Global Perspectives on Contemporary Moral Problems

This course is intended to introduce you to the study of philosophy by learning how to critically reflect and evaluate global moral problems, such as: human rights, cloning, abortion, environmental sustainability, racism and ethnic discrimination, biotechnologies, hunger, and war. Each of these issues will be examined from a variety of global perspectives and moral theories.  Among the many questions we will examine this semester are: How do we resolve ethical dilemmas in a global context? What are the most important values for leading an ethical life, and what is the role and responsibility of communities in ethical life? How should policy makers and law makers accommodate a variety of cultural ethical values?  The goal of this course is to help you develop your critical thinking, deepen your moral reflection, introduce you to global perspectives on moral positions, and help you defend a position on a global moral problem.