Introduction to Ethics

Florida International University · Lower-level undergraduate

Readings in sequence, by unit.

Introduction

Introduction Bailey, “But How Do I Participate?”
Moral Reasoning

Unit 1 · Wellbeing

Hedonism Mill, Utilitarianism (excerpts)
The Experience Machine Nozick, “The Experience Machine”
Desire-Satisfaction Theory Heathwood, “Faring Well and Getting What You Want”
The Meaning of Life Wolf, “Happiness and Meaning”
Meaninglessness Cahn, “Meaningless Lives?”

Unit 2 · Utilitarianism

The Basics Mill, Utilitarianism (excerpts)
Extreme vs. Restricted Utilitarianism Smart, “Extreme and Restricted Utilitarianism”
The Utilitarian Approach to Famine Relief Singer, “Famine, Affluence, and Morality”
The Problem of Integrity Williams, “Against Utilitarianism”
The Problem of Justice McCloskey, “A Non-Utilitarian Approach to Punishment”

Unit 3 · Kantianism

The Basics O’Neill, “A Simplified Account of Kant’s Ethics”
The Kantian Approach to Famine Relief O’Neill, “Kantian Solutions to Famine Problems”
Digital Minimalism Aylsworth & Castro, “Is There a Duty to Be a Digital Minimalist?”
Trolley Problems Thomson, “Killing, Letting Die, and the Trolley Problem”
Moral Luck Nagel, “Moral Luck”

Unit 4 · Contractualism

The Basics Scanlon, “Contractualism and Utilitarianism”
The Veil of Ignorance Rawls, “Justice as Fairness”
The Demands of Contractualism Ashford, “The Demandingness of Scanlon’s Contractualism”

Unit 5 · Why Be Moral?

Psychological Egoism Plato, “Ring of Gyges”
The Contractarian’s Response Hobbes, Leviathan (excerpts)
The Moralist’s Response Singer, “Why Act Morally?”
The Problem of Partiality Stocker, “The Schizophrenia of Modern Ethical Theories”
Non-Moral Values Wolf, “Moral Saints”