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It is perhaps the most intuitive and least controversial notion that one of the constitutive features
of human beings is rationality. Indeed, reason-- and all its associated functions-- is esteemed not
just because of the distinction it confers, but also because of its capacity to identify morally
salient features of the world and prescribe appropriate conduct in relation thereto. Theories
abound for how to make the best use of this faculty, but one of the most formidable among them
is the class of ethical theories known as consequentialism. In the broadest sense, consequetialism
refers to any ethic that affords priority for assessing the moral status of an action to the
consequences it in fact or likely effects. Among such theories, perhaps the most familiar is
utilitaranism, whose doctrine is rendered in a deceptively simple way: ‘the greatest amount of
good for the greatest number of people.’ And the methods for determining our obligations when
confronted with moral situations, being as they are predicated on calculation and basic
assumptions about human nature and psychology, are decidedly rational. The present course
proposes to explore the foundations of the varieties of consequentialist ethics throughout history,
how and if they are justified, their propriety, and how they might be applied to contemporary
society.
Poslední úprava: Kučabová Veronika, Bc. (04.06.2024)
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Upon completion of the course, students will be able to: · Understand basic principles of logic and rationality, especially how they situate in ethical thought. · Analyze, deconstruct, and critique philosophical arguments. · Conceptualize, formulate, and articulate original philosophical arguments. · Synthesize and contextualize myriad and sometimes [seemingly] disparate ideas. · Conduct sound academic research. · Reflect upon the deeper meaning of texts and how they relate to subjects beyond circumscribed fields. Poslední úprava: Kučabová Veronika, Bc. (04.06.2024)
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Examination
Students will be assessed on one academic essay and one oral examination: The essay, approximately 1,500 words on a topic of the student’s choosing related to any of the themes or texts discussed throughout the course, will be due at mid-term. The project should be a critical enterprise, i.e., it should aim to advance an original, sophisticated argument and not merely offer an exposition of certain texts or ideas. Papers should be formatted according to academic standards specified in the Chicago Manual of Style (CMS). This examination constitutes 40% of the student’s final grade. The oral examination will be a one-on-one critical discussion with the instructors on themes relevant to the course, approximately 30 minutes in length, scheduled during the final exam period. This examination constitutes 40% of the student’s final grade. Additionally, a compulsory informal essay approximately one page in length on a variable topic will be due at the beginning of the term. While this exercise will not be graded, no further written work will be accepted until the student has completed this one. Course Policies As class discussions are an indispensable component of the course, attendance is important. Reasonable accommodations may be made in exceptional circumstances, but please communicate any foreseeable absences or complications as much in advance as possible. A written or oral makeup assignment will be negotiated on a case-by-case basis. Attendance constitutes 20% of the student’s final grade. Work submitted late without extenuating circumstances will be capped at the minimum passing grade. Grading Scale (in %) 90 - 100 Pass (First) 80 - 89 Pass (Second) 70 - 79 Pass 0 - 69 Fai
Poslední úprava: Kučabová Veronika, Bc. (04.06.2024)
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Week I: General Introduction, Discussion on logic and rationality. Week II: Epicurus, “Letter to Menoeceus (Diogenes Laertius 10.121-35),” in Introductory Readings in Ancient Greek and Roman Philosophy, pp. 365 - 367. Week III: John Stuart Mill, “Utilitarianism: Ch. II: What Utilitarianism Is,” in On Liberty, Utilitarianism, and Other Essays, pp. 120 - 139. Week IV: G.E. Moore, “Ch. I: Utilitarianism” and “Ch. II: Utilitarianism (concluded),” in Ethics, pp. 1 - 38. Week V: Masaryk, T.G., “Man and His Ideals.” In The Spirit of Thomas G. Masaryk (1850-1937): An Anthology, pp.150-156. Week VI: Štúr, S., A Discussion About Life. Bratislava: Filozofická fakulta Slovenskej univerzity, pp. 105-177. Week VII: John Rawls, “Chapter I: Justice as Fairness,” in A Theory of Justice, pp. 3 - 47. Week VIII: Amartya Sen, “Utilitarianism and Welfarism.” The Journal of Philosophy 76, No. 9 (1979): 463 - 489. Week IX: Slote, M. and Pettit, P.,“Satisficing Consequentialism.” In Proceedings of the Aristotelian Society, Supplementary Volumes 28 (1984): 139-163;165-176. Week X: Gluchman, V., “Ethics of Social Consequences as a Consequentialist Model of Professional Ethic.” In Ethics of Social Consequences: Philosophical, Applied and Professional Challenges, pp. 236 - 252. Week XI: Kalajtzitis, Ján.“Ethics of Social Consequences as a Hybrid Form of Ethical Theory?” In Philosophia 47 (2019): 705-722. Week XII: Philip Corr and Anke Plagnol, “Chapter 3: ECON: Homo Economicus,” in Behavioral Economics: The Basics: Second Edition, pp. 62 - 93. Poslední úprava: Kučabová Veronika, Bc. (04.06.2024)
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Required Texts
Corr, Philip, and Anke Plagnol. Behavioral Economics: The Basics: Second Edition. London: Routledge, 2023. Gluchman, V. “Ethics of Social Consequences as a Consequentialist Model of Professional Ethic.” In Ethics of Social Consequences: Philosophical, Applied and Professional Challenges. Newcastle upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2018. Introductory Readings in Ancient Greek and Roman Philosophy: Second Edition. Edited by C.D.C. Reeve and Patrick Lee Miller. Cambridge: Hackett Publishing Company, Inc., 2015. Kalajtzitis, Ján. “Ethics of Social Consequences as a Hybrid Form of Ethical Theory?” In Philosophia 47 (2019): 705-722. Masaryk, T.G. (1990). “Man and His Ideals.” In The Spirit of Thomas G. Masaryk (1850-1937): An Anthology. Edited by George J. Kovtun. New York: Palgrave McMillan, pp.150-156. Mill, John Stuart. On Liberty, Utilitarianism, and Other Essays. Edited by Mark Philip and Frederick Rosen. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2015. Moore, G.E. Ethics. Edited by William H. Shaw. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005. Rawls, John. A Theory of Justice: Revised Edition. Cambridge: The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 1999. Sen, Amartya. “Utilitarianism and Welfarism.” The Journal of Philosophy 76, No. 9 (1979): 463 - 489. Slote, M. and Pettit, P. “Satisficing Consequentialism.” In Proceedings of the Aristotelian Society, Supplementary Volumes 28 (1984): 139-163;165-176. Štúr, S. (1946). A Discussion About Life. Bratislava: Filozofická fakulta Slovenskej univerzity, pp. 105-177. All texts will be made available to students by the instructor.Further Reading Kahneman, Daniel. Thinking, Fast and Slow. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2013. Nussbaum, Martha. Women and Human Development: Capabilities Approach. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2000. Moore, G.E. Principia Ethica: Revised Edition. Edited by Thomas Baldwin. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2000. Rational Choice. Edited by Jon Elster. New York: New York University Press, 1986. Sidgwick, Henry. The Methods of Ethics: Seventh Edition. London: Palgrave Macmillan, 1962. Smart, J.J.C., and Bernard Williams. Utilitarianism: For & Against. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2008. Poslední úprava: Kučabová Veronika, Bc. (04.06.2024)
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