Reading Schedule

(page numbers in bold mark the most important selections of longer readings)

August 31st	Introduction to the course
September 4th	Outlining arguments: Rachels, “Active and Passive Euthanasia”
Virtue Ethics
7th	The Ends of Human Life; Reading: Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, Bks. 1:1-12, 10:6-9 (1:1-5, 1:7-10, 10:6-9)
11th	What is Virtue?: Nicomachean Ethics, Bks. 1:13, 2, 3:1-5
14th	Bravery, Temperance: Nicomachean Ethics, Bk. 3:6-12
18th	Pleasure and pain: Nicomachean Ethics, Bks. 7:11-14, 10:1-5
21st	Incontinence: Nicomachean Ethics, Bk. 7:1-10
25th	Friendship: Nicomachean Ethics, Bks. 8:1-14, 9:1-12 (8:2-11, 9:4, 9:8, 9:12)
28th	Justice: Nicomachean Ethics, Bk. 5
October 2nd	Macintyre, “Justice as Virtue”, “After Virtue”
5th	Debate; First essay assigned
Deontology
9th	A Pure Moral Philosophy: Kant, Ethical Phil., Bk. I, pp. 1-5 (Grounding, Preface)
12th	A Good Will: Ethical, Bk. I, pp. 7-17 (Grounding, First Section)
16th	Duty: Ethical, Bk. I, pp. 7-17 (Grounding, First Section); First essay due
19th	A Categorical Imperative: Ethical, Bk. I, pp. 19-48 (Grounding, Second Section)
23rd	Autonomy and Heteronomy: Ethical, Bk. I, pp. 19-48 (Grounding, Second Section)
26th	Doctrine of Right: Ethical, Bk. II, pp. 9-28, 36-46 (Metaphysics of Morals)
30th	Doctrine of Virtue: Ethical, Bk. II, pp. 50-55, 57-73, 82-85, 90-93, 100-104 (MM)
November 2nd	Williams, “Morality, The Peculiar Institution”
6th	Class cancelled—Election Day
Utilitarianism
9th	What is it?: J.S. Mill, Utilitarianism, Ch. 1-2; Sidgwick, "Meaning of Utilitarianism"
13th	Its Basis in Feeling, Some Proof: Mill, Utilitarianism, Ch. 3-4
16th	Revisited: Sidgwick, "Proof of Utilitarianism", "Method of Utilitarianism"
20th	Justice: Mill, Utilitarianism, Ch. 5; Sidgwick, "Utilitarianism and Common Sense"
23rd	Class cancelled--Thanksgiving
27th	Mill, Of Liberty, Chapter 5; Second essay assigned
30th	P. Singer, “Utilitarianism and Vegetarianism”
December 4th	Thomas Nagel, “War and Massacre”
7th	Debate
20th, 1:30 p.m.	Final Examination