Ethical theories are in the business of telling us which actions are right and which are wrong. This course surveys important questions raised by the project of ethical theorizing, such as what counts as an objection to a moral theory, which moral theory is best, and whether we should expect to successfully theorize morality in the first place. Some background in moral philosophy will be assumed. Undergraduates who have not taken PHIL 2 should get permission from the instructor to enroll. Graduate students should enroll in PHIL 270.
4 units · Letter or Credit/No Credit · GER: WAY-A-II, WAY-ER
Ethical theories are in the business of telling us which actions are right and which are wrong. This course surveys important questions raised by the project of ethical theorizing, such as what counts as an objection to a moral theory, which moral theory is best, and whether we should expect to successfully theorize morality in the first place. Some background in moral philosophy will be assumed. Undergraduates who have not taken PHIL 2 should get permission from the instructor to enroll. Graduate students should enroll in PHIL 270.
Offered in Winter 2026 at Stanford University.