The Philosophy Department and it Program on Values in Society would like you to know that there are still openings in VALUES 511. Please see below.
Values 511: Ethics Matters: An Exploration of Some Moral Concepts
This course brings together graduate and professional students from a wide range of backgrounds to explore some important moral concepts that come up across many different disciplines.We will begin by learning some of the fundamental frameworks in moral theory — deontological, consequentialist, feminist, virtue ethics.Then we will turn to specific concepts that are applicable to the work being done by the students in the course.In previous years we have examined: Autonomy, Responsibility, Oppression, Emotions & Morality, Forgiveness, Trust, Integrity.Because the seminar is small, we are typically able to examine concepts that meet some of the specific needs of each student who participates.
The coursework requires weekly written responses to the specific readings, as well as a final paper that brings one or more of the course concepts to bear on an issue or question from the student’s own discipline. The topic and structure of the final paper will be developed one-on-one with the course instructor.In previous quarters, students have written papers that they have gone on to present at conferences or publish, or that have directly contributed to their graduate work.
Moreover, the perspectives brought from different fields allow for mutually illuminating conversations.We will discuss and analyze shared moral problems and questions, with each student able to bring different types of expertise to those discussions.Thus, we are able to offer a truly interdisciplinary educational experience, while also ensuring that each student has the opportunity to directly advance her own specific interests.At the end of the quarter, we hope each student will be better able to articulate her own questions and positions and to do so in a more nuanced, and morally satisfying, way.
The first seminar is next week:Tuesday, October 1^st from 5:30-7:30.