Ethics and Philosophy

An Introduction

“How Far Down the Rabbit Hole Do You Want to Go?”

Vocabulary

• Ethics provides a systematic, rational way to work through dilemmas and to determine the best course of action in the face of conflicting choices.

– It attempts to describe the right and the wrong in choices, and to establish whether certain actions are right on wrong based on the information available.

• For Instance: If killing is wrong, can one justify the death penalty or kill in self defense?

Vocabulary

• Philosophy the rational investigation of the truths

and principles of being, knowledge, or conduct.

– There are many schools of thought regarding philosophy. We will explore a handful of them over the semester.

What It’s Really About

Philosophy addresses the “big” questions!

For example:Are you your brain? What makes things right and wrong? Can you know that the world around you is real, and not a computer generated virtual reality? Why is there anything at all? Does “God” exist? Do we posses souls? This and more!