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.)