The course is divided into six units. Each unit represents both a historical period and a broad theme. In the first unit, we will discuss some of the foundational texts in the (Western) intellectual tradition on the subject of ethics and justice. In Unit II, we will read influential texts in social & political philosophy in the early modern period (roughly 17th and 18th century). In Unit III, we will read 20th century works that challenge the central ideas discussed in the last unit. For Unit IV, we will learn about some of the major ethical theories, and in Unit V, we will discuss alternative perspectives on ethics that challenges those theories. In the last unit, we will discuss a reading on a relatively new concern in ethics: the environmental. Finally, throughout the semester, we will discuss some of the major contemporary social, political, and ethical issues.
- Teacher: Suraj Chaudhary