PHIL 203: Ethics
Winter 2025

Timetable

Thu
Jan 2

Intro: General Introduction

Essential philosophical skills.

Fri
Jan 3

Intro: Arguments

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly.
Play around in the Logic and Critical Thinking section of the Resources page.
Review Bad Argument Assignment instructions.
The Peanut Butter Argument.

Mon
Jan 6

Intro: Ethics

Ethics in Theory and practice.

Tue
Jan 7

Mind the Gaps! Methods in Philosophical Ethics

Methods.
SEP: Reflective Equilibrium. (On the web.)

Wed
Jan 8

Ethical ‘Isms

Some ethical ‘isms.
SEP: Moral Skepticism. (On the web.)

Thu
Jan 9

The Gods

Religion & Ethics.
Euthryphro’s Dilemma.

Fri
Jan 10
in class

Bad Argument Assignment

In-class group project.
Details on ‘Assessment’ page.

Mon
Jan 13

Consequentialism

Consequentialism.
Peter Singer on Equal Consideration of Interests – from Practical Ethics. (Canvas@UD.)

Tue
Jan 14

Kantian Ethics

Kantian Ethics.
Onora O’Neill, “Kantian Ethics”. (Canvas@UD.)

Wed
Jan 15

Virtue Ethics

Oxford in WWII.
Anscombe, G. E. M. (1958). “Modern Moral Philosophy.” Philosophy 33(124): 1-19.

Thu
Jan 16

Social Contract Theory

Rawls’ Theory of Justice.
Ask ChatGPT or similar to explain the veil of ignorance in Rawls’ ‘Theory of Justice’. See what it says and engage it in a bit of conversation on the idea and what follows from it. (On the web.)

Fri
Jan 17

Rights & Principles

Rights.
Principles.
SEP: Theory and Bioethics – Section 4 only.

Tue
Jan 21

Rationality, Uncertainty, & Expected Utility

The von Neumann Morgenstern axioms.
Briggs, Rachael A (2019). ‘Expected Utility.’ Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Sections 1&2. (On the web.).

Wed
Jan 22

Irrationality, Uncertainty, & Expected Utility

Is it irrational to violate the vNM axioms?
Briggs, Rachael A (2019). ‘Expected Utility.’ Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Sections 3&4. (On the web.).

Thu
Jan 23

Voting Puzzles

Voting Puzzles
Which Voting System is the Best? (YouTube.)
Is Democracy Impossible? (YouTube.)

Fri
Jan 24

Maximizing Utility

Which to Maximize?
Derek Parfit (1984). Selections from ‘Reasons and Persons.’ (On Canvas@UD.)

Mon
Jan 27

The Nonidentity Problem

The Nonidentity Problem.
The Philosopher’s Arms: Future People. (On the web.)

Tue
Jan 28

The Trolley Problem

Trolley Problems.
The Philosopher’s Arms: Trolleyology. (On the web.)

Wed
Jan 29

Personal Identity

Does Personal Identity Matter?
Greene, Mark (2013). “Saving a Life but Losing the Patient.” Theoretical Medicine and Bioethics 34(6): 479-498. (On Canvas@UD.)

Thu
Jan 30

Free Will & Responsibility

Free Will.
The Philosopher’s Arms: Free Will. (On the web.)

Fri
Jan 31

Review

Ethics