Course Objectives
It is expected that at the end of this course students would have gained a deeper understanding of the historical and contemporary issues in Ethics, the trajectory of the discussion, the place of culture in ethical theories and moral philosophy, and the contributions of scientific and technological development to the variations in ethical issues and views over time. Students will be expected to make an in-depth study of the various ethical theories from the Pre-Socratics, to Aristotle, to Kant, to Ayer and Wiredu and be able to analyze and evaluate the validity and otherwise of these theories.
Course Outline
This is an advanced course in ethics and ethical theory. It will involve looking critically at Ethics and Traditions. It will involve careful discourse of Ethical Theories and Issues either through a detailed study of some major writers in ethical theory (such as Plato, Aristotle, Neitzche, Kant) or by way of a systematic examination of some critical issues in ethics (such as amoralism, ethics of truth, power, colonialism, slavery, peace and violence, hunger, race, affirmative action, gender and abortion, animal rights and welfarism). In this regard, the course provides a forum for the discussion of such issues as the nature and status of ethical claims: fact-value dichotomy, the naturalistic fallacy, objectivity and subjectivity controversy in ethics, emotivism. Also attention will be directed at the subject of morality and the self in society, exploring issues such as amoralism, egoism and altruism. Opportunity will also be provided for interrogating the issue of ends of action and practical reason. What are conflicts of values and moral psychology?
Methodology
Course will be administered by a combination of Seminars and Lectures.
Contact Hours: 3 Hours weekly.
Evaluation
- One In-course essay (3,500 to 4,000 words) … … 40%
- Final two-hour Examination … … 60%