history of ethical theory

Phil 103: Honors Section 13

Tuesdays-thursdays 2:00–3:15;
ADMIN 227

Nick Gier,
Instructor; Morrill 403; Office Hours: MW
3:30-4:30

Recitation Hour: Fridays 4:30-5:30
Phone: 885-6284; 883-3360 (home); ngier∂uidaho.edu

Syllabus    EthicsTalk     Reading
Assignments      Writing Assignments  

Web Resources      Exam Questions
     Substitute Points  Class Policies

Goals & Objectives      Lecture
Notes   PowerPoint Outlines   

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COURSE CONTENT. Ethics is a systemized statement of the
principles and practices of conduct for which a rational justification can be given. It
considers the arguments moralists have used to justify standards of right and wrong, as
well as the goal (the good) toward which acts are ultimately directed. The course thus
considers the chief conceptions of the right and the good through the medium of the major
writers on ethics. In the first half of the course, students are asked to consider the
nature of the good life as presented by ancient moral philosophers Aristotle, Confucius,
the Buddha, and Thomas Aquinas. In the second half of the course, the views of some of the
main modern and contemporary writers (Hume, Kant, Mill, and Gilligan) are examined.

TEACHING METHODS. Lecture, general class discussion,
EthicsTalk postings, in-class writings, and small group work.