Legacy of Right and Wrong
Legacy - HNRS 1120

Instructor(s): Will Barnes

Course Description

Welcome to Legacy of Right & Wrong HNRS 1120. In this course we will learn how to analyze, criticize, and construct clear ethical positions including virtue ethics, deontology, consequentialism and care ethics in relation to a broad range of urgent ethical issues including Immigration, Government, Poverty & Inequality, Healthcare, Medical Ethics, Education, Technology & A.I., Art & Ethics You will be learning how to apply different moral traditions & theories to discussing these ethical issues. 


The course material is organized into two main parts: Ethical theories and ethical issues. Each week we will be focusing on one theory and one ethical issue, building your repertoire concerning theories of right and wrong, and developing the skills of argumentative ethical thinking and communicating.

Texts

Stephen M. Cahn Exploring Ethics: An Introductory Anthology OUP (pdf provided)

Requirements

  1. Attendance and participation in class discussions 
  2. Short weekly response papers
  3. 1 x paper explaining and ethical theory 
  4. 1 short oral/written exam (student choice) applying an ethical theory to an issue (student’s choice)
  5. Group podcasts on ethical theories and issues 

About the Instructor(s): Will Barnes

Hi! I am Will Barnes. I have 15 years experience teaching Philosophy, Political Theory, English, Religious Studies and Honors. I am an academic Expert for “Ethics Now” a KUNM show/podcast that provides a forum for exploring ethical issues with humanities scholars. I am Editor for Brill Rodopi’s Philosophy of Peace series. I am on the editorial Board for The Acorn: Philosophical Studies in Pacifism and Nonviolence.