Download Document

+
HU 300
MORALITY
Aimee B. James
+
Seminar Outline

Unit Overview

Seminar discussion

Unit readings

Project

Preview of next unit
+
Unit 6 Overview


Unit Outcomes

Demonstrate ways morality may be conceived and defined

Analyze moral decisions and their relevance to various definitions
of morality.
Learning Activities

Readings: Chapter on “Morality”

Discussion: Morality on TV and in film and whistle-blowing

Seminar: “Ring of Gyges” and Kantian ethics

Project: No project
The “Ring of Gyges”
+
“My Precious!”
--Gollum, The Lord of the Rings
+ If you had a ring that would make
you INVISIBLE, what would you
do?
Plato’s Republic
+
RING OF GYGES
 Glaucon
says that
many people do
whatever they can
get away with while
maintaining their
reputation. What do
you think about his
conclusion?
+
RING OF GYGES
 Does
our
assessment of
what is “right” or
“wrong” depend
on the
consequences?
+
Immanuel Kant
 Kantian
philosophy
espouses that humans
are born with an inner
morality—a
conscience that acts
as a compass,
pointing us toward
right and away from
wrong.
+
The Source?
 Do
you agree that
we are born with a
sense of morality,
or do you believe
morality is
something that is
taught?
+
Unit Readings

The Art of Being Human

Chapter 13—Morality
• How We Arrive at Moral Decisions
• The Morality of Self-Interest
• Moral Authorities
• Moral Relativism
+ Do you know your own morality?

We’ll discuss a few scenarios.

What decision would you make?

How might your decisions be viewed by others?
+
Project

No unit 6 project.
+
Preview of the Next Unit

Unit 7: Happiness




Reading: Chapter on “Happiness”
Discussion: You will discuss happiness and the
American Dream
Seminar: Our focus will be on definitions of
happiness, how they evolve, what they reveal
about culture, and how media and myth
influence them.
Project: Prepare and conduct interviews with
two people about their definition of happiness,
how they gained this view, and whether they feel
happiness is achievable.