Moral Philosophy Course

Lesson 1 • Metaethics: The Nature of Moral Claims

Examines whether moral statements express facts, emotions, or prescriptions. Grounds students in the philosophical status of ethical language.

Lesson 2 • What Is Moral Philosophy?

Defines moral philosophy and its central questions about right action, value, and obligation. Situates ethics within the broader landscape of philosophy.

Lesson 3 • Key Concepts and Terminology

Introduces essential terms used throughout moral philosophy. Precise vocabulary enables rigorous analysis in all subsequent chapters.

Lesson 4 • Moral Epistemology

Explores how moral knowledge is acquired and justified. Connects epistemological methods to the reliability of ethical reasoning.

Lesson 1 • Applying Consequentialist Reasoning

Demonstrates how to use consequentialist frameworks in practical moral analysis. Bridges theory to applied ethical decision-making.

Lesson 2 • Core Principles of Consequentialism

Introduces the thesis that rightness depends solely on outcomes. Establishes the evaluative framework used throughout this chapter.

Lesson 3 • Objections to Consequentialism

Analyzes major critiques including justice, integrity, and demandingness objections. Prepares students to evaluate consequentialism's scope and limits.

Lesson 4 • Preference and Welfare Utilitarianism

Extends classical utility to preference satisfaction and objective welfare theories. Addresses limitations of hedonism in modern contexts.

Lesson 1 • Critiques and Limits of Deontology

Evaluates objections including absolutism, conflicting duties, and moral rigidity. Strengthens critical assessment of deontological frameworks.

Lesson 2 • Foundations of Deontological Thinking

Introduces the core claim that some actions are intrinsically right or wrong regardless of consequences. Contrasts deontology with consequentialism.

Lesson 3 • Rights-Based Moral Theories

Explores how individual rights function as side-constraints on action. Connects rights theory to political and professional ethics.

Lesson 4 • Contractualism and Moral Agreement

Presents contractualist approaches grounding morality in principles no one could reasonably reject. Links social agreement to moral obligation.

Lesson 1 • Contemporary Virtue Ethics

Surveys modern developments including neo-Aristotelian and pluralist virtue theories. Extends classical virtue ethics to contemporary moral problems.

Lesson 2 • Practical Wisdom and Moral Perception

Focuses on phronesis as the master virtue guiding moral judgment. Connects perceptual sensitivity to context-sensitive ethical action.

Lesson 3 • Aristotelian Virtue Theory

Introduces Aristotle's account of virtue, eudaimonia, and the good life. Establishes the teleological foundation of virtue ethics.

Lesson 4 • Virtue Ethics in Practice

Applies virtue frameworks to professional and personal moral contexts. Demonstrates how character-based reasoning complements rule-based approaches.

Lesson 1 • Moral Intuitions as Evidence

Examines the evidential role of intuitions in ethical argument. Balances intuitive and theoretical inputs in moral justification.

Lesson 2 • Structure of Moral Arguments

Identifies premises, conclusions, and inferential patterns in ethical reasoning. Provides the analytical scaffold for all subsequent argumentation work.

Lesson 3 • Common Fallacies in Ethical Debate

Identifies logical and rhetorical fallacies that distort moral reasoning. Equips students to detect and counter flawed arguments.

Lesson 4 • Moral Dilemmas and Tragic Choices

Analyzes situations where genuine moral obligations conflict irresolvably. Develops strategies for reasoning under irreducible moral tension.

Lesson 1 • Global Justice and Moral Obligations

Applies justice frameworks to cross-border obligations and global inequality. Challenges students to extend domestic justice reasoning globally.

Lesson 2 • Libertarianism and Minimal Justice

Presents libertarian accounts prioritizing self-ownership and voluntary exchange. Contrasts minimal-state justice with egalitarian alternatives.

Lesson 3 • Rawlsian Justice and the Social Contract

Examines Rawls's theory of justice as fairness and the original position device. Connects liberal egalitarianism to institutional design.

Lesson 4 • Procedural and Relational Justice

Explores justice as fair process and as the quality of social relationships. Extends justice beyond distribution to recognition and participation.

Lesson 1 • Bioethics and Medical Decisions

Examines ethical issues in healthcare including autonomy, consent, and end-of-life choices. Applies multiple frameworks to medical moral dilemmas.

Lesson 2 • Technology and Digital Ethics

Addresses ethical challenges posed by emerging technologies including AI and data use. Applies classical frameworks to novel technological contexts.

Lesson 3 • Business and Professional Ethics

Applies ethical theory to organizational decision-making, stakeholder relations, and professional conduct. Bridges moral philosophy to workplace practice.

Lesson 4 • War, Violence, and Political Ethics

Examines the ethics of political violence, just war theory, and state coercion. Applies deontological and consequentialist lenses to political action.

Lesson 1 • Constructing a Personal Ethical Framework

Guides students in synthesizing theories into a coherent, defensible personal moral outlook. Culminates the course by integrating all prior frameworks.

Lesson 2 • Moral Pluralism and Moral Uncertainty

Addresses the challenge of acting well when multiple frameworks conflict or when moral truth is uncertain. Develops strategies for reasoning under normative uncertainty.

Lesson 3 • Moral Psychology and Motivation

Examines the psychological underpinnings of moral judgment and action. Connects empirical moral psychology to normative ethical theory.

Lesson 4 • Moral Progress and Moral Change

Investigates whether moral views improve over time and what drives moral change. Applies historical analysis to assess the trajectory of ethical thought.