Practical Ethics Thinking About Right Wrong

Purpose: Practical Ethics is a course intended to introduce the elements of ethical reasoning, and several principal concepts of core theories in the main branches of normative ethics. We ask the questions: What is its nature? And, how does it work? The case for its reality and its rationally binding objectivity will be defended, then the main branches of ethical theories outlined. These include utilitarianism, Kantian duty ethics and the ideas of the virtue and natural law ethical tradition stemming from Aristotle and Aquinas. A brief overview of theories of justice (including those of Rawls, Nozick and Sen) will be made. And it is intended that these concepts will be critically applied to the interface between ethics and law and the market, and some of paradigmatic issues and situations in three areas which confront businesses and people in all fields of practical endeavour today, in a series of case studies under the headings: Profit, People, Planet.

Intended Audience: It is a participation intensive course for students who welcome informed critical discussion based on required readings of extracts from the primary writings of the philosophers under study. These may include: corporate governance and corporate social responsibility (profit), employment equality and labour rights (people), and environmental sustainability (planet).

Value: The course is intended to provide a breath of vision and understanding that will stand our students in good stead should they decide to pursue deeper studies in any particular area of ethics and as a basis for thinking their way around the concrete moral challenges of modern business and life.