An examination of different normative ethical theories including consequentialism (act- and rule- utilitarianism and ideal utilitarianism), deontology (Kantianism and intuitionism), virtue ethics and feminist ethics, followed by the application of these theories to a selection of contemporary moral problems including famine and world hunger, war, abortion, infanticide and cloning. Authors include Immanuel Kant, Jeremy Bentham, John Stuart Mill, W. D. Ross, J. J. C. Smart, Bernard Williams, R. M. Hare, Judith Jarvis Thomson, Michael Tooley, John Harris, Thomas Nagel, Peter Singer, Susan Wolf, Shelly Kagan, Philip Pettit, Marcia Baron, Michael Slote and Rosalind Hursthouse.

Syllabus (Fall 2002)

Guide to Writing a Philosophy Paper (Fall 2002)

Lectures (Fall 2002)

History of Ethics

1. John Stuart Mill
2. Immanuel Kant

Contemporary Moral Philosophy

1. R. M. Hare
2. Shelly Kagan
3. J. J. C. Smart
4. Bernard Williams
5. Michael Slote
6. Marcia Baron
7. Philip Pettit
8. Peter Singer
9. Simon Blackburn
10. Thomas Nagel