Ethics

This course is designed to confront students with perennial human questions about existence, meaning, knowledge, conduct and value, and to acquaint them with selected perspectives on these questions provided by the Western philosophical tradition. A wide range of philosophers, representing many different modes of philosophical inquiry, will be examined. Problems in the contemporary world will provide starting points for the exploration of philosophical theory.

This course will cover critical theories about the relationships and moral responsibilities of humans to their environments. Using traditional moral theories, moral psychology, behavioral economics, and contemporary philosophies, students will explore questions such as: What is Nature? Does it have rights? What is the environment? Are we the environment? How about animals? What responsibilities do we have to future generations? What makes people actually change their behaviors toward the environment? Non-Western approaches will be included. Students will then apply their insights to current environmental conflicts such as global warming, land development, endangered species preservation, and intensive farming.

This course is intended to provide the opportunity to offer advanced courses in philosophy that would not normally be a part of the Husson curriculum. As such the topics will depend upon the interests of students and faculty.