1. Relativism & Emotivism

Explain and evaluate the key features of moral relativism, both subjective and cultural, and moral emotivism. What are some of the implications of these positions? Do the implications make these positions more or less plausible as genuine theories of the moral dimension of our lives?

2. Ethical Egoism

What are the essential features of ethical egoism? Ethical egoism relies on a psychological theory of human motivation. What does this theory of human motivation claim? Is ethical egoism a plausible explanation of the moral dimension of our lives? Is it consistent with our considered moral judgments or the general terms of our moral experience?

3. Utilitarianism

Explain and evaluate the essential aspects of utilitarianism. What is the “principle of utility”? How is this principle employed to evaluate the moral value of our actions? Is utilitarianism a plausible moral theory? Are there aspects of utilitarianism that conflict with our commonsense moral experience?

4. Kantian Ethics

Discuss the central features of Kant’s ethics. According to Kant what aspect of a human individual plays a key role in his or her moral life? The Categorical Imperative has been described as a two-part test for the moral value of our actions. What are these two parts?

5. Social Contract Theory – Hobbes

In general, what do social contract theorists propose regarding morality?

According to Hobbes why do we leave the “state of nature”? How do we ensure that once we have agreed, with a community of other people, to a set of rules, that everyone will abide by those rules as they have agreed to do so? What is Hobbes’ view of morality in the state of nature, and then in a society ruled by a sovereign, what he calls a Leviathan.

6. Feminist & Care Ethics

How does Feminist Ethics differ from the general terms of the tradition of moral philosophy? How does care ethics exemplify some of the features of feminist ethics?

7. Virtue Ethics

What are the key features of virtue ethics? If one is not born virtuous, as Aristotle claims, how does one become a virtuous person? How does virtue ethics differ from Kantian ethics and consequentialist ethics? Where do we find a moral standard for virtue? What problems do we encounter when we try to find a genuinely virtuous person as opposed to someone who is just acting in a virtuous way?

8. Moral Arguments

What are the essential aspects of a good argument? What are the essential aspects of a good moral argument? Why is it important that we provide reasons for the moral claims we make regarding the way we, and others, live and act?