Applied Ethics

Timetable

Module aim (aims)

To acquaint students with the basic methodology of applied/practical ethics, as well as with the most important debates carried out within the field. Topics will include: issues in bioethics (abortion, euthanasia, mandatory vaccinations), animal welfare and rights (ethics of vegetarianism, ethics of zoos), social & political questions (ethics of immigration, right to own firearms, right to an education, free speech and censorship, just war, legalization of drugs) etc.

Pre-requisites in terms of knowledge, skills and social competences (where relevant)

Ability to speak, write, and read English at least at an advanced level.

Syllabus

Critical thinking and argumentation, or how to think and write like a philosopher. Introduction to ethical theories and how to apply them to contemporary problems.

Matters of life and death (abortion, euthanasia, war, capital punishment, famine relief)

Rights and responsibilities (immigration rights, gun rights, free speech rights, education rights, drug laws)

Animals and environment (vegetarianism, climate change)

State and power (taxation, democracy)

Sexual ethics (prostitution, casual sex, ethics of procreation)

Reading list

• Chudnoff, Guide to Philosophical Writing; Pryor, „Guidelines on Reading Philosophy”; Huemer, Knowledge, Reality, and Value [excerpts]; Stoner & Swartwood Doing Applied Ethics [excerpts]
• Cohen & Wellman Contemporary debates in applied ethics [excerpts]; LaFollette Ethics in practice [excerpts]; Frey & Wellman, A companion to applied ethics [excerpts]