Middlebury

PHIL 0285

Idea of the Ethical

The Idea of the Ethical
What is the basis for morality? The great turning point of the history of modern European philosophy, particularly ethical philosophy, came at the end of the 18th century and the beginning of the 19th century with Kant's new account of the possibility of moral philosophy and Hegel's critique of that account. In this course, we shall investigate Kant's moral philosophy and Hegel's response to it, and then we will consider the ways in which a series of major thinkers attempted to rethink the idea of the ethical in the light of this dispute. We will consider Schopenhauer, Kierkegaard, Marx, Emerson, and Nietzsche and conclude with an account of 20th century developments. (Some prior work in philosophy would be useful background) 3 hrs. lect.
Subject:
Philosophy
Department:
Philosophy
Division:
Humanities
Requirements Fulfilled:
EUR PHL

Sections

Fall 2015

PHIL0285A-F15 Lecture (Bates)

Spring 2012

PHIL0285A-S12 Lecture (Bates)

Fall 2010

PHIL0285A-F10 Lecture (Bates)