MCCCD Program Description

Introduction to Ethics

Course: PHI105

First Term: 2011 Fall

Lecture 3.0 Credit(s) 3.0 Period(s) 3.0 Load
Subject Type: Academic
Load Formula: S

Description: Major theories of conduct. Emphasis on normative ethics, theories of good and evil from Plato to the present.

MCCCD Official Course Competencies
1. Describe and critically analyze the ethical theory of Plato, including the relation of knowledge to moral conduct. (I) 2. Describe and critically analyze the ethical theory of Aristotle, including the doctrine of the golden mean. (II) 3. Describe and critically analyze the ethical theory of Epicurus, including his views on pleasure and nature. (III) 4. Describe and critically analyze the ethical theory of Epictetus, including the concept of apathy. (IV) 5. Describe and critically analyze the ethical theory of St. Augustine, including his notions of the City of God and the City of Man. (V) 6. Describe and critically analyze the ethical theory of St. Thomas Aquinas, including the role of natural law. (VI) 7. Describe and critically analyze the ethical theory of Hobbes, including his view of the psychological nature of man. (VII) 8. Describe and critically analyze the ethical theory of Hume, including his emphasis on the roles of pleasure and pain. (VIII) 9. Describe and critically analyze the ethical theory of Kant, including the role of the categorical imperative. (IX) 10. Describe and critically analyze the ethical theory of Mill, including the role of the greatest happiness principle. (X) 11. Describe and critically analyze the ethical theory of Marx, including the role of ideology. (XI) 12. Describe and critically analyze the ethical theory of Nietzsche, including the concept of the transvaluation of values. (XII) 13. Describe and critically analyze the ethical theory of de Beauvoir, including the role of existentialism. (XIII)
MCCCD Official Course Competencies must be coordinated with the content outline so that each major point in the outline serves one or more competencies. MCCCD faculty retains authority in determining the pedagogical approach, methodology, content sequencing, and assessment metrics for student work. Please see individual course syllabi for additional information, including specific course requirements.

MCCCD Official Course Outline
I. Plato A. Historical and philosophical context B. The relationship of knowledge and virtue II. Aristotle A. Historical and philosophical context B. Moral character C. The golden mean III. Epicurus A. Historical and philosophical context B. Pleasure C. Nature IV. Epictetus A. Historical and philosophical context B. Self-discipline C. Apathy V. Saint Augustine A. Historical and philosophical context B. The City of God C. The City of Man VI. Saint Thomas Aquinas A. Historical and philosophical context B. Morality C. Natural law VII. Thomas Hobbes A. Historical and philosophical context B. Social contract ethics VIII. David Hume A. Historical and philosophical context B. Pleasure and pain C. Morality and sentiment IX. Immanuel Kant A. Historical and philosophical context B. The categorical imperative C. Duty and reason X. John Stuart Mill A. Historical and philosophical context B. The greatest happiness principle XI. Karl Marx A. Historical and philosophical context B. Morality as ideology XII. Friederich Nietzsche A. Historical and philosophical context B. The transvaluation of values XIII. Simone de Beauvoir A. Historical and philosophical context B. Ethics as radical freedom

MCCCD Governing Board Approval Date: 3-22-1994

All information published is subject to change without notice. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information presented, but based on the dynamic nature of the curricular process, course and program information is subject to change in order to reflect the most current information available.