Ethical Theory - PHL225
The ethical theories of Aristotle, John Stuart Mill and Immanuel Kant have influenced contemporary ways of thinking about moral action and our moral relations with others. In the first section of the unit, we focus on Aristotle's conceptions of voluntary and involuntary actions, excuses, justifications and culpability, which ground contemporary understandings of moral and legal responsibility. We also discuss Aristotle's views on friendship, which resonate with contemporary views about the good of friendship and underpin much current philosophical discussion of friendship. In the second section, we discuss Mill's classic and influential defenses of individual liberty and freedom of speech, and we consider the application of his arguments to the issues of pornography and hate speech. In the final section, we discuss Kant's conception of the good will in the light of recent philosophical debates about whether Kant's moral philosophy requires us to be moral saints. We also discuss Kant's notion of respect for persons, which underpins recent discussions of the moral and political importance of both respect for others and self-respect.
| Credit Points: | 3 |
| When Offered: | S1 Day - Session 1, North Ryde, Day S1 External - Session 1, External (On-campus sessions: None) |
| Staff Contact(s): | Dr Mianna Lotz |
| Prerequisites: |
(12cp at 100 level or above) or admission to GDipArts |
| Corequisites: | |
| NCCW(s): | PHIL225 |
| Unit Designation(s): | |
| Unit Type: | |
| Assessed As: | Graded |
| Offered By: | Department of Philosophy Faculty of Arts |
Course structures, including unit offerings, are subject to change.
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