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Happiness, Goodness and Justice - PHIX132
This unit provides an introduction to major topics in ethics, moral theory and contemporary political philosophy. The first section focuses on the nature of happiness. Is pleasure essential to happiness? Or does the pursuit of pleasure harm our chances of lasting fulfilment? Must we be virtuous in order to be happy? What is the relationship between happiness and duty? The second section explores the sources of morality and the objectivity of moral judgement. Is morality based ultimately in self-interest? What is the relationship between morality and religion? Are there moral principles that everyone is bound by reason to recognise? Or is the validity of moral standards relative to specific societies and cultures? Do animals as well as humans count from a moral point of view? In the third section we turn to questions of applied and social philosophy. We consider the interests and welfare of non-human animals, and then turn to some key principles of justice that ought to prevail, in the contemporary world. These include: how should social resources be distributed? What are the obligations of wealthy nations to those less fortunate? What obligations do we have towards indigenous people, as well as immigrants and refugees?
All enrolment queries should be directed to Open Universities Australia (OUA): see www.open.edu.au
| When Offered: | SP1 OUA - Study Period 1, offered through Open Universities Australia SP2 OUA - Study Period 2, offered through Open Universities Australia SP4 OUA - Study Period 4, offered through Open Universities Australia |
| Staff Contact(s): | |
| Assessed As: | Graded |
| Offered By: | Department of Philosophy Faculty of Arts |