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

IDEAs in Action: Which curricular requirements does this course satisfy?

Instructor: Paul Garofalo. This course meets MWF 12:20 – 1:10 p.m. in MU 105.

In this course we will focus on contemporary moral issues raised by people’s choices and their effects on themselves and others in three different areas—paternalistic interferences, protest and free speech, and sex work. We will address questions such as: Is it valuable to allow individuals to make choices that harm themselves? When (and how) may people interfere in other’s self-regarding choices? Must protest be civil? Or may protest be uncivil? How should we think about the conflict between people’s free speech and those affected negatively by their speech? Is there anything problematic about the relationship between sex workers and their clients? What is the effect of different legal responses to sex work? This course will focus on developing the philosophical skills necessary to think about these kinds of questions so that students can critically assess different views on these topics, including their own.

Have registration questions? Our PPE Administrators can help! Please email them at ppeprogram@unc.edu for assistance.