Introduction

Organization of studies

The course is taught in the form of a lecture (2 hours per week), which has two components: a monologic component (explanation, lecture, briefing) and a dialogical component (discussion, interview, brainstorming). Both components are intertwined during studies, they are not separated in blocks. Student participation is not required, but recommended. Active participation of students in the form of questions and suggestions is welcome. For each lesson there is a room for discussion, clarification of inaccuracies, etc. The teacher can be consulted during the consultation hours or by sending an e-mail.

Individual work of student (control of self-study)

Together with the lectures, the student is obliged to study one of the books listed in the list of compulsory literature. Independent study of additional literature according to the survey is recommended and expected. Self-study contributes to a better and deeper grasp of the subject matter. Control of self-study consists of oral examination of knowledge in the range of prescribed topics and above all in an interview about the content of the selected book.

Overview of study literature and other study aids

Compulsory basic study literature:

Kant, Immanuel, Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals. New York: Cambridge University Press 1997.

Mill John Stuart, Utilitarianism. Indianapolis, Cambridge: Hackett Publishing Company ²2001.

Levinas, Emmanuel, Totality and Infinity. An Essay on Exteriority. Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic Publishing 1979.

Fletcher, Joseph, Situation Ethics: The New Morality. Philadelphia: Westminster Press 1966.

Held, Virginia, The Ethics of Care: Personal, Political, and Global. New York: Oxford University Press 2006.

Taylor, Charles, The Ethics of Authenticity. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press 1991.

Tugendhat, Ernst,  Vorlesungen über Ethik. Frankfurt am Main: Suhrkamp 1993.

Debate on the book:

Kant, Immanuel, Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals. New York: Cambridge University Press 1997.

Mill John Stuart, Utilitarianism. Indianapolis, Cambridge: Hackett Publishing Company ²2001.

Recommended additional study literature:

Quinton, Anthony, Utilitarian Ethics. La Salle: Open Court 1989.

Sandel, Michael, Justice. What’s the Right Thing to Do? New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux 2009; www.justiceharvard.org.

Forst, Rainer: The Right to Justification: Elements of a Constructivist Theory of Justice. New York, Columbia University Press 2012.

Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy https://plato.stanford.edu/.

Course completion: oral exam

The final oral exam has two parts. Firstly, it consists in verifying the knowledge in the range of topics presented. During the exam, the knowledge of basic ethical concepts and the ability of the student are verified, characterizing theories of deontological and utilitarian ethics and at the same time pointing out their advantages and their limits. Secondly, the examination consists of a discussion on the chosen book, which is an essential part of the examination. The conversation about the book verifies the knowledge of the content of the book and the independent reflection of the issue. The regular and corrective dates of examinations and their organization are announced according to the Study and Examination Regulations of the JU and related measures of the Dean of the TF (the documents are published on the website of the Faculty, section Study and Official Board).