PHIL129 HM - Contemporary Moral Problems

Credit(s): 3

Instructor(s): Wright

Offered: Spring

Description: After a brief introduction to some of the main theoretical approaches in moral and political philosophy, and to some key principles of argument analysis, this course will explore philosophical debates on a set of moral-political issues of current concern. Topics will include drug laws; immigration; the ethics of abortion; torture and the ethics of war; the nature of racism and sexism; and religious exemption laws. We will also spend one class period looking at how we might contribute to improving the caliber of public discourse on contentious moral-political issues. Throughout the course we will work to understand how different theoretical orientations lead to different modes of analysis on particular issues, and how the issues themselves are often linked.

HSA Course Area(s): Philosophy
HSA Writing Intensive: No