FYBA Moral Philosophy_1 Syllabus Mumbai University by munotes
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AC 24 -06-2016
Item No. 4.90
UNIVERSITY OF MUMBAI
Syllabus for F. Y. B. A. Moral Philosophy
AS PER CHOICE BASED CREDIT SYSTEM (CBCS)
TO BE REVISE WITH EFFECT FROM THE ACADEMIC YEAR
2016 – 2017
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F.Y.B.A.: Semester I
Paper Title: Moral Philosophy Marks: 100
Code: UAPHI 101
No. of Lectures: 60
Unit 1: Introduction to Moral Philosophy [ 15 lectures]
(a) Definition, nature and scope (branches) of philosophy
(b) Nature of moral philosophy (facts and values; intrinsic and extrinsic values) and areas
of ethics (descriptive ethics, normative ethics, meta -ethics and applied ethics)
(c) Ethical Relativism: arguments defending this position; critical evaluation
Unit 2: Moral concepts in Indian Philosophy [ 15 lectures]
(a) Philosophy of non -attachment (nishkama karma yoga)
(b) Sthitaprajna: the moral ideal
(c) Concepts of Rta, Rna, and purusartha
Unit 3: The Good Life: Greek Ethics [ 15 lectures]
(a) Socratic Ethics: virtue is knowledge; can ethics be taught?
(b) The Four Virtues: Plato (in the context of Republic )
(c) Ethics of Character: Aristotle
Unit 4: Are we Free?: Freedom and Determinism[ 15 lectures]
(a) Determinism: types of determinism: scientific determinism, religious determinism (i.e. predestination) and fatalism; critical appraisal of determinism
(b) Indeterminism (i.e. libertarianism): arguments in support of free will; agency theory of freedom; critical appraisal of indeterminism
(c) Compatibilism: reconciling determinism and freedom
Semester End Exam Evaluation [100 marks]
1. There shall be five compulsory questions
2. First four questions shall correspond to the four units
3. Question 5 shall be Short Notes (one from each unit and attempt any 2 of 4)
4. All questions shall contain internal choice
5. Each question shall carry a maximum of 20 marks
6. The standard of passing is 40 marks.
Reference and reading list
I. C. Sharma. Ethical Philosophies of India
Jacques Thiroux, Ethics: Theory and Practice
James Cornman, Keith Lehrer and George Pappas. Philosophical Problems and
Arguments: An Introduction
James Fieser and Norman Lillegard, Philosophical Questions: Reading and Interactive
Guides (New York/Oxford: OUP, 2005)
KedarNathTiwari, Classical Indian Ethical Thought (MotilalBanarasidas, 1998 )
William Frankena. Ethics (Prentice Hall, 1973)
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William Lawhead. The Philosophical Journey: An Interactive Approach (Mayfield
Publishing Company, 2000)
F.Y.B.A.: Semester I Paper Title: Moral Philosophy
Marks: 100
Code: UAPHI 201
No. of Lectures: 60
Unit 1: Morality of Self- interest [ 15 lectures]
(a) Hedonistic Egoism: Epicurus
(b) Psychological Egoism: Thomas Hobbes
(c) Ethical Egoism: Ayn Rand
Unit 2: Modern Ethical Theories [ 15 lectures]
(a) Ethics of altruism: David Hume: nature and origin of morality: sentiment (sympathy)
versus reason; Virtues: artificial and natural
(b)Deontological Ethics: Immanuel Kant: Categorical Imperative: formula of Universal
law and formula of End- in-itself, critical appraisal.
(c) Utilitarianism: John Stuart Mill: Critique of Jeremy Bentham’s view; Greatest
Happiness principle, higher and lower pleasures, two sanctions, critical appraisal.
Unit 3: Alternative Ethical Theories [15 lectures]
(a) Augustinian Ethics: Happiness and Virtue, love of God a nd neighbour
(b) Feminist Ethics: Ethics of Care: Carol Gilligan (against the backdrop of Lawrence
Kohlberg’s ‘Stages of Moral Development’)
(c) Existentialist Ethics: Jean Paul Sartre
Unit 4: Theories of Punishment [15 lectures]
(a) Retributive theory, c ritical appraisal
(b) Deterrent theory and reformative approach to punishment; critical appraisal
(c) Capital punishment: retentionists versus abolitionists
Semester End Exam Evaluation [100 marks]
1. There shall be five compulsory questions
2. First four questions shall correspond to the four units
3. Question 5 shall be a Short Note (one from each unit and attempt any 2 of 4)
4. All questions shall contain internal choice
5. Each question shall carry a maximum of 20 marks
6. The standard of passing is 40 marks.
Reference and reading list
Ayn Rand, The Virtue of Selfishness [Introduction, chpts. 1 and 3] (New York:
Signet Book, 1964)
H.B. Acton (ed.), The Philosophy of Punishment (Macmillan, 1969)
James Fieser and Norman Lillegard, Philosophical Questions: Reading and
Interactive Guides (New York and Oxford: OUP, 2005)
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James McGlynn& Jules Toner, Modern Ethical Theories (New York: Bruce
Publishing Company, 1962)
Jean Paul Sartre, “Existentialism is a Humanism” in Walter Kaufman (ed.),
Existentialism from Dostoyev sky to Sartre (New American Library - Meridian
Book, 1975)
Jeffery Olen and Vincent Barry, Applying Ethics (Wadsworth, 1998)
Neil Levy, Sartre (Oneworld Publications, 2007)
Norman Bowie & Patricia Werhane, Management Ethics (Blackwell Publishing, 2005)
Richard Norman, The Moral Philosophers: An Introduction to Ethics (Oxford:
Clarendon Press, 1983)
Ted Honderich, Punishment: The Supposed Justifications (Penguin Books, 1969)
William Lawhead, The Philosophical Journey: An Interactive Approach (Mayfield
Publi shing Company, 2000)
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