Discipline: Philosophy / Ethics / Humanities
Primary Goal: To develop students’ ability to analyze moral problems using philosophical reasoning rather than relying solely upon intuition, tradition, personal preference, or authority.
Course Learning Outcomes: By the end of the five lessons, students should be able to:
- Distinguish ethics, morality, values, and moral psychology.
- Explain major approaches to normative ethics.
- Construct and evaluate ethical arguments.
- Compare consequentialist, deontological, and virtue-ethical reasoning.
- Identify assumptions underlying their own moral judgments.
- Apply ethical theories to contemporary social and professional problems.
- Recognize the strengths and limitations of different ethical systems.
- Develop an ethically reasoned position while remaining open to disagreement.
Assessment Structure
| Component | Weight |
| Participation & Discussion | 20% |
| Five Journal Reflections | 20% |
| Creative Arts Responses | 20% |
| Ethical Theory Analysis | 15% |
| Final Ethical Position Paper | 25% |
| Total | 100% |
Final Ethical Position Paper: Students select one contemporary ethical problem and write a 1,500–2,000 word philosophical argument. This paper must be typed in 12pt font, double spaced and cited using a current model of citation (MLA, Chicago, APA etc).
The paper must:
- Define the ethical problem.
- Present at least three competing ethical perspectives.
- Identify the strongest argument for each.
- Identify weaknesses or limitations.
- Incorporate at least one scholarly source.
- Explain the student’s own ethical position.
- Defend that position through philosophical reasoning rather than personal preference alone.
Optional Final Creative Project: Students are allowed to substitute a creative philosophical project for the traditional final paper.
Possible projects include:
Philosophical Performance: A dramatic dialogue between Kant, Aristotle, Bentham, and a contemporary ethicist.
Ethics Exhibition: A series of five artworks representing:
- Duty
- Consequence
- Virtue
- Justice
- Wisdom
Ethical Song Cycle: Five original songs, each representing one major ethical concept OR create a playlist of 5 songs where each song represents one major ethical concept.
Short Film: Create a script for a moral dilemma presented from three different ethical perspectives. you can choose to perform or film it if you wish.
Philosophical Manifesto: A personally constructed ethical philosophy, accompanied by a 1,000-word philosophical defense.
Ethical Tarot / Archetype Deck: create 10–22 cards representing virtues, vices, ethical dilemmas, moral principles, and philosophical approaches, accompanied by philosophical explanations.