Learning outcomes

At the end of his apprenticeship in this course, the student will be able to:


• To distinguish different theoretical orientations relating to ethics and to recognize their main characteristics
• Identify the ethical orientations present in a problem situation
• To formulate his own argued point of view in response to an ethical question
• To formulate recommendations at the end of an ethical debate on a given question
• Apply different theoretical ethical orientations to concrete and topical issues
• Compare different relevant ethical orientations to shed light on a debate on a given issue.
• To make a reasoned critical judgment on an ethical position involved or a given action

Goals

Debates on ethical issues occupy a growing place in a democratic society like ours. This course offers students to understand different ways of formulating ethical questioning, and to apply them to dilemmas encountered in the 21st century by scientists and, more broadly, citizens.


To guide us in a context of moral uncertainty and growing responsibility, we will use the great modern and contemporary currents of ideas that make up ethical philosophy, and thus we will get to know the main philosophers who represent them.

Content

• Ethics (ethics) in a democratic context
• The ethics of feelings and virtues - The ethics of Hume - The ethics of Kant - The utilitarian ethics - Political liberalism and communitarianism - The theory of justice of John Rawls - The ethics of rights - Ethics of the responsibility of Hans Jonas - The ethics of the good of Charles Taylor
• Case studies in certain fields of application including those relating to science, medicine and technology.

Assessment method

Formative evaluations will be offered remotely on Webcampus (part 1). These will not be included in the final score.

The certification assessment (evaluation of learning outcomes) will be written or oral (each student can choose the modality that suits him), and open book (each student will therefore be able to use all the courses that they find useful).
This evaluation will take the form of a scenario (short article) about which a few open questions will be asked in order to guide the student's reflection.

Sources, references and any support material

M. Métayer – La philosophie éthique: enjeux et débats actuels. Editions du Renouveau Pédagogique Inc. (ERPI), 2014.

Language of instruction

Français