Realism, Relativism, & Nihilism: An Introduction to Contemporary Ethics New

Many have heard of the trolley problem, a problem that involves a runaway trolley about to cause devastating results. But the trolley problem is more complex and daunting than just a single scenario involving a runaway trolley, and the proposed solutions to this problem not only reflect this greater complexity, but also illustrate some of the more ingenious, creative thoughts contemporary ethicists have had about rightness and wrongness.

In this course, we will work to solve the real trolley problem, as well as address some of the most challenging, fundamental questions in moral philosophy. Such questions include: (i) Is moral rightness and wrongness entirely based on what people believe is morally right or wrong? (ii) If, contra moral nihilists, all value is not baseless, how do we know whether things have value and what type of value they have? And (iii) Are there mind-independent moral properties that make actions right or wrong, and if there aren't, what does make an action right or wrong? Working to answer such questions will not only help us better understand the nature of morality but will also provide the background and training needed to resolve ethical debates that take front and center in our contemporary times. Such debates include disagreement about immigration, hate crime legislation, free speech, universal healthcare, and abortion.

In addition to serving as an introduction to contemporary moral philosophy, this course will also serve as an introduction to philosophy. Students will not only acquire a background in ethics, but will also learn what philosophy is. More broadly, by taking this course, students will sharpen their critical reasoning, writing skills, and debating skills, skills that will serve them well in disciplines that require a high-level of analytic thinking, which, arguably, is every discipline.