Overview

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

A critical examination of a range of moral and legal issues we confront in our dealings with the state and our fellow human beings, such as: Is it wrong to break the law? Should pornography and recreational drugs be illegal? Do animals have rights? Is there a duty to admit immigrants? Are there duties to the world's poor? Are indigenous peoples owed reparations? Students with credit for PHIL 120 may not take this course for further credit. Writing/Breadth-Humanities.

COURSE DETAILS:

This course aims to introduce students to moral philosophy and applied ethics by looking at a series of contemporary issues. The problems we consider will be guided by three broad themes:

Why it is important to engage with those with whom we disagree: There is no doubt that we live in an increasingly polarized society, thanks in no small part to social media and its facilitation of both misinformation and inflammatory rhetoric. Many of us exist in a bubble, blissfully ignorant of other people’s perspectives – or, worse, an echo chamber,actively hostile to them. As a result, we seem to have lost a sense of the importance and value of genuine dialogue, especially in the context of pluralism and difference.

How to balance respect for diverse identities with open dialogue and a free exchange of ideas: While tolerance and civility are often touted as virtues of public discourse, there is almost no consensus as to what that looks like. In practice, conversations that bear on people’s gender, racial, or sexual identities, among others, rarely go well. Lurking behind these debates are questions about which views it is acceptable to give a platform to in the first place, or whether words themselves can cause violence.

How to be ethical in the context of systemic injustice: Some of the most pressing challenges we face today are ones in which we, as individuals, feel powerless – be it climate change, various economic inequalities (e.g., billionaires, homelessness, and access to health care), or our consumerist dependence on exploitative labour practices. Such realities give rise to questions about the scope of personal responsibility and its relation to the structural changes we believe are necessary to create a more just world.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

PHIL 120W may be applied towards the Writing Requirement, and the Breadth-Humanities Requirement. The course is strongly recommended for students intending to pursue a Philosophy Major or Minor (especially with the Law and Philosophy concentration), or the Certificate in Ethics.

Philosophy is less about telling you what to think and more about teaching you how to think. Rather than simply imparting to you a body of knowledge or set of facts, this course focuses on developing and refining a particular set of skills. By the end of the course, you should be able to better:

· Identify arguments and evaluate the reasons given for various positions or views;
· Analyze a text through careful and critical reading;
· Pose deep and thoughtful questions;
· Engage with others through respectful and civil discussion and debate, as well as through giving and receiving constructive feedback; and,
· Develop clarity and precision in your writing, presenting your ideas through well-structured arguments.

Grading

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

REQUIRED READING NOTES: