PHIL/POLI/PWAD 272.001 – The Ethics of Peace, War, and Defense

Instructor: Sara Copic. This course meets MTWRF 1:15 – 2:45 p.m. in CW 213.

In this course, we will explore ethical questions relating to war. Some of the particular questions we may discuss include: Under what conditions is engaging in war justified, if any? Are the moral rules in the context of war any different than they would be in more normal circumstances? Under what circumstances, if any, would torture be justified? What obligations do we have to refugees fleeing war, if any? The goals of this course has to do with practical and theoretical questions regarding the ethics of war. But the practical goal of the course is to sharpen your skills having to do with reconstructing arguments for various positions and engaging critically with these arguments.