PHIL 2030 - Introduction to Ethics

4.5 Credits

Students acquire critical reasoning skills necessary to solve ethical dilemmas and avoid obstacles to ethical reasoning. Students distinguish criteria associated with the major ethical theories. Students recognize the value of exploring opposing views. Students explore contemporary and historical controversial ethical issues. Students apply critical reasoning, and ethical theory to construct solutions to real world ethical problems.

Recommended: College or business level reading comprehension and writing skills recommended prior to the course but not required.

Lecture Hours: 4.5
Lab Hours: 0.0
Internship Hours: 0.0
Clinical or Practicum Hours: 0.0

Course Objectives

Define Ethics, Normative Ethics and Metaethics.
Analyze the role of critical reasoning in resolving moral dilemmas.
Explain the role of rhetoric as a deterrent to ethical reasoning.
Recognize pseudo theories (i.e., egoism, subjectivism)
Summarize major ethical theories. These theories include but not are not limited to: Utilitarianism/Consequentialism, Kantian Ethics/Deontology, Theory of Natural Law, Social Contract Theory, Feminist Theory and Virtue Based Ethics.
Construct a personal ethical theory supported by critical reasoning and philosophical theory.
Apply ethical reasoning to resolve practical ethical dilemmas.
Discover the impact of unethical action on personal, cultural and global levels.
Employ an ethical vocabulary.

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