PHIL2623 - Moral Psychology

Semester 1, 2011  |  Credit Points: 6

Coordinator: Luke Nigel Russell
Phone: +61 2 9351 3821
Email: luke.russell@sydney.edu.au

Description

We go beyond the question of which actions are morally right to consider the following: How should we evaluate motives and emotions? Is anyone actually virtuous, or are we all weak-willed, self-deceived confabulators? Are any actions or persons evil? When should we feel guilty or ashamed? Should forgiveness be unconditional? Is morality the product of Darwinian natural selection, or of culture and learning? Is there any objective truth in morality, or are moral claims merely subjective or culturally relative?

Assessments

1x2500wd essay (50%) and 1x2000wd take-home exam (50%)

Textbooks

Readings available from the University Copy Centre

Classes

1x2-hr lecture/week, 1x1-hr tutorial/week

Prerequisites

12 Junior credit points in Philosophy.

Prohibitions

PHIL2513, PHIL3513

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