Continuing Moral Philosophy (Spring 2013)

This page provides resources for Continuing Moral Philosophy, taught for Cardiff University’s Centre for Lifelong Learning during spring 2013. The course is designed to build on Introducing Moral Philosophy and assumes students have successfully completed either that or a similar introduction to ethical theory.

Note that the official course page was on Learning Central and that all enrolled students should access content there.

Course Packet

Continuing Moral Philosophy (Spring 2013) Course packet excluding readings subject to copyright. Links to those sources are available in the reading schedule where available. Designed for duplex printing with binding on left.

Module Assessment

Glossary Entry (20%)

Paper (80%)

Paper Topics Selection of paper topics and instructions. Should be read in conjunction with the Resources section of the course packet.

Slides

§1 Morality & Religion

§2 Relativism, Subjectivism & Objectivism

Ethical Relativism

  • Rachels, ‘The Challenge of Cultural Relativism’ (1999, 20–36)
  • Herodotus, The History, excerpt from Book 3 (The History) or ‘Custom is King’ (Pojman 2004, 156)

Subjectivism & Objectivism

  • Williams, ‘Knowledge, Science, Convergence’ (1985)

§3 Theories of Right Action & Their Critics

Moral Schizophrenia

  • Stocker, ‘The Schizophrenia of Modern Ethical Theories’ (1976)

Alienation, Consequentialism and the Demands of Morality

  • Railton, ‘Alienation, Consequentialism, and the Demands of Morality’ (1984)

Manner & Motive

  • Tannenbaum, ‘Acting with Feeling from Duty’ (2002)

§4 Moral Luck

Nagel’s Challenge

  • Nagel, ‘Moral Luck’ (1979) or ‘Moral Luck’ (Pojman 2004, 374–485)

§5 A Question of Conscience?

Huckleberry Finn, Heinrich Himmler & Jonathan Edwards

  • Bennett, ‘The Conscience of Huckleberry Finn’ (1974)

§6 Virtue Ethics & Its Critics

A Question of Character?

  • Hursthouse, ‘Virtue Theory and Abortion’ (1991)

§7 Are Moral Values Gendered?

A Different Voice?

  • Baier, ‘What Do Women Want in a Moral Theory?’ (1995)

Resources / Links

I’ve posted some resources / links which may be useful, interesting or amusing. Since this collection was created some time ago, some of the links may be broken. I’ve already weeded out one but would welcome further corrections.