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S: Value Theory

Brief description of course content, format and readings:

The topic of the course will be the limits of morality. From the standpoint of normative ethics, we'll look at both whether there is any limit to what we are required to do to promote the impersonal good and whether there is any limit to what we are permitted to do to promote the impersonal good. In other words, we will be looking at whether agent-centered options and agent-centered constraints are defensible. From the standpoint of meta-ethics, we'll look at whether morality is limited in scope or rational authority? Does morality apply to every aspect of our lives, even to everyday mundane decisions such as which toothpaste to buy? Is the morally ideal life, i.e., the life of a moral saint, the ideal human life? Do moral considerations override non-moral considerations such that what we have most reason to do, all things considered, is always to act on what the balance of moral considerations supports our doing? How do moral considerations and non-moral consideration come together to determine what we have most reason to do, all things considered?

We will be reading Shelly Kagan's The Limits of Morality as well as a number of articles that I will put together in a course reader - these will include selections by Susan Wolf, Sarah Stroud, Ruth Chang, Michael Bratman, Michael Slote, and Samuel Scheffler.

Course requirements will include a term paper and weekly response essays to the assigned readings. The plus/minus grading system will be used.

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