„Theories in Ethics” focuses on the possibility of justifying criteria for the moral quality of an action.

We will begin with Aristotle’s “Nicomachean Ethics”, move on to Immanuel Kant’s “Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals”, and will then turn to John Stuart Mill’s criticism of Kant’s approach and his “Utilitarianism”.

The questions we will pursue are:
(1) Can eudaimonia, a „well lived“ life, be regarded as final end of all our actions? 
(2) does Aristotle refer to human nature as a foundation of considerations about “what one ought to do”. If so, what is humans’ “nature” according to Aristotle?
(3) What is “rationality” according to Kant?
(4) What is for Kant the “supreme” principle of moral action?
(5) Is it possible to deduce any criteria for assessing the rightness of an action from the formulae of the categorical imperative alone?
(6) what is “utility” according to J. St. Mill?
(7)  Is the greatest happiness determinable, i.e, can it represent a concrete goal in a society? 

1. identify the basic theoretical problems in moral philosophy and the major approaches in the history of ethics
2. critically analyze the foundations of ethical theory
3. summarize in detail, both orally and in writing, the three major ethical theories
4. evaluate the ways in which philosophers attempt to justify a criterion for acting morally
5. try to apply the different ethical criteria in concrete cases 
6. analyze the application suggested by others

This is a Blended Learning course, which means that 50% of the course time will be carried out in self-study. Attendance is required for parts of the sessions. 

The course starts with a session in which administrative questions will be clarified. You will receive information about the structure of this course and should organize yourselves in “working” groups for the presentations at the end of this course. 

I want everybody to stay “on board”: the weekly assignments should help here (the assignment questions can be answered in the basis of what WS presented and discussed in class or on the basis of the primary readings. There are also summaries of the ethical views we discuss available on Canvas ("Lecture Text"), which should help you with your assignments.

Written feedback on the assignments is provided in “Discussion” on Canvas.

Hopefully we will have lively discussions in class; all questions are welcome!

1. 4 weekly assignments: 100 points
No grading according to a 1-5 scale, just „passed“ or not. Please honor the deadlines (see Canvas), assignments that are turned in too late will receive less points: 1 day: 20%, 2 days: 50%.  

2. Group presentations: 100 points

3. Class contribution over the whole term: Full engagement is necessary in order to get compensatory 10 points here. 

Points in total 210:

Excellent (1):        198 - 210 points
Good (2):              160 - 197 points 
Satisfactory (3):   120 - 159 points
Sufficient (4):           80-119 points
Fail (5):                          <80 points

Being interested in the justification of one's moral attitude

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Some philosophical knowledge or having attended the LV "Logic and methodology of social sciences"

ao.Univ.Prof.Dr. Gabriele M. Mras
Building D4, 3rd floor, room number D4.3.020
Tel.: 01-31336-4257
Email: gabriele.mras@wu.ac.at

Administration: Ursula Németh
Tel.: 01-31336-4775
Email: ursula.nemeth@wu.ac.at