through new ethical questions and dilemmas as they arise in personal and professional life.