PHIL 160.001 – Virtue, Value, and Happiness: An Introduction to Moral Theory

Instructor: Will Kanwischer. This course meets MTWRF 1:15 – 2:45 p.m. in CW 208 via in-person (IP) instruction.

What should we do? What kind of person should we be? What kinds of things are valuable? These questions are the traditional focus of moral philosophy, and this course will serve as an introduction to thinking about the various ways that moral philosophers have tried to answer them. Our readings will take us from the writings of historical figures like Aristotle, Immanuel Kant, and John Stuart Mill to contemporary work on the moral implications of climate change, abortion, and our treatment of non-human animals. Students will come away from the course with the tools necessary to think for themselves about difficult ethical questions and defend their views with careful arguments.

Class meetings will be primarily focused on discussion, and participation will be a significant component of the course. No prior familiarity with philosophy is required, and the class will be appropriate for both students new to philosophy and those with some experience.