Philosophy 2

This course is an introductory ethics course. We will begin by thinking about the nature and effects of oppression, and then think about what ethical demands can be made of individuals living under unjust circumstances. In so doing, we will think about the emotional demands on oppressed individuals, the ways in which individuals can be wronged in their capacity as knowers, and the right attitudes for agents to possess while acting. We’ll be asking questions like the following: What’s the difference between suffering and oppression? How do power hierarchies make it harder for marginalized people to know themselves? If our sexual desires are culturally ingrained, are we responsible for changing them to be less problematic or do we just ‘like what we like’? Are we really responsible for our actions or is everything fated?