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UC Davis Department of Philosophy

Introduction to Ethics

Philosophy Department

1240 Social Sciences and Humanities
University of California, Davis
One Shields Avenue
Davis, CA 95616

Phone: (530) 752-0607

Fax: (530) 752-8964

W. D. Ross

Recent News

  • The title and course description for this course have changed since previous offerings.

This list shows which material has been covered in each class period.

Month Day Topic
April 1 General Introduction, to Morality as Compared with Other Normative Subjects
3 General Introduction, to conclusion, A Defense of Ethical Relativism through Section 1
8 A Defense of Ethical Relativism, to conclusion, A Defense of Ethical Objectivism to mid-Section 4.
8 A Defense of Ethical Relativism, to conclusion, A Defense of Ethical Objectivism through
8 A Defense of Ethical Relativism, to conclusion, A Defense of Ethical Objectivism to mid-Section 4.
10 A Defense of Ethical Objectivism, to conclusion
8 A Defense of Ethical Relativism, to conclusion, A Defense of Ethical Objectivism to mid-Section 4.
15 A Defense of Ethical Egoism, A Critique of Ethical Egoism, through Three Arguments in Favor of Ethical Egoism
17 A Critique of Ethical Relativism, to conclusion, Sociobiology, Egoism, and Reciprocity, through Section 1.
22 Sociobiology, Egoism, and Reciprocity, to conclusion.
24 Hume on Moral Distinctions
29 Beyond Good and Evil
May 1 Classical Hedonism
6 Value Pluralism
8 Utilitarianism
13 Rule Utilitarianism
15 Conclusion of Rule Utilitarianism, Critique of Utilitarianism through first section
20 Conclusion of Critique of Utilitarianism, Foundations of Ethics through Preface
22 Foundations of Ethics through example 1 of First Formulation of the Categorical Imperative
27 Conclusion of Foundations of Ethics, What Makes Right Acts Right, through prima facie duties
June 3 Conclusion of Value Pluralism, Virtue Ethics through II. Characteristics of the Good
29 Conclusion of Virtue Ethics, Critique of Virtue-Based Ethics