In order to ground the discussion, we will start off by reading Norman Care's recent book, Living With One's Past, which is a discussion of real moral issues that face ordinary people, with a special focus on the ethical implications of being a recovering alcoholic. We will move on to a discussion of human nature and natural moral feelings, with James Wilson's The Moral Sense. A quick study of Hume and Kant's moral theories will prepare us for the contemporary metaethical debate. The written requirements for this course are quite light, but students will need to immerse themselves in the readings and should be prepared to work hard at understanding them.
Attendance is required.