Lecture 1

INTRODUCTION TO ETHICS.

Course out line Course description: This course aims at introducing the students to various ethical concepts related to the practice of their professions and opens to them a new panorama of virtuous living.

Course out line Course objectives: The course aims at creating a culture of continuous improvement and search for truth, fostering high moral standards and developing a spirit of service and respect for others based on knowledge, freedom and responsibility.

Contents 1 Defining ethics 2 Meta-ethics 3 Normative ethics – 3.1 Virtue ethics Stoicism – 3.2 Hedonism – 3.3 Cyrenaic hedonism Epicureanism – 3.4 State consequentialism – 3.5 Consequentialism Utilitarianism – 3.6 Deontology – 3.7 Contemporary virtue ethics – 3.8 Pragmatic ethics – 3.9 Role ethics – 3.10 Postmodern ethics 4 Applied ethics – 4.1 Specific questions – 4.2 Particular fields of application Bioethics Business ethics Relational ethics Machine ethics Military ethics Political ethics Public sector ethics 5 Moral psychology – 5.1 Evolutionary ethics 6 Descriptive ethics

TOPIC 1 Introduction to Ethics  The nature and object of Ethics.  Ethics as practical, theoretical and normative science.  Divisions of Ethics. Relevance of studying Ethics.

TOPIC 2 The Human Person The nature of the human person; Individual Substance of a Rational Nature; The dignity of the human person; the human nature, a corporeal being, human affectivity, the spiritual soul, the intellect, the will and unity in human nature. The Human acts.

TOPIC 3 Human Freedom The nature of the human freedom. Freedom and responsibility. The truth and dynamics on the human person and his freedom.

TOPIC 4 MORAL LAW Natural law, happiness and the moral conscience.

TOPIC 5 Morality Evaluation of the morality of human acts. The object, the intention, and the circumstances of human acts.

TOPIC 6 Ethical Schools & movements Ethics of care, relativism, Deontological ethics, Hedonism, Utilitarianism, Proportionalism, consequentalism etc.Deontological ethicsHedonismUtilitarianism Proportionalism

Virtue Ethics Introduction to Aristotelian concept of virtue. The cardinal virtues, prudence, temperance, fortitude and justice. Other virtues, generosity, cheerfulness, order and humility.

TOPIC 7 Interpersonal relations Personal and interpersonal fulfillment, the person in society, the humanizing role of sexuality.

TOPIC 8 courtship and marriage Definition of terms, purpose of courtship, challenges of faced premarital sex, Definition of the term marriage, purpose of marriage, challenges faced; choice of partner, infidelity, divorce etc.

TOPIC 9 The family Definition of the family, love and education in the family, society etc.

LAST TOPICS.. Contemporary social issues Analysis of various issues and feedback for the course.

SOME ETHICAL TOPICS THAT AFFECTS PEOPPLE. RightsGamblingPopulationDomestic ViolenceMedia Violence AdoptionGangsPornography Driving Under the InfluenceMedical Ethics Affirmative ActionGenetic EngineeringPovertyDrug LegalizationMental Health AlcoholGlobal WarmingPrayer In Public SchoolsEating DisordersMiddle East Animal ExperimentationGun ControlPrisonsEndangered SpeciesSuicide Animal RightsHate CrimesRacismEnvironmentTeenage Pregnancy BioethicsHealth CareRapeEuthanasiaTerrorism Biological WeaponsHomelessnessSchool ViolenceFamily RelationsWelfare Capital PunishmentHomosexualitySex EducationNational SecurityWomen’s Rights CensorshipHuman RightsSexual HarassmentNuclear WeaponsWomen In The Military Child AbuseImmigrationSmokingNutritionWorkplace Violence CloningInternet PrivacyStem CellsPolitical Corruption MISSING CLASSES Crime VictimsJuvenile OffendersSteroids CHEATING IN EXAMSMAKING NOISE INCLASS