| Kommentar |
What makes an action right or wrong? Consequentialism says that the rigntness or the wrongness of an action depends entirely on its consequences. But this simple formulation leads to lots of questions. What counts as a good consequence? (Is it pleasure, desire-satisfaction, or some other value?) Also, what exactly is required to bring about the best consequence? (Is it a general rule, an individual action, or something else?) Moreover, there are immediate objections to this basic idea. Can’t an action be morally prohibited even when it produces the best consequences, for example, if it violates someone’s basic rights? Can’t an action be morally permissible even if it doesn’t have the best consequence, for example, when I give special weight to my own projects which I don’t give to general happiness? In this course, we will consider different formulations of consequentilaism and assess the strength and weaknesses of each. We will also consider whether (and how) consequentialists can successfully avoid the classic objections raised for consequentilaism. This course will be taught in English. Close engagement with the assigned text will be expected, along with regular participation in class. |
| Bemerkung |
B.A. LA GyGe: M6: SE Metaethik; M11: SE Praktische Philosophie
B.A. LA HRSGe: M6: SE Metaethik
B.A. (ab WS 2012/13): M6: SE Metaethik; M11: SE Praktische Philosophie
M.A. (ab WS 2012/13): M Ic, IIc, IIIc: Moralphilosophie, Angewandte Ethik, Politische Philosophie |
