Course Description

Ethics is the branch of philosophy that deals with the governing principles of moral action. Moral psychology is an interdisciplinary, empirical approach to determining the conditions under which moral decisions are made. In this course, we will combine traditional approaches to ethics with contemporary research in moral psychology to develop a well-rounded understanding of moral behaviour. We shall bring two pairs of normative accounts of ethics into conversation with each other. We will consider utilitarianism and deontology together and ask, “Is moral behaviour a matter of consequences or intentions?” To answer this question, we will consider the psychology of preferences and responsibility. We shall also bring together care ethics and virtue ethics to ask, “Is moral behaviour directed towards others, or towards ourselves?” Answering this question requires considering the psychology of emotions and character. Finally, we will close out the course by considering the epistemology of disagreement, and the consequences such a view has for moral pluralism. Along the way, we will study the work of Bentham, Kant, Gilligan, and Aristotle, and others. Applications may include redistribution of wealth, organ donation, capital punishment, etc.

Course Texts

1. Alfano, Mark. Moral Psychology: An Introduction (Polity, 2016).
2. Tännsjö, Torbjörn. Understanding Ethics, 3d. ed. (Edinburgh UP, 2014).

Summary of Course Requirements

Requirement	Description	Weight	Date
Midterm I	Tests competence from Unit I.	25%	Week 06
Midterm II	Tests competence from Unit II.	25%	Week 10
Weekly Reflections	Weekly assignments on the material.	10%	Ongoing
Seminar Participation	Assessed by your TA on the quality and quantity of participation.	10%	Ongoing
Final Examination	One sit-down cumulative examination.	30%	TBD

Course Schedule

All information subject to change with notice.

Week	Topic	Readings
01	Welcome!	Syllabus

Preferences & Duties

02	Utilitarianism – Hedonism	UE: 17-42
03	Preferences	MP: 23-49
04	Deontology	UE: 59-78
05	Responsibility	MP: 49-81
06	[Review and Midterm]	N/A

Care & Character

07	Ethics of Care	UE: 113-128
08	Emotions & Judgements	MP: 81-112, E1
09	Virtue Ethics	UE: 95-113
10	Character formation	MP: 112-138
11	[Review and Midterm]	N/A

Relativism & Disagreement

12	Can we live and let live?	UE: 142-152, E2
13	How we disagree	MP: 138-171

Legend

MP	Moral Psychology: An Introduction
UE	Understanding Ethics (3d. ed.)
E1	James, W. “The Sentiment of Rationality” (selections)
E2	Feldman, R. “Rational Religious Disagreements” (selections)