Major Works of Moral Philosophy (HUM 317)

2023 Spring
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
Humanities(HUM)
3
5
Elif Yavnık eyavnik@sabanciuniv.edu,
Click here to view.
English
Undergraduate
HUM201 HUM202 HUM207 SPS101 SPS102
Formal lecture,Interactive lecture,Field work/field study/on-the-job,Recitation
Interactive,Communicative,Discussion based learning,Project based learning
Click here to view.

CONTENT

This course examines the main moral theories and their applications to various aspects of human life. Moral theories to be discussed include virtue ethics, deontology and consequentialism, which will be investigated through the major works of philosophers such as Plato, Aristotle, Kant, Mill and Nietzsche.

OBJECTIVE

To introduce students to the historical and contemporary views and discussions in ethics, as well as to help them develop skills to morally assess situations of moral relevance.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

  • Gaining familiarity with the prominent perspectives and discussions in moral philosophy.
  • Acquiring moral literacy in order to evaluate and form informed opinions on contemporary moral problems.
  • Learning how to research and prepare a moral debate for presentation in public.
  • Developing skills to form and express one's opinion in a clear and organized fashion.

PROGRAMME OUTCOMES


1. Understand the world, their country, their society, as well as themselves and have awareness of ethical problems, social rights, values and responsibility to the self and to others. 4

2. Understand different disciplines from natural and social sciences to mathematics and art, and develop interdisciplinary approaches in thinking and practice. 5

3. Think critically, follow innovations and developments in science and technology, demonstrate personal and organizational entrepreneurship and engage in life-long learning in various subjects; have the ability to continue to educate him/herself. 3

4. Communicate effectively in Turkish and English by oral, written, graphical and technological means. 3

5. Take individual and team responsibility, function effectively and respectively as an individual and a member or a leader of a team; and have the skills to work effectively in multi-disciplinary teams. 2


1. Possess sufficient knowledge of mathematics, science and program-specific engineering topics; use theoretical and applied knowledge of these areas in complex engineering problems.

2. Identify, define, formulate and solve complex engineering problems; choose and apply suitable analysis and modeling methods for this purpose.

3. Develop, choose and use modern techniques and tools that are needed for analysis and solution of complex problems faced in engineering applications; possess knowledge of standards used in engineering applications; use information technologies effectively.

4. Have the ability to design a complex system, process, instrument or a product under realistic constraints and conditions, with the goal of fulfilling specified needs; apply modern design techniques for this purpose.

5. Design and conduct experiments, collect data, analyze and interpret the results to investigate complex engineering problems or program-specific research areas.

6. Possess knowledge of business practices such as project management, risk management and change management; awareness on innovation; knowledge of sustainable development.

7. Possess knowledge of impact of engineering solutions in a global, economic, environmental, health and societal context; knowledge of contemporary issues; awareness on legal outcomes of engineering solutions; knowledge of behavior according to ethical principles, understanding of professional and ethical responsibility.

8. Have the ability to write effective reports and comprehend written reports, prepare design and production reports, make effective presentations, and give and receive clear and intelligible instructions.


1. Develop knowledge of theories, concepts, and research methods in humanities and social sciences. 5

2. Assess how global, national and regional developments affect society. 4

3. Know how to access and evaluate data from various sources of information. 4

ASSESSMENT METHODS and CRITERIA

  Percentage (%)
Final 35
Midterm 30
Participation 10
Written Report 15
Presentation 10

RECOMENDED or REQUIRED READINGS

Readings

Plato, Republic, selection
James Rachels, ?The Challenge of Cultural Relativism?, selection
Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, selection
Kant, Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals, selection
Mill, Utilitarianism, selection
Nietzsche, Genealogy of Morals, selection
Virginia Held, ?Care and Justice in the Global Context?
Peter Singer, ?Experimentation with Animals?
Andrew McLaughlin, ?The Heart of Deep Ecology?
Arne Naess, The Ecology of Wisdom, selection
Creel and Hellman, ?The Algorithmic Leviathan: Arbitrariness, Fairness, and Opportunity in Algorithmic Decision Making Systems?
Peter Singer, ?Famine, Affluence, and Morality?
Janet Kourany, ?Human Enhancement: Making the Debate MoreProductive?