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Instructor: Jacqueline Davies

Diverse philosophers and wisdom traditions respond in different ways to questions about what it means to be moral, ethical, or live “in a good way”. The course introduces several frameworks that shape such responses. We compare the utilitarian focus on the positive and negative effects of an action with Immanuel Kant’s view that there are some things we should never do no matter how beneficial or harmful the consequences. We also draw on the insights of Mahayana Buddhism, Western feminist ethics of care, African Ubuntu, plus Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee teachings about interdependence and our responsibilities to all our relations. We consider how relationality and caring are not merely about kindness but are practices that help us to know how to best respond to morally challenging situations. Access to diverse frameworks can heighten awareness of our prejudices and assumptions about how we ought to act. The emphasis in this course is on thoughtful articulation of your own moral intuitions and commitments and how that affects your decision making and actions. You will not be evaluated on the correctness of your beliefs but on the clarity of their expression and the strength reasoning you provide in their support. Specific moral issues considered may include lying and cheating; consensual sexuality; harmful speech; incarceration; homelessness and private property; climate and environmental crises; the impact of AI; medical ethics and public health; responsibilities to strangers, relations and the more than human natural environment; and, whether we have a moral responsibility to challenge (our own) ignorance. The course is suitable for students at any level of any discipline, and for philosophy concentrators keen to reflect on their own values.