After an initial examination of some of the personal reactions of members of the class to issues such as commodification, self-interest, ethical subjectivism and cultural relativism, and at philosophical issues to which they give rise, the course will engage with some significant contemporary approaches to the understanding of ethical theory. We will look, in turn, at utilitarianism, deontological ethics, and virtue ethics. In each case, we will look at some of the (recent) historical background to these views, at philosophical issues to which they give rise, and to some of the contemporary debate about them. We will also look at issues concerning the epistemology of ethics and (briefly) at some meta-ethics, at issues of feminism and ethics, and at anti-theoretical approaches to ethics.

Short response 10%;  Excercise 15%; Essay 1: 30%; Essay2 :  35%; Tutorial participation 10%.

One philosophy course or permission of the Coordinator.

Rachels, J, The Elements of Moral Philosophy, 5th ed., McGraw-Hill