Universität Wien

180085 PS Behind Morality: The big question (2012S)

4.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 18 - Philosophie
Continuous assessment of course work
Moodle

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 45 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Monday 05.03. 15:00 - 17:00 Hörsaal. 2H NIG 2.Stock
  • Monday 19.03. 15:00 - 17:00 Hörsaal. 2H NIG 2.Stock
  • Monday 26.03. 15:00 - 17:00 Hörsaal. 2H NIG 2.Stock
  • Monday 16.04. 15:00 - 17:00 Hörsaal. 2H NIG 2.Stock
  • Monday 23.04. 15:00 - 17:00 Hörsaal. 2H NIG 2.Stock
  • Monday 30.04. 15:00 - 17:00 Hörsaal. 2H NIG 2.Stock
  • Monday 07.05. 15:00 - 17:00 Hörsaal. 2H NIG 2.Stock
  • Monday 14.05. 15:00 - 17:00 Hörsaal. 2H NIG 2.Stock
  • Monday 21.05. 15:00 - 17:00 Hörsaal. 2H NIG 2.Stock
  • Monday 04.06. 15:00 - 17:00 Hörsaal. 2H NIG 2.Stock
  • Monday 11.06. 15:00 - 17:00 Hörsaal. 2H NIG 2.Stock
  • Monday 18.06. 15:00 - 17:00 Hörsaal. 2H NIG 2.Stock
  • Monday 25.06. 15:00 - 17:00 Hörsaal. 2H NIG 2.Stock

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

Moral philosophers have debated for centuries the nature of right and wrong, good and bad, duties and obligations. But what makes us so sure that there are such things in the first place? Take an action of yours –- torturing a cat. There are many properties of your action, of you, and of the cat that we can find in the world:– the action is taking place in a certain location, at a certain time; you are of a certain temperature, shape, and size; the cat is of a certain colour and weight. But there are crucial properties which are far more elusive: the wrongness of your action; your cruelty; the cat'’s being unfairly treated. You can't see these; you can't touch them. Where in the world do we find these elusive properties? If we can'’t find them, should we give up on morality as a bad job?

Assessment and permitted materials

1. Regular attendance
2. Participation in discussions
3. THREE mini-essays (4-5 pages each) on three of the papers we are reading (your choice).
To be handed in BEFORE the session in which we discuss the relevant paper. Failure to produce all essays results in failing the course.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

Examination topics

Reading list

Miller, Alexander (2003) An Introduction to Contemporary Metaethics (Cambridge: Polity Press).

Reading for session 1: 'Introduction' (pp.1-9) To be found in my Handapparat as well as on Moodle

Association in the course directory

BA M 6.1

Last modified: Mo 07.09.2020 15:36