PH 219 - Ethics & the Good Society

This class is devoted to the examination of some of the most pressing moral problems facing the contemporary world. Some of these problems are not new—human beings for generations have struggled with the morality of war, for example. Others have arisen with the advent of new technologies and institutions (e.g., the ethical status of genetic engineering).  There will also be an emphasis on major positions in ethical theory.  Students will apply what they have learned by considering the relevance of these theories to a cluster of issues surrounding the place of technology in society.  All the issues we study in this class are social and/or political issues that call for serious reflection and deliberation. We will therefore read essays that attempt to explain and hopefully resolve these issues, and we will try to determine the extent to which these attempts are successful.

Prerequisites & Notes

• This course will serve as a philosophy or humanities elective for online students.
• This course will serve as a general of philosophy elective for on campus students