Introduction to Moral Philosophy from Udemy

What will you learn?

The principles of the three major moral theories in Western philosophy: utilitarianism, deontology and virtue ethics.

How to apply those theories to real life ethical dilemmas, such as stealing and killing animals.

How to unpick meta-ethical questions, such as whether there's such as thing as a moral fact.

Who is this course for?

This course gives a basic introduction to Moral Philosophy and can be studied by those who have never studied Philosophy before. It will appeal to those who are simply interested in the topic; those wanting to take an A level qualification in Philosophy, or those teaching the topic who want fresh ideas on how to explain various topics.

What does the course cover?

It focuses on the the three main normative ethical theories of the Western world: utilitarianism, deontology and virtue ethics. It looks at some of the key figures in Moral Philosophy from Aristotle to Kant to John Stuart Mill. It then focuses on how their ethical theories can be applied in practice to answer whether its ever okay to steal, lie, play violent video games or kill and eat animals. The course finishes by exploring where morality might come from. Is it a feature of our psychology or do moral facts exist as properties of the universe? It also asks what we're doing when we make moral statements – are we doing anything more than expressing our emotions?

The course is structured to be interactive, with activities spread throughout and a multiple choice quiz after each section. Information is delivered mainly through narrated slideshows. Each slide includes images that have been paired with the ideas and concepts discussed to help make the material easier to understand and remember. There is also a transcript of each video to help you follow the material and know how to spell new terms. If any topic particularly takes your interest then you can access the additional resources section of each lecture, which will enable you to explore further. There is also a discussion group where you can discuss the ideas and concepts you will be studying.

The syllabus covered in this course is that listed in the AQA's 7172 A Level Philosophy syllabus for the 'Moral Philosophy' module. Further information on how this qualification is structured and assessed are attached to the first video. If you are interested in the other Philosophy topics on the A Level syllabus then you may wish to explore my 'Introduction to the Philosophy of Mind' (Metaphysics of Mind), my 'Introduction to the Philosophy of Western Religion' (Metaphysics of God), or my 'Introduction to Epistemology' (Philosophy of Knowledge).

What's inside

Learning objectives

1. explain the principles of the three major moral theories in western philosophy: utilitarianism, deontology and virtue ethics.
2. apply those theories to real life ethical dilemmas: stealing, telling lies, simulated killing and killing animals.

3. unpick meta-ethical questions, such as whether there's such as thing as a moral fact.

1. explain the principles of the three major moral theories in western philosophy: utilitarianism, deontology and virtue ethics.
2. apply those theories to real life ethical dilemmas: stealing, telling lies, simulated killing and killing animals.
3. unpick meta-ethical questions, such as whether there's such as thing as a moral fact.

Syllabus

1. Explain and critique the normative ethical theory utilitarianism.

1.0 Welcome to the Course

1.1 Introduction

1.2 What is 'utility'?

Reviews summary

Accessible foundation in moral philosophy

According to learners, this course provides a positive and accessible introduction to key ethical theories. Students frequently praised the clear explanations of complex concepts like utilitarianism, deontology, and virtue ethics, finding the breakdown helpful for understanding the fundamentals. Many appreciated the use of real-life examples, such as applying theories to issues like stealing or animal rights, which helped solidify their grasp on the material. While the course is described as great for beginners with no prior philosophy background, some learners found the final section on meta-ethics challenging and less clear than the earlier modules. Overall, students feel they gained a solid understanding of the core principles.

Quizzes and materials reinforce learning.

"The multiple choice quizzes after each section were great for checking my understanding."

"I appreciated the transcripts and additional resources provided for further study."

"The narrated slideshows with images helped visualize the concepts effectively."

"The structure with quizzes and optional extra readings was very helpful for learning."

Applying theories to real issues is helpful.

"Applying the ethical theories to real-life scenarios like stealing and animal rights was incredibly useful for seeing how they work in practice."

"The examples section really helped cement my understanding of how to use the different frameworks."

"I enjoyed the practical application part; it made the theories come alive."

"It was great to see how utilitarianism or deontology would approach contemporary issues."

Great course for newcomers to philosophy.

"As someone completely new to philosophy, this course was the perfect starting point. It assumes no prior knowledge."

"It truly is an 'Introduction' course; the pace and depth were just right for a beginner."

"I was nervous about studying philosophy, but this course made it very accessible."

"Highly recommended for anyone looking to dip their toes into moral philosophy for the first time."

Explanations of main theories are very clear.

"The way the core theories like Utilitarianism and Deontology were explained made them really easy to grasp, even without any prior philosophy."

"I found the breakdown of virtue ethics particularly clear and the examples helped a lot."

"The early modules on Bentham, Mill, and Kant were exceptionally well-explained."

"Concepts are broken down effectively making complex ideas understandable for newcomers."

Final section on meta-ethics is challenging.

"While the first parts were very clear, I found the meta-ethics section towards the end quite abstract and harder to follow."

"The discussion on moral facts and anti-realism felt like a big step up in complexity compared to normative ethics."

"I struggled a bit with the final module, it required more effort to understand than the rest of the course."

"The meta-ethics was dense; maybe could use a bit more introductory material or simpler examples."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Introduction to Moral Philosophy with these activities:

Review Logic and Reasoning

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Strengthen your ability to analyze philosophical arguments by reviewing basic principles of logic and reasoning.

Browse courses on Propositional Logic

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Review the definitions of key logical terms.
Practice identifying logical fallacies in arguments.
Complete practice exercises on deductive and inductive reasoning.

Peer Discussion on Ethical Dilemmas

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Enhance your understanding of ethical theories by discussing real-life ethical dilemmas with peers.

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Form a study group with classmates.
Choose several ethical dilemmas to discuss.
Apply utilitarianism, deontology, and virtue ethics to each dilemma.
Share your perspectives and listen to others' viewpoints.

Create a presentation on Utilitarianism

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Solidify your understanding of utilitarianism by creating a presentation that explains its core principles, key figures, and criticisms.

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Research utilitarianism, focusing on Bentham and Mill.
Outline the key concepts and arguments of utilitarianism.
Create slides with clear explanations and examples.
Practice your presentation to ensure a smooth delivery.

Four other activities

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Show all seven activities

Debate Moral Anti-Realism

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Deepen your understanding of meta-ethics by preparing for and participating in a debate on moral anti-realism.

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Research moral anti-realism, including emotivism, prescriptivism, and error theory.
Prepare arguments for and against moral anti-realism.
Participate in a debate, presenting your arguments and responding to opposing viewpoints.
Reflect on the strengths and weaknesses of each position.

Review 'Nicomachean Ethics' by Aristotle

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Deepen your understanding of virtue ethics by reading and summarizing Aristotle's seminal work.

View Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics on Amazon

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Obtain a copy of 'Nicomachean Ethics'.
Read the book, focusing on key concepts like virtue, vice, and eudaimonia.
Summarize each book or section, noting key arguments and examples.
Reflect on how Aristotle's ideas relate to modern ethical dilemmas.

Review 'Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals' by Immanuel Kant

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Gain a deeper understanding of deontology by reading and analyzing Kant's foundational text.

View Melania on Amazon

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Obtain a copy of 'Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals'.
Read the book carefully, paying close attention to Kant's definitions and arguments.
Identify and explain the different formulations of the categorical imperative.
Consider the strengths and weaknesses of Kant's ethical theory.

Ethical Dilemma Case Studies

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Apply ethical theories to real-world scenarios by analyzing ethical dilemmas from different perspectives.

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Identify several complex ethical dilemmas.
Research the background and context of each dilemma.
Analyze each dilemma using utilitarianism, deontology, and virtue ethics.
Write a report summarizing your analysis and conclusions.

Career center

Learners who complete Introduction to Moral Philosophy will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Philosopher

A philosopher engages in the pursuit of knowledge and wisdom about fundamental questions, such as ethics, reality, and existence. The course, *Introduction to Moral Philosophy,* is fundamental for those who wish to become a philosopher, as it introduces the major moral theories of Western philosophy. The course’s exploration of both normative ethics and meta-ethics provides a strong basis for developing one's philosophical views on morality. The course is essential for aspiring philosophers, as it provides a necessary introduction to the intellectual life. Aspiring philosophers would benefit substantially from this course.

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Ethics Officer

An ethics officer is tasked with ensuring that an organization adheres to its ethical guidelines and legal regulations. Taking this course, *Introduction to Moral Philosophy*, will help you develop a structured approach to ethical decision-making. This course explores various ethical frameworks, including utilitarianism, deontology, and virtue ethics. An ethics officer is often required to analyze complex situations, apply ethical principles, and make recommendations to guide the organization's actions. The course's study of real-life ethical dilemmas and meta-ethical questions provides a strong theoretical foundation for tackling practical challenges in ethics oversight. Understanding how to evaluate different ethical perspectives and apply them to specific scenarios as shown in the course makes students well-suited for taking on this kind of role.

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Teacher

A teacher educates students on various subjects, often guiding discussions that require a solid grounding in ethics and moral reasoning. The *Introduction to Moral Philosophy* course may be helpful for educators as they often must deal with ethical problems in the classroom as well as in their curriculum. The course's focus on ethical theories provides a structured approach for a teacher to analyze complex issues, including how to handle conflict fairly. Furthermore, the course’s coverage of real-life ethical dilemmas such as lying and stealing allows a teacher to help students discuss these problems thoughtfully and with a range of perspectives. A deeper ethical understanding can help teachers be better mentors.

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Political Advisor

A political advisor provides counsel to politicians and elected officials, often involving complex ethical considerations in policy making. The *Introduction to Moral Philosophy* course will help any political advisor because it offers a structured approach to ethical reasoning. The course covers a wide range of ethical frameworks, which is valuable when considering the ethical dimensions of policy choices. The course also provides a deep exploration of meta-ethical questions, which is useful when constructing policy as well as arguments that are both effective and morally defensible. The best political advisors make their decisions ethically.

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Policy Analyst

A policy analyst researches and develops recommendations for new and existing policies, often navigating a range of potentially conflicting values and considerations. This *Introduction to Moral Philosophy* course can help policy analysts by giving them a structured approach to analyze and understand these underlying values, in addition to the ethical dimensions of policy choices. The course’s coverage of utilitarianism, deontology, and virtue ethics provides a conceptual framework for weighing policy alternatives against different ethical standpoints. Furthermore, understanding meta-ethical questions helps policy analysts to think about the foundations of policies and how they impact different groups. A thorough exploration of ethics serves an essential role.

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Social Worker

A social worker provides support to individuals and communities, helping them to navigate various challenges, which are deeply rooted in ethical considerations. The *Introduction to Moral Philosophy* course may be useful for a social worker as they must navigate complex moral dilemmas daily. The course’s overview of ethical theories, such as virtue ethics and deontology, helps them to approach their work with a clearer understanding of moral principles and a better grasp on how to apply them in practice. The course will help a social worker improve their reflective and ethical practice. A social worker must have a deep understanding of ethics to do their job well.

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Compliance Analyst

A compliance analyst monitors and enforces an organization's adherence to various laws, regulations and ethical standards. The *Introduction to Moral Philosophy* course may be helpful for a compliance analyst by providing a structured way to evaluate complex situations using philosophical reasoning. Analyzing the ethical implications of actions and policies is a key job duty in this role. The course's focus on ethical theories, like utilitarianism and deontology, cultivates the analytical skills needed to assess whether decisions meet ethical requirements. Furthermore, exploring meta-ethical questions helps one understand the foundational principles of morality that ultimately underpin laws and regulations of any organization. One who wishes to enter a career in compliance benefit from a course like this.

See salaries and explore the career path for Compliance Analyst

Nonprofit Program Manager

A nonprofit program manager oversees the planning, execution, and evaluation of programs, often aligning them with the organization’s mission, which is typically rooted in ethical principles. This *Introduction to Moral Philosophy* course can help a program manager by providing a deeper understanding of how to make sure projects are ethically sound. Through its focus on the major moral theories like utilitarianism and deontology, the course helps a manager to reflect on how the programs can maximize benefit while also upholding important ethical standards. The course’s study of applied ethics helps one to relate ethical theories to practical questions, such as what to do in a challenging situation.

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Academic Researcher

An academic researcher conducts in-depth studies and analysis in a particular field, often engaging in debates about ethical dimensions. The *Introduction to Moral Philosophy* course will help a researcher by providing a strong background in ethical theory. The course's study of normative ethics, as well as meta-ethics, gives one the tools necessary to analyze ethical questions from a variety of perspectives. In addition, the course’s structured approach to analyzing moral dilemmas may help a researcher to construct rigorous arguments and research projects in the field of ethics. This course will help any aspiring academic researcher.

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Ombudsman

An ombudsman investigates and addresses complaints made by members of an organization, often involving ethical issues or accusations. The *Introduction to Moral Philosophy* course may be useful for an ombudsman as it provides a structured approach to ethical reasoning. With its overview of the major moral theories like utilitarianism and deontology, the course shows how to evaluate ethical aspects of situations and arrive at fair conclusions. Furthermore, the course’s emphasis on the nature of morality and ethical language helps an ombudsman to understand the varied viewpoints that can be encountered in resolving conflicts. Anyone who seeks to enter this field should take this course.

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Mediator

A mediator helps facilitate constructive communication between parties in a dispute, requiring impartiality and ethical judgement. The *Introduction to Moral Philosophy* course helps a mediator by giving a deeper grasp of morality and different ethical perspectives. Knowing the ethical theories, like virtue ethics, allows a mediator to understand the various values and moral judgments that parties in a dispute may hold. Also, the course’s discussion of ethical language and the foundation of morality helps one to think about deeply held beliefs and how they differ among the people involved. A mediator must be able to appreciate a wide range of perspectives.

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Journalist

Journalists are expected to uphold high standards of ethics in their roles, such as when reporting the truth and avoiding conflicts of interest. The *Introduction to Moral Philosophy* course helps those wishing to enter the world of journalism because it provides a strong foundation in ethical theories and their application to real-world scenarios. The course's discussion of ethical dilemmas such as lying and stealing can be useful when assessing ethical dimensions of stories. In addition to ethical awareness, the capacity to analyze deep ethical questions makes a journalist a more discerning and ethical professional. This course will help any journalist do their work more responsibly.

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Human Resources Specialist

A human resources specialist is involved in matters such as recruitment, employee relations, and policy development, which often involves navigating complex ethical issues. The *Introduction to Moral Philosophy* course helps those who wish to work in human resources as it cultivates a deeper understanding of ethical theories and their practical application. Such knowledge helps a specialist to make well considered and grounded decisions and implement policies that reflect the organization’s values. The course’s study of dilemmas, like the ethics of lying and stealing, helps hone one's ability to respond to employee issues with fairness and ethical awareness. HR is increasingly called upon to address difficult ethical questions, and this course will serve as a solid foundation.

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Legal Assistant

A legal assistant provides support to lawyers, including tasks such as research and document preparation. The *Introduction to Moral Philosophy* course may be helpful for a legal assistant because it develops the ability to examine the ethical foundations of laws and legal practices. The course introduces the major moral theories and their application, helping one to think about the ethical implications of legal issues and decisions. The emphasis on exploring questions concerning morality can improve a legal assistant's analytical skills, which is beneficial in evaluating legal documents and crafting persuasive arguments. Those who wish to enter the legal field ought to take a course like this.

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Public Relations Specialist

Public relations specialists manage the public image of an organization and must consider the ethical implications of communications and actions. The *Introduction to Moral Philosophy* course allows public relations specialists to evaluate ethical dimensions of communicating with the public and the press. The course’s overview of major ethical theories helps a specialist to make sure that their communications are aligned with the organization’s values and are ethically sourced. Moreover, the course's study of ethical dilemmas enables one to be prepared to handle difficult issues in a thoughtful and ethical way. A public relations specialist must always consider the ethical impact of their work.

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Introduction to Moral Philosophy

What's inside

Learning objectives

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Reviews summary

Accessible foundation in moral philosophy

Activities

Career center

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