A general introduction to the problems, methods, scope and history of philosophical enquiry as exemplified by the course of moral theory. In particular, the major views on human nature and morality are examined in their philosophical and historical contexts, tracing the development of ethics from Socrates through the medieval and the modern eras down into the 20th century. Metaphysical and epistemological issues are treated as needed for the proper exposition and criticism of the various moral theories studied, giving students an introductory knowledge of the full range of philosophical problems and demonstrating their interconnections. An introduction to the principles of valid reasoning designed to develop analytical skills and abilities. Emphasis is placed on the evaluation of arguments through both informal and formal methods.
Topics covered include informal fallacies, syllogisms, inductive logic and probability.
A historical survey of medieval philosophy from St. Augustine to the late Scholastics. St. Augustine, the later Church Fathers, Boethius, John Scotus Erigena, Anselm, Abelard, Bonaventura, Aquinas, Ockham, Scotus, and other medieval thinkers are studied. A critical review of recent developments in ethical and value theory. Topics covered may include the dispute between utilitarianism and deontological theories, the nature of justification in ethics, the distinction between facts and values, and meta-ethical theories. An examination of some of the main themes in recent philosophical thought in Europe, including phenomenology, existentialism, structuralist and post-structuralist thought and hermeneutics.