FYBA Philosophy 2018 191 1 Syllabus Mumbai University by munotes
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FYBA Philosophy (2018 -19)
Course Title: Moral Philosophy
Paper No. 1
Credits: 04
No. of lectures: 60
Marks: 100
The overall objectives of the course are as follows:
1. Familiarize students with significant contributions from the history of moral
philosophy
2. Inculcate in students a sense of moral reasoning based on analytical reasoning rather
than on dogmatic assertion
3. Provide students with an ethical framework for assessing moral decisions in different
areas of life.
4. Encourage students to apprecia te the relevance of different moral cultures and
outlooks in a globalized world
Semester 1 (UAPHI 101)
Unit 1: Int roduction 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 Philos ophy (15 lectures)
(a) Concepts of Rta, Rna , and purushartha
(b) Philosophy of non -attachment ( nishkama karma yoga )
(b) Sthitaprajna : the moral ideal
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: Freedom and Determinism (15 lectures)
(a) Determinism: types of determinism: scientific de terminism, 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) Compatibili sm: reconciling determinism and freedom
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Semester 1 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
Reference and reading list recommended for the course
-------- I. C. Sharma. Ethical Philosophies of India (New York: Harper and Row, 1965)
-------- Pradeep Gokhale and S. Bhelke Studies in Indian Moral Philosophy: Problems,
Concepts, and Perspectives (Pune: Indian Philosophical Quarterly, 2002)
-------- Jacques Thiroux, Ethics: Theory and Practice
-------- James Cornman, Keith Lehrer and George Pappas. Philo sophical Problems and
Arguments: An Introduction
-------- James Fieser and Norman Lillegard, Philosophical Questions: Reading and
Interactive Guides (New York/Oxford: OUP, 2005)
-------- KedarNath Tiwari, Classical Indian Ethical Thought (Motilal Banarasidas, 1998)
-------- William Frankena. Ethics (Prentice Hall, 1973)
-------- William Lawhead. The Philosophical Journey: An Interactive Approach (Mayfield
Publishing Company, 2000)
Semester 2 (UAPHI 201 )
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 rea son; 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; Greates t 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 and neighbour
(b) Existentialist Ethics: Jean Paul Sartre (e xistence precedes essence , anguish and
abandonment, bad faith)
(c)Feminist Ethics: Ethics of Care: Carol Gilligan (against the backdrop of Lawrence
Kohlberg’s ‘Stages of Moral Development’)
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Unit 4: Theories of Punishment (15 lectures )
(a) Retributive theory, critical appraisal
(b) Deterrent theory and reformative approach to punishment; critical appraisal
(c) Capital punishment: retentionists versus abolitionists
Semester 2 End Exam Evaluation [100 marks]
1. There shall be five compulsory questions
2. First four questions shall correspond to the four units
3. Questio n 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
Reference and reading list recommended for the course :
-------- 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)
-------- James McGlynn& Jules Toner, Modern Ethical Theories (New York: Bruce Publishing
Company, 1962)
--------- Jean Paul Sartre, “Existentialism is a Humanism” in W alter Kaufman (ed.),
Existentialism from Dostoyevsky to Sartre (New American Library -Meridian Book, 1975)
-------- Jeffery Olen and Vincent Barry, Applying Ethics (Wadsworth, 1998)
--------- Neil Levy, Sartre (Oneworld Publications, 2007)
-------- Richar d 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
Publishing Company, 2000)
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