Ox Ethics List.pdf

7/29/2019 Ox Ethics List.pdf

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Ethics (FHS), Reading ListMichael Gibb, University College, Oxford

The current description of this paper in undergraduate Course Handbooks is as follows:

The purpose of this subject is to enable you to come to grips with some questions

which exercise many people, philosophers and non-philosophers alike. Howshould we decide what is best to do, and how best to lead our lives? Are our value

judgments on these and other matters objective or do they merely reflect our

subjective preferences and viewpoints? Are we in fact free to make these choices,

or have our decisions already been determined by antecedent features of our

environment and genetic endowment? In considering these issues you will

examine a variety of ethical concepts, such as those of justice, rights, equality,

virtue, and happiness, which are widely used in moral and political argument.

There is also opportunity to discuss some applied ethical issues. Knowledge of

major historical thinkers, e.g. Aristotle and Hume and Kant, will be encouraged,

but not required in the examination.

Here is the relevant extract from Examination Decrees and Regulations:

Candidates will be given an opportunity to show some first-hand knowledge of some

principal historical writings on this subject, but will not be required to do so. Questions will

normally be set on the following topics:

1. Ethical concepts: obligation, good, virtue

2. Objectivity and the explanation of value beliefs

3. Moral Psychology: akrasia; conscience, guilt and shame

4. Freedom and responsibility

5. Consequentialism and deontology

6. Self-interest, prudence and amoralism

7. Rights, justice, and equality

8. Kant: The Groundwork

9. Happiness, welfare and a life worth living.

Key historical readings:

Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics(translated by T. Irwin (2nd edn.)

Hume, An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals

Kant, Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals (translated by Beck, Gregor, Hill &

Zweig, Paton, or Wood)

J.S. Mill, Utilitarianism

Some general introductions:

D. Copp (ed.), Oxford Handbook of Ethical Theory(OUP, 2006)

S. Darwall, Philosophical Ethics(Westview, 1998)

J. Glover, Causing Death and Saving Lives(Penguin, 1977)

S. Kagan, Normative Ethics(Westview, 1997)

H. LaFollette (ed.), Blackwell Guide to Ethical Theory(Blackwell, 2000)

J.L. Mackie, Ethics: Inventing Right and Wrong(Penguin, 1973)

P. Singer (ed.), A Companion to Ethics(Blackwell, 1991)

B. Williams, Morality(Harper & Row, 1972)

B. Williams, Ethics, in A. Grayling (ed.), Philosophy: A Guide through the Subject

(OUP, 1995)


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1.Why Be Moral?

Reading:

Plato, Republic, (translated by Grube) Bk. 2, 357a-367e

D. Hume, Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals, esp. sec. 9

B. Williams, The Amoralist, in his Morality(Harper & Row, 1972)P. Foot, Morality as a System of Hypothetical Imperativesin her Virtues and Vices,

Oxford: OUP, 1977.

OR: P. Foot, Natural Goodness, ch. 3, 4

J. Mackie, Ethics: Inventing Right and Wrong, ch. 5

Essay:

(1) Is any form of egoism plausible?

(2) Would someone who does not care about the goals of morality have any

reason to avoid acting wrongly?

2. Relativism and Objectivity

Reading:

J. Mackie, Ethics: Inventing Right and Wrong, ch. 1

B. Williams, Relativism and Reflection, in his Ethics and the Limits of Philosophy

A. MacIntyre, Moral Relativism, in A MacIntyre Reader(ed. K. Knight)

T.M. Scanlon, Fear of Relativism, in Virtues and Reasons(eds. Hursthouse, Lawrence

and Quinn)

T.M. Scanlon What We Owe to Each Other, (Belknap, 1998) pp.149-153

Further Reading:

T. Nagel, The View From Nowhere, ch. 8

J. Rachels, The Elements of Moral Philosophy, chapters on Cultural Relativismand

Subjectivism

M. Smith, Moral Realism, in H. LaFollette (ed.), The Blackwell Guide to Ethical Theory

(Blackwell, 2000)

Essay:

(1) Since people have irresolvable moral disagreements, we should not

believe that there are any objective moral facts. Do you agree?

3. Consequentialism

J.S. Mill, Utilitarianism, esp. chs. 2 and 4 (multiple editions, edition edited by R. Crisp

has some helpful commentary)

R. Crisp, Mill on Utilitarianism(Routledge, 1997), ch. 5

John Rawls Classical Utilitarianismin J. Rawls A Theory of Justice (Belknap Press)

as Chapter 1 section 5, or in Samuel Scheffler (ed.) Consequentialism and its

Critics, Oxford University Press, 1988

J.J.C. Smart and B. Williams, Utilitarianism: For and Against, (CUP, 1973), especially

sections 1-6 in Smarts outline

A. Sen and B. Williams, Introduction to their (ed.) Utilitarianism and Beyond(CUP,

1982)


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D. Brink, Some Forms and Limits of Consequentialism, in Copp (ed.), Oxford

Handbook of Ethical Theory

P. Foot, Utilitarianism and the Virtues, Mind1985; repr. in S. Scheffler (ed.),

Consequentialism and its Critics(OUP, 1988)

B. Hooker, Rule Consequentialismin the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy

Essay

(1) Should one ever feel guilt if one has done the best thing that one could in the

circumstances?

(2) To what extent can a consequentialist allow that one should not reason in

consequential terms?

4. Critiques of Consequentialism

Reading:

S. Scheffler, Introductionto his (ed.) Consequentialism and its Critics

B. Williams, Persons, Character and Morality, in his Moral Luck

S. Wolf Moral Saintsin the Journal of Philosophy, (1982), vol. 79

P. Railton, Alienation, Consequentialism and the Demands of Morality, in Philosophy

and Public Affairs, 1984. Reprinted in Scheffler (ed.), Consequentialism and its

Critics)

F. Jackson, Decision-theoretic Consequentialism and the Nearest and Dearest

Objection, in Ethics, 1991

Further Reading

M. Stocker, The Schizophrenia of Modern Ethical Theory, in the Journal ofPhilosophy, 1976. Reprinted in R. Crisp and M. Slote (ed.), Virtue Ethics

(OUP, 1997)

F. Kamm, Non-consequentialism, the Person as End-in-itself, and the Significance of

Status, in the Philosophy of Public Affairs, 1992

S. Kagan, Does Consequentialism Demand too Much?, in Philosophy and Public

Affairs, 1984

M. Slote, Common-sense Morality and Consequentialism(Routledge, 1985), chs. 2-3

D. McNaughton & P. Rawling, Deontology and Agency, in The Monist, 1993

Essay

(1) What is the most serious challenge against consequentialism? Can it be met?

(2) Can it ever be morally right to bring about a worse rather than a better state of

affairs?

(3) Can a utilitarian make any room for loyalty in their account of a perfectly moral

life?

5. Deontic distinctions

Reading:

Bennett, J. Whatever the Consequences, Analysis26 (1966): 83-102.Anscombe, G. E. M., A Note on Mr. Bennett, Analysis26 (1966): 208. (J)


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Foot, P. Abortion and the Doctrine of Double Effect, in her Virtues and Vices, Oxford:

OUP, 1977.

Thomson, J. J. The Trolley Problem, Yale Law Journal94 (1985): 1395-1415

Scanlon, T.M. Moral Dimensions, (Belknap 2008) Chapter 1

Further Reading:

Singer, P. Famine, Affluence, and Morality, Philosophy & Public Affairs1 (1972)

Rachels, J. Active and Passive Euthanasia, New England Journal of Medicine, 292

(1975): 78-80.

Essay:

(1) Joe is less blameworthy than Hilary because he tried to kill the innocent but

his gun malfunctioned whereas she tried to kill the innocent and succeeded.

Discuss.

(2) If you foresee killing some civilians as a side-effect of bombing a military

factory, you thereby choose to kill and should be held responsible for your

choice. Discuss.

(3) Is there a moral difference between killing and letting die?

6. Kant: Universalizability

Kant, Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals(trans. Beck, Gregor, Hill & Zweig, Paton,

or Wood)

T. Hill, Kantian Normative Ethics, in Copp (ed.), Oxford Handbook of Ethical Theory

O. ONeill, Kantian Ethics, in Singer, Companion to EthicsC. Korsgaard, Creating the Kingdom of Ends(CUP, 1996), chs. 1 and 3

P. Foot, Morality as a System of Hypothetical Imperatives, in her Virtues and Vices

P. Winch, The Universalizability of Moral Judgements, Monist1965; reprinted in his

Ethics and Action(RKP, 1972)

B. Williams, Ethics and the Limits of Philosophy, ch. 4

J. Mackie, The Three Stages of Universalization, in his Persons and Values (Clarendon

Press, 1985)

D. Wiggins, Universalizability, Impartiality, Truth, in his Needs, Values, Truth(OUP,

preferably 3rd edn., 1998)

Essay

(1) Can a moral theory which tells me what to do in an idealized situation ever be

relevant to me when I am in the real world?

(2) 'I have taken Kant's categorical imperative as my norm, I did long ago. I have

ordered my life by that imperative.' (EICHMANN) Sometimes known as 'The

Architect of the Holocaust', Eichmann facilitated millions of murders. Could he yet

have been a genuine Kantian?

(3) Does Kant give the right account of why it is wrong to make false promises?


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7. Kant: Acting from Duty

Kant, Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals(trans. Beck, Gregor, Hill & Zweig, Paton,

or Wood)

C. Broad, Five Types of Ethical Theory, ch. 5

C. Korsgaard, From Duty and for the sake of the Noble: Kant and Aristotle on morally

good action, in S. Engstrom & J. Whiting (ed.), Aristotle, Kant, and the Stoics (CUP,1996)

L. Blum, Friendship, Altruism and Morality(RKP, 1980), chs. 1-2

B. Herman, On the Value of Acting from the Motive of Duty, in Phil. Review1981

S. Wolf, Moral Saintsin Journal of Philosophy1982

M. Baron, On the Alleged Repugnance of Acting from Duty, Journal of Philosophy 1984

O. ONeill, Kant after Virtue, Inquiry1983

Essay

(1) Kant was right to deny moral worth to an action done out of compassion, sinceit's not up to you whether you have such an inclination.' Discuss.

(2) The Kantian idea ofduty for dutys sake is morally unpalatable. Critically

discuss.

8. The Virtues

Reading:

Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, (translated by T. Irwin) bks. 1-6, 10

R. Crisp, Modern Moral Philosophy and the Virtues, intro. to his (ed.), How Should

One Live?(Clarendon Press, 1996)

P. Foot, Virtues and Vices, in her Virtues and Vices; reprinted. in R. Crisp and M.

Slote (eds.), Virtue Ethics(OUP, 1997)

G.E.M. Anscombe, Modern Moral Philosophy, Philosophy33 (1958). Also in Crisp, R.

and Slote, M. (eds.), Virtue Ethics(Oxford: OUP, 1997.)

Further Reading:

Urmson, Aristotle's Ethics, ch. 2, 6

Hume, Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals, sec. 5

MacIntyre, After Virtue, ch. 14, 15S. Darwall, Philosophical Ethics, Boulder: Westview Press, 1998: Chapters 17, 18.

B. Hooker, The Collapse of Virtue Ethics, Utilitas 14 (2002), 22-40.

R. Hursthouse, Normative Virtue Ethics, in R. Crisp, R., How Should One Live? (Oxford:

Essay:

(1) What role should the virtues play in moral theory?

(2) No one today can accept Aristotle's derivation of a conception of moral virtue

from an account of human nature. Discuss.

(3) Does virtue ethics have anything to say to immoral agents who can't act on

virtuous motives?


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9. Hume: Reason and Passion

Hume, Treatise on Human Nature, bk. 2, pt. 3, sect. 3; bk. 3, pt. 1;

Hume, Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals, app. I

P. Railton, Humean Theory of Practical Rationality, in Copp (ed.), Oxford Handbook

on Ethical Theory

R. Norman, The Moral Philosophers, ch. 5

J. Mackie, Humes Moral Theory, chs. 3-4

W. Quinn, Putting Rationality in its Place, in R. Frey and C. Morris (ed.), Value,

Welfare and Morality(CUP, 1993); repr. in Quinn, Morality and Action(CUP,

1993)

C. Korsgaard, Skepticism about Practical Reason, Journal of Philosophy 1986; repr.

in her Creating the Kingdom of Ends(CUP, 1996)

T. Nagel, The Possibility of Altruism, ch. 5

Essay:

(1) 'Morals excite passions, and produce or prevent actions. Reason of itself is utterlyimpotent in this particular. The rules of morality, therefore, are not conclusions of

our reason.' (HUME) Are Hume's premises correct? Does his conclusion follow

from them?

10. Rights and Human Rights

Griffin, James, On Human Rights(OUP, 2008), chs. 1 & 2

Symposium issue on James Griffins On Human Rightsin Ethics120 (2010)

H.L.A. Hart, Are There Any Natural Rights?, Philosophical Review1955). Reprinted

in Waldron (ed) Theories of Rights(1984).

Nagel, T. Personal Rights and Public Spacein his Concealment and Exposure &

Other Essays(OUP 2002)

J. Waldron (ed.), Theories of Rights(OUP, 1984):

J. Waldron Introduction

R. Dworkin, Rights as Trumps

Wenar, Leif, Rights, Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy

Dworkin, Ronald, Do we have a right to pornography?, in his A Matter of Principle

(1985); most of which is reprinted as Rights as Trumps, in Jeremy Waldron

(ed.), Theories of Rights(OUP, 1984)Raz, Joseph, The Morality of Freedom(Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1986),

chs. 7, 8 and 10

Essay

(1) Must claims to human rights rest on an interest-based account of rights?

(2) What justifies a human right?

(3) In what sense, if any, does torture violate a human right?


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11. Global Justice

P. Singer "Famine, Affluence and Morality" Philosophy and Public Affairs1 (1972)

P. Singer The Life you can save

Julius, A. J., Nagels Atlas, Philosophy and Public Affairs34, 2 (2006)

R. Goodin "What is so special about our fellow countrymen?" Ethics98 (1998)

Nagel, Thomas, The Problem of Global Justice, Philosophy and Public Affairs33, 2

(2005), pp. 113-148

Essay

(1) Are my obligations to fellow citizens different from my obligations to my fellow

human beings?

(2) How strong is our obligation to aiding those less fortunate?

(3) Does distributive justice demand that rich nations give a portion of their wealth

to poorer nations?

12. Scanlonian Contractualism

T.M. Scanlon What We Owe to Each Other(Belknap, 1998),

pp. 149-168 and pp. 189-218

T.M. Scanlon, Contractualism and Utilitarianism, in Utilitarianism and Beyond, edited

by A. Sen and B. Williams (C.U.P., 1982)

P. Hieronymi On Metaethics and Motivation: The Appeal of Contractualism, in Reasons

and Recognition: Essays on the Philosophy of T.M. Scanlon, edited by R. Jay

Wallace, Rahul Kumar, Samuel Freeman (O.U.P., 2011)

J. Hampton Two Faces of Contractarian Thoughtin Contractarianism and RationalChoice: Essays on David Gauthiers Morals by Agreement, edited by P.

Vallentyne (C.U.P., 1991)

D. Parfit On What Matters, Volume 1, Part 3, Chapter 15

Essay

(1) Is there any principle one could not reasonably reject?

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