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Main menu for Browse IS/STAG
Course info
KFR / MHIE
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Course description
Department/Unit / Abbreviation
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KFR
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MHIE
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Academic Year
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2024/2025
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Academic Year
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2024/2025
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Title
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History of Ethics
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Form of course completion
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Examination
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Form of course completion
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Examination
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Accredited / Credits
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Yes,
7
Cred.
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Type of completion
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Combined
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Type of completion
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Combined
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Time requirements
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Lecture
2
[HRS/WEEK]
Seminar
2
[HRS/WEEK]
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Course credit prior to examination
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Yes
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Course credit prior to examination
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Yes
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Automatic acceptance of credit before examination
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No
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Included in study average
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YES
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Language of instruction
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English
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Occ/max
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Automatic acceptance of credit before examination
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No
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Summer semester
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0 / -
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0 / -
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0 / -
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Included in study average
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YES
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Winter semester
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0 / 20
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0 / 0
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0 / 20
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Repeated registration
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NO
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Repeated registration
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NO
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Timetable
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Yes
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Semester taught
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Winter semester
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Semester taught
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Winter semester
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Minimum (B + C) students
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not determined
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Optional course |
Yes
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Optional course
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Yes
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Language of instruction
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English
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Internship duration
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0
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No. of hours of on-premise lessons |
0
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Evaluation scale |
A|B|C|D|E|F |
Periodicity |
každý rok
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Evaluation scale for credit before examination |
S|N |
Periodicita upřesnění |
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Fundamental theoretical course |
Yes
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Fundamental course |
No
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Fundamental theoretical course |
Yes
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Evaluation scale |
A|B|C|D|E|F |
Evaluation scale for credit before examination |
S|N |
Substituted course
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None
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Preclusive courses
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N/A
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Prerequisite courses
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N/A
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Informally recommended courses
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N/A
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Courses depending on this Course
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N/A
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Histogram of students' grades over the years:
Graphic PNG
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XLS
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Course objectives:
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The aim of the course is to introduce the most important authors and topics in the history of ethics in connection to the contemporary debates in ethics.
Reading List
Ancient Ethics, Candiotto
2. Dialogical inquiry and the Greek paideia
Plato, The Seventh Letter, 340b3-342a
3. Plato's Socrates: Elenchus and self-examination
Plato, Charmides, 155e2-157c6
4. The definition of virtue and Socrates' intellectualism
Meno 70a-100b (selections)
5. Plato's conception of the soul: harmony and justice
Plato, Republic, book 4: 435b-445b (selections)
6. The ethical value of eros and beauty
Plato, Symposium 205d-206e; 210a-212b
7. The idea of the Good and the power of dialectic
Plato, Republic, book 6: 508a-509c; book7: 514a-519d; 532a-534d
8. Aristotle's perfectionism and eudaimonism
Kraut, R. 2007. What is Good and Why: The Ethics of Well-Being. Harvard University Press, pp. 131-141.
9. Aristotle's conception of virtue and choice
Korsgaard, C. M. 2008. The Constitution of Agency: Essays on Practical Reason and Moral Psychology (OUP), selections from the chapter "Aristotle's Function Argument".
10. Aristotle on the good human life
Nussbaum, M. 2011. Creating Capabilities: The Human Development Approach. Harvard University Press, pp. 123-143.
11. Hellenist Ethics: the ideal of the wise man, and philosophy as a style of life
P. Hadot, 1995. Philosophy as a Way of Life. Blackwell, pp. 264-276.
12. Plotinus: contemplation and virtues, Dec 14
Selections from the Enneads, book 2.
Further readings (helpful sources for the essay)
Bobonich, C. (ed.). 2017. The Cambridge Companion to Ancient Ethics. Cambridge University Press.
Gill, C. (ed.). 2005. Virtue, Norms, and Objectivity: Issues in Ancient and Modern Ethics. Clarendon Press.
Hadot, P. 2002. What is Ancient Philosophy? Harvard University Press.
Nehamas, A. 1987. "Socratic Intellectualism". Proceedings of the Boston Area Colloquium in Ancient Philosophy, vol. 22, pp. 275-316.
Rowe, C. 1991. "Ethics in Ancient Greece" Blackwell. pp. 121-132.
Sauvé Meyer, S. 2008. Ancient Ethics: A Critical Introduction. Routledge.
Reading for The History of Ethics: Modern
Before lecture 2: Mary Midgley: The origins of ethics. In A Companion to Ethics, ed. Peter Singer.
Before lecture 3. Thomas Hobbes, excerpts from Philosophical Rudiments. In Moral Philosophy from Montaigne to Kant, ed. J.B. Schneewind
Before lecture 4: David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals (+introduction). In Moral Philosophy from Montaigne to Kant, ed. J.B. Schneewind, pp. 545-555.
Before lecture 5: Jean-Jacques Rosseau, Discourse on the Origin and the Foundation of Inequality Among Men. In Moral Philosophy from Montaigne to Kant, ed. J.B. Schneewind
Before lecture 6: Jens Timmermann, Kant. In The Cambridge History of Moral Philosophy, eds. Sacha Golob and Jens Timmermann, pp. 394-409.
Before Lecture 7: Immanuel Kant, Lectures of Mr. Kant: On the Metaphysics of Morals. In Moral Philosophy from Montaigne to Kant, ed. J.B. Schneewind
Before Lecture 8: John Stuart Mill, Utilitarianism.
In Political and Moral Philosophy, ed. Steven M. Cahn.
Before Lecture 9: Mary Wollstonecraft, A Vindication of the Rights of Woman. In The Feminist Papers: From Adams to de Beauvoir, ed. Alice S. Rossi.
Before Lecture 10: Jeffrey Reiman, Marx. In The Cambridge History of Moral Philosophy, eds. Sacha Golob and Jens Timmermann.
Before Lecture 11: excerpts form, Friedrich Nietzsche, The Genealogy of Morals.
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Requirements on student
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Requirements
1. Attendance at classes.
2. Reading of obligatory literature and discussion in class.
3. You are required to write a term paper (3500-4500 word range) on a chosen topic from the one we discuss in class. Make sure you pick a focused topic that is organized around a clear research question and author. Do not merely reproduce basics from the literature, but engage with an issue/question/riddle and provide textual references. We trust you to find your own themes but it is advisable to have us check your topic before you start writing.
4. To obtain the "active participation", we require each participant to regularly submit questions/ commentaries to us. The question/commentary should engage with an aspect of the week's course reading that is particularly difficult/interesting/relevant/thought-provoking or something else that catches your attention. Questions/comments should be about 100-150 words long, and provide some context to make the issue you raise intelligible to the casual reader. You are required to prepare 6 such questions/commentaries for Ancient Ethics and 6 for Modern Ethics.
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Content
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Ancient Ethics, Candiotto: Wednesdays 16-18 (it starts at 16 sharp and end at 17:30), G building, Alpha room, 5th floor
1. Introduction to the course - joint session with Antony Fredriksson Sep 27
2. Dialogical inquiry and the Greek paideia
Rescheduled to Monday 2 October, 18-20
3. Plato's Socrates: Elenchus and self-examination
Rescheduled to Monday 9 October, 18-20
4. The definition of virtue and Socrates' intellectualism Oct 18
5. Plato's conception of the soul: harmony and justice
Oct 25
6. The ethical value of eros and beauty
Nov 1
7. The idea of the Good and the power of dialectic Nov 8
8. Aristotle's perfectionism and eudaimonism
Nov 15
9. Aristotle's conception of virtue and choice
Nov 22
10. Aristotle on the good human life
Nov 29
11. Hellenist Ethics: the ideal of the wise man, and philosophy as a style of life
Dec 6
12. Plotinus: contemplation and virtues Dec 13
Modern Ethics, Fredriksson: Mondays 16-18 (EB 01010)
1. The Renaissance: Humanism October 2nd
2. The Enlightenment: Natural Law October 9th
3. Thomas Hobbes October 16th
4. Spinoza October 23rd
5. Leibniz and Descartes October 30th
6. Kant 1: Deontology November 6th
7. Kant 2 November 13th
8. John Stuart Mill: Utilitarianism November 20th
9. Feminism November 27th
10. Karl Marx December 4th
11. Nietzsche December 11th
12. Postmodernism December 18th
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Activities
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Fields of study
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Guarantors and lecturers
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Literature
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Prerequisites - other information about course preconditions |
Proficiency in English language |
Competences acquired |
Students will
(1) acquire knowledge of the main ethical theories of Western Philosophy, from Socrates to Postmodernism;
(2) develop their understanding of some of the main philosophical debates and
practical issues which ethical theories have implications for;
(3) further develop some core philosophical skills in philosophy: interpreting primary texts,
reconstructing and evaluating arguments, engaging with the history of ideas, comparing authors, discussing theories;
(4) enhance their ability to write an essay which displays critical assessment along with knowledge of the literature. |
Teaching methods |
- Monologic (reading, lecture, briefing)
- Dialogic (discussion, interview, brainstorming)
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Assessment methods |
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