Major · Philosophy · Semester 2 · FY BA · 4 credits
Module 1: Morality of Self-interest
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1
Hedonistic Egoism: Epicurus
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2
Psychological Egoism: Thomas Hobbes
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3
Ethical Egoism: Ayn Rand
Module 2: Modern Ethical Theories
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1
Ethics of altruism: David Hume: nature and origin of morality: sentiment (sympathy)versus reason; Virtues: artificial and natural
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2
Deontological Ethics: Immanuel Kant: Categorical
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Imperative: formula of Universal lawand formula of End- in-itself, critical appraisal.
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3
Utilitarianism: John Stuart Mill: Critique of Jeremy
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Bentham’s view; Greatest Happinessprinciple, higher and lower pleasures, two sanctions, critical appraisal.
Module 3: Alternative Ethical Theories
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1
Augustinian Ethics: Happiness and Virtue, love of God and neighbour
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2
Existentialist Ethics: Jean Paul Sartre (existence precedes essence, anguish andabandonment, bad faith)
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3
Feminist Ethics: Ethics of Care: Carol Gilligan (against the backdrop of Lawrence Kohlberg’s ‘Stages of Moral Development’)
Module 4: Theories of Punishment
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1
Retributive theory, critical appraisal
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2
Deterrent theory and reformative approach to punishment; critical appraisal
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3
Capital punishment: retentionists versus abolitionists
Reading List
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1
Ayn Rand, The Virtue of Selfishness [Introduction, chpts. 1 and 3] (New York: SignetBook,1964)
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2
H.B. Acton (ed.), The Philosophy of Punishment (Macmillan, 1969)
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3
James Fieser and Norman Lillegard, Philosophical Questions: Reading andInteractiveGuides (New York and Oxford: OUP, 2005)
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4
James McGlynn& Jules Toner, Modern Ethical Theories (New York: Bruce PublishingCompany, 1962)
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5
Jean Paul Sartre, “Existentialism is a Humanism” in Walter Kaufman (ed.),
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6
Existentialism from Dostoyevsky to Sartre (New American Library -Meridian Book, 1975)
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7
Jeffery Olen and Vincent Barry, Applying Ethics (Wadsworth, 1998)
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8
Neil Levy, Sartre (Oneworld Publications, 2007)
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9
Richard Norman, The Moral Philosophers: An Introduction to Ethics (Oxford:ClarendonPress, 1983)
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10
Ted Honderich, Punishment: The Supposed Justifications (Penguin Books, 1969)
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11
William Lawhead, The Philosophical Journey: An Interactive Approach (MayfieldPublishing Company, 2000)
