Introduction and Overview. Introduction In this course In this course You will encounter many of the greatest thinkers in history. You will encounter

Introduction and Introduction and OverviewOverview

IntroductionIntroduction

In this courseIn this course You will encounter many of the greatest You will encounter many of the greatest

thinkers in history. thinkers in history. You will discover how they answered the You will discover how they answered the

question, ‘what kind of life is a good life’?question, ‘what kind of life is a good life’? You will learn how to discuss ethical You will learn how to discuss ethical

controversies intelligently and fairly.controversies intelligently and fairly. You will learn how to think through You will learn how to think through

important questions about value.important questions about value.


In this lecture In this lecture I’m going to be explaining to you the nature I’m going to be explaining to you the nature

of the course, including some of what I of the course, including some of what I intend to achieve and the point of view intend to achieve and the point of view which will inform the course.which will inform the course.

But first we have to be sure that we’re clear But first we have to be sure that we’re clear on the bare mechanics of the course. So:on the bare mechanics of the course. So:


Contact InformationContact Information Course coordinator: Course coordinator: Stephen WatsonStephen Watson

[email protected]@bond.edu.au Tutors:Tutors: Me and Peter CrookMe and Peter Crook Consultation times:Consultation times: I’ll be available on I’ll be available on

Tuesdays and Tuesdays and Thursdays 3-4 Thursdays 3-4 in my office.in my office.

My office:My office: 4th floor adjuncts’office in 4th floor adjuncts’office in HSS HSS bldg.bldg.


iLearniLearn The iLearn site is also absolutely essential The iLearn site is also absolutely essential

for this course. Anyone who can’t get onto it for this course. Anyone who can’t get onto it should have their problem seen to as should have their problem seen to as quickly as they can.quickly as they can.

On the website you’ll find:On the website you’ll find: Announcements on the main page.Announcements on the main page. The powerpoint slides for the lectures.The powerpoint slides for the lectures. Readings for each week.Readings for each week. The assignments and helpful links related to The assignments and helpful links related to

them.them.


LecturesLectures There will be weekly 2hr lectures by me.There will be weekly 2hr lectures by me. Lectures are videotapedand will be Lectures are videotapedand will be

available in the library.available in the library. The powerpoint slides will be available at The powerpoint slides will be available at

latest by the Monday morning before the latest by the Monday morning before the lecture.lecture.

These powerpoint slides will be available on These powerpoint slides will be available on the iLearn website, but the lecture notes the iLearn website, but the lecture notes won’t be. won’t be.


ReadingsReadings Weekly readings are provided: Weekly readings are provided: They are all on iLearn.They are all on iLearn. ‘‘required’ reading for basic understandingrequired’ reading for basic understanding

Encyclopedia articleEncyclopedia article Primary textPrimary text

‘‘recommended’ reading to find out morerecommended’ reading to find out more


BooksBooks There are also books strongly recommended There are also books strongly recommended

for purchase:for purchase: AristotleAristotle EthicsEthics J. S. MillJ. S. Mill On LibertyOn Liberty


BooksBooks There are also books strongly recommended There are also books strongly recommended

for purchase:for purchase: AristotleAristotle EthicsEthics J. S. MillJ. S. Mill On LibertyOn Liberty PlatoPlato The Last Days of SocratesThe Last Days of Socrates KantKant Foundations of the Metaphysics of Foundations of the Metaphysics of

MoralsMorals


AssessmentAssessment The course will be assessed according to The course will be assessed according to

the following scheme.the following scheme. 10% 10% TutorialsTutorials 20%20% First AssignmentFirst Assignment 30%30% Second AssignmentSecond Assignment 40%40% Final ExaminationFinal Examination


TutorialsTutorials There are weekly 1 hr tutorials.There are weekly 1 hr tutorials. You get 1 mark for each tutorial you attend You get 1 mark for each tutorial you attend

for a maximum of 10 marks, BUTfor a maximum of 10 marks, BUT if you just sit there the whole course through and if you just sit there the whole course through and

say nothing and don’t even try to participate you say nothing and don’t even try to participate you won’t get full marks.won’t get full marks.

Talk about the material covered in that Talk about the material covered in that week’s lecture.week’s lecture.


AssignmentsAssignments There are two essays. One short and one There are two essays. One short and one

not as short. not as short. The dates are set:The dates are set:

First assignment is due by 5 minutes before First assignment is due by 5 minutes before midnight of June 29.midnight of June 29.

You’ll have to write about something related You’ll have to write about something related to the first part of the course.to the first part of the course.

Second assignment is due by 5 minutes before Second assignment is due by 5 minutes before midnight of August 3.midnight of August 3.

You’ll have to write about something related You’ll have to write about something related to the second part of the course.to the second part of the course.


Final ExaminationFinal Examination There’ll be a final examThere’ll be a final exam It’ll consist of three parts of equal value.It’ll consist of three parts of equal value.

Write 4 short (1/2 page) answers to questions Write 4 short (1/2 page) answers to questions covering the whole coursecovering the whole course

Write a long answer (~3 pages) to one of several Write a long answer (~3 pages) to one of several questions about the 1st partquestions about the 1st part

Write a long answer (~3 pages) to one of several Write a long answer (~3 pages) to one of several questions about the 2nd partquestions about the 2nd part


Nature of CourseNature of Course

This course is an historical This course is an historical survey of the most survey of the most important (the important (the most influential) ethical ideas in most influential) ethical ideas in Western Civilisation.Western Civilisation.


Ethical IdeasEthical Ideas What is the right thing to do? What are the What is the right thing to do? What are the

limits to my possible actions?limits to my possible actions? Should I aim to be happy? Should that be Should I aim to be happy? Should that be

my goal in life? And what would it mean?my goal in life? And what would it mean? If I can’t be both, should I be nice or If I can’t be both, should I be nice or

should I be honest?should I be honest? Is there such a thing as a Just War?Is there such a thing as a Just War?


Ethical IdeasEthical Ideas What is the right thing to do? What are the What is the right thing to do? What are the

limits to my possible actions?limits to my possible actions? Should I aim to be happy? Should that be my Should I aim to be happy? Should that be my

goal in life? And what would it mean?goal in life? And what would it mean? If I can’t be both, should I be nice or should If I can’t be both, should I be nice or should

I be honest?I be honest? Is there such a thing as a Just War?Is there such a thing as a Just War?

The unexamined life is not worth living.The unexamined life is not worth living.


Ethical IdeasEthical Ideas 2 - Socrates on Evil and Ignorance2 - Socrates on Evil and Ignorance 3 - 3 - Plato on Justice Plato on Justice 4 - Aristotle on Virtue4 - Aristotle on Virtue 5 5 - The Stoics on the Natural Life- The Stoics on the Natural Life 6 6 - Augustine and the Christian Life - Augustine and the Christian Life 7 - Aquinas on Law 7 - Aquinas on Law 8 8 - Hobbes on Power- Hobbes on Power 9 9 - Locke on Rights- Locke on Rights 10 - Kant on Duty 10 - Kant on Duty 11 - Bentham and Mill on Liberty 11 - Bentham and Mill on Liberty


Ethical Ideas of WestEthical Ideas of West It’s what I know.It’s what I know. Provides Provides somesome focus. focus. Western tradition is the most important.Western tradition is the most important.


Historical Survey of Ethical Ideas Historical Survey of Ethical Ideas of Westof West

Provides a narrative framework.Provides a narrative framework. Helps in understanding the ideas.Helps in understanding the ideas. Helps in understanding relationships Helps in understanding relationships

amongst ideas.amongst ideas. Helps in understanding why we have Helps in understanding why we have

conflicting ideas.conflicting ideas.

OutlineOutline

General Shape of Western HistoryGeneral Shape of Western History AncientAncient ends between 400-500 ends between 400-500

ADAD MediaevalMediaeval ends between 1400-1500 ends between 1400-1500

AD AD ModernModern continuescontinues

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General Shape of Western HistoryGeneral Shape of Western History

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Ancient WorldAncient World Minoan/MycenaeanMinoan/Mycenaean ~2500 BC – ~2500 BC –

~1200BC~1200BC Greek Dark AgesGreek Dark Ages ~1200BC – ~1200BC –

~800BC~800BC Classical AgeClassical Age ~800BC – ~400AD~800BC – ~400AD

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GreeceGreece

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GreeceGreece 500 – 300 BC500 – 300 BC

Athenian democracy and empireAthenian democracy and empire Defeat of PersiansDefeat of Persians Plays of Aristophanes, Sophocles, Euripides, Plays of Aristophanes, Sophocles, Euripides,

AeschylusAeschylus Histories of Herodotus, ThucydidesHistories of Herodotus, Thucydides ParthenonParthenon Socrates, Plato, AristotleSocrates, Plato, Aristotle

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GreeceGreece 500 – 300 BC500 – 300 BC

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GreeceGreece Homeric Themes from the Greek Dark AgeHomeric Themes from the Greek Dark Age

honourhonour, , famefame, , revengerevenge, , fatefate, , couragecourage, , pridepride

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GreeceGreece Quartet of Virtues from the Classical AgeQuartet of Virtues from the Classical Age

couragecourage, , temperancetemperance, , justicejustice, , wisdomwisdom

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GreeceGreece These things coexistThese things coexist That’s typical of cultural development – That’s typical of cultural development –

the old remainsthe old remains

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GreeceGreece Greek philosophers generally endorse Greek philosophers generally endorse

those valuesthose values But they also intend to rationalise ethicsBut they also intend to rationalise ethics

Rationalisation of ethics begins with Rationalisation of ethics begins with happinesshappiness Socrates, Plato, Aristotle take a positive Socrates, Plato, Aristotle take a positive

approachapproach Stoics took a negative approachStoics took a negative approach

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Greek Empires and RomeGreek Empires and Rome

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Greek EGreek Empires and Romempires and Rome

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Greek Empires and RomeGreek Empires and Rome End of the City StatesEnd of the City States End of idea of autonomy and control of End of idea of autonomy and control of

one’s fateone’s fate Ideal is to make one’s happiness Ideal is to make one’s happiness

independent of outside eventsindependent of outside events StoicsStoics

Became the semi-official creed of RomeBecame the semi-official creed of Rome

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Greek Empires and RomeGreek Empires and Rome Stoicism couldn’t appeal to the massesStoicism couldn’t appeal to the masses They adopted saviour religionsThey adopted saviour religions

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Greek Empires and RomeGreek Empires and Rome Stoicism couldn’t appeal to the massesStoicism couldn’t appeal to the masses They adopted saviour religionsThey adopted saviour religions MithraMithra

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Greek Empires and RomeGreek Empires and Rome Stoicism couldn’t appeal to the massesStoicism couldn’t appeal to the masses They adopted saviour religionsThey adopted saviour religions IsisIsis

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Greek Empires and RomeGreek Empires and Rome Stoicism couldn’t appeal to the massesStoicism couldn’t appeal to the masses They adopted saviour religionsThey adopted saviour religions ChristChrist

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Greek Empires and RomeGreek Empires and Rome Christian themesChristian themes

Sin, Sin, humility, humility, kindness, kindness, love of God and one’s fellow man, love of God and one’s fellow man, forgiveness, forgiveness, mercymercy

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Greek Empires and RomeGreek Empires and Rome AugustineAugustine

How are these ethical ideas to be justifiedHow are these ethical ideas to be justified

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Greek Empires and RomeGreek Empires and Rome AugustineAugustine

How are these ethical ideas to be justifiedHow are these ethical ideas to be justified

Natural LawNatural Law God’s commands are binding on us, like lawsGod’s commands are binding on us, like laws

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Middle AgesMiddle Ages

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Middle AgesMiddle Ages 900 - 1300900 - 1300

Kings and queens, Kings and queens, Knights on horseback, Knights on horseback, Crusades, Crusades, Monasteries, Monasteries, Cathedrals.Cathedrals.

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Middle AgesMiddle Ages 900 - 1300900 - 1300

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Middle AgesMiddle Ages Virtues of FeudalismVirtues of Feudalism

Conditions similar to Greek Dark AgesConditions similar to Greek Dark Ages honourhonour, , famefame, , revengerevenge, , couragecourage, and, and pride pride

againagain

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againagain

Virtues of ChristianityVirtues of Christianity Remember: Remember: humility, kindness, love, humility, kindness, love,

forgiveness, mercyforgiveness, mercy……

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againagain

Virtues of ChristianityVirtues of Christianity Remember: Remember: humility, kindness, love, humility, kindness, love,

forgiveness, mercyforgiveness, mercy……

ChivalryChivalry

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Modern TimesModern Times 1500AD - Now1500AD - Now

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Modern TimesModern Times RenaissanceRenaissance

1300 – 16001300 – 1600 Rebirth of classical learning, humanism, Rebirth of classical learning, humanism,

worldlinessworldliness

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Modern TimesModern Times RenaissanceRenaissance

1300 – 16001300 – 1600 Rebirth of classical learning, humanism, Rebirth of classical learning, humanism,

worldlinessworldliness EnlightenmentEnlightenment

1700 – 18001700 – 1800 Reason, progressReason, progress

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Modern TimesModern Times Modern ThemesModern Themes

RightsRights,, ObligationsObligations, , DutiesDuties, , Liberty Liberty

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Modern TimesModern Times Modern ThemesModern Themes

RightsRights,, ObligationsObligations, , DutiesDuties, , LibertyLiberty

Modern Themes arise from contemplation Modern Themes arise from contemplation of Lawof Law

See Hobbes, Locke, Kant, MillSee Hobbes, Locke, Kant, Mill

Documents

Introduction and Overview. Introduction In this course In this course You will encounter many of the greatest thinkers in history. You will encounter