PHI 200: Introduction to Ethics

Spring, Summer
We, typically, describe our actions as right or wrong, good or bad. In the first half of this course, we will address theoretical questions about the foundations of our standards of right and wrong and questions about systems for distinguishing right from wrong actions/character traits. The second half of the course will be devoted to applying our answers to the theoretical questions to specific issues, including drugs, casual sex, illegal immigration, torture, abortion, etc. In more technical terms, the course is a survey of metaethics, normative ethics, and applied ethics.