Previous Years' Course Catalogues

This course is an historical examination of different philosophical approaches to morality. First, we will look at the foundations of Western morality found in Plato and Thomas Aquinas; then we will look at the Enlightenment approach of Immanuel Kant and at Friedrich Nietzsche's attack on Western morality, whether it be Platonic, Thomistic or Kantian. Due consideration will be given to the approaches of Emmanuel Lewinas and some Indigenous thinkers and see whether they are compatible with traditional Western morality and whether they can survive Nietzsche's scathing critique.

This course is an historical examination of different philosophical approaches to morality. First, we will look at the foundations of Western morality found in Plato and Thomas Aquinas; then we will look at the Enlightenment approach of Immanuel Kant and at Friedrich Nietzsche's attack on Western morality, whether it be Platonic, Thomistic or Kantian. Due consideration will be given to the approaches of Emmanuel Lewinas and some Indigenous thinkers and see whether they are compatible with traditional Western morality and whether they can survive Nietzsche's scathing critique.

This course is an historical examination of different philosophical approaches to morality. First, we will look at the foundations of Western morality found in Plato and Thomas Aquinas; then we will look at the Enlightenment approach of Immanuel Kant and at Friedrich Nietzsche's attack on Western morality, whether it be Platonic, Thomistic or Kantian. Due consideration will be given to the approaches of Emmanuel Lewinas and some Indigenous thinkers and see whether they are compatible with traditional Western morality and whether they can survive Nietzsche's scathing critique.

An examination of three different approaches to ethics. First, we will look at the foundations of Western morality through reading Plato's Gorgias; second, at Nietzsche's attack on Western morality in Beyond Good ; Evil; and third at Aquinas' treatment of the virtues.

This course is an historical examination of different philosophical approaches to morality. First, we will look at the foundations of Western morality found in Plato and Thomas Aquinas; then we will look at the Enlightenment approach of Immanuel Kant and at Friedrich Nietzsche's attack on Western morality, whether it be Platonic, Thomistic or Kantian. Due consideration will be given to the approaches of Emmanuel Lewinas and some Indigenous thinkers and see whether they are compatible with traditional Western morality and whether they can survive Nietzsche's scathing critique.

An examination of three different approaches to ethics. First, we will look at the foundations of Western morality through reading Plato's Gorgias; second, at Nietzsche's attack on Western morality in Beyond Good & Evil; and third at Aquinas' treatment of the virtues. Lectures, discussions, short papers, final exam.

An examination of three different approaches to ethics. First, we will look at the foundations of Western morality through reading Plato's Gorgias; second, at Nietzsche's attack on Western morality in Beyond Good & Evil; and third at Aquinas' treatment of the virtues. Lectures, discussions, short papers, final exam.

This course is an historical examination of different philosophical approaches to morality. First, we will look at the foundations of Western morality found in Plato and Thomas Aquinas; then we will look at the Enlightenment approach of Immanuel Kant and at Friedrich Nietzsche's attack on Western morality, whether it be Platonic, Thomistic or Kantian. Due consideration will be given to the approaches of Emmanuel Lewinas and some Indigenous thinkers and see whether they are compatible with traditional Western morality and whether they can survive Nietzsche's scathing critique. Students will be constantly encouraged to apply different moral theories to their personal experience to evaluate both the strengths and weaknesses of the theories and of their own moral behaviour.

An examination of three different approaches to ethics. First, we will look at the foundations of Western morality through reading Plato's Gorgias; second, at Nietzsche's attack on Western morality in Beyond Good ; Evil; and third at Aquinas' treatment of the virtues. Lectures, discussions, short papers, final exam.

This course is an historical examination of different philosophical approaches to morality. First, we will look at the foundations of Western morality found in Plato and Thomas Aquinas; then we will look at the Enlightenment approach of Immanuel Kant and at Friedrich Nietzsche's attack on Western morality, whether it be Platonic, Thomistic or Kantian. Due consideration will be given to the approaches of Emmanuel Lewinas and some Indigenous thinkers and see whether they are compatible with traditional Western morality and whether they can survive Nietzsche's scathing critique. Students will be constantly encouraged to apply different moral theories to their personal experience to evaluate both the strengths and weaknesses of the theories and of their own moral behaviour.

Moral and political philosophy differ from other branches of philosophy because they are practical-which is to say, they tell us not just how we should think but also how we should live. This course is a historical examination of different approaches to living our lives both as individuals (= moral philosophy) and as communities (= political philosophy). First, we will look at the foundations of Western moral and political thought in Plato and Thomas Aquinas; next at the Enlightenment approaches of Immanuel Kant and John Stuart Mill; and then at Friedrich Nietzsche's attack on all of Western philosophy. Finally, we will consider the ideas of Emmanuel Levinas and of two contemporary Indigenous thinkers to see whether their approaches can survive Nietzsche's scathing critique.

Moral and political philosophy differ from other branches of philosophy because they are practical-which is to say, they tell us not just how we should think but also how we should live. This course is a historical examination of different approaches to living our lives both as individuals (= moral philosophy) and as communities (= political philosophy). First, we will look at the foundations of Western moral and political thought in Plato and Thomas Aquinas; next at the Enlightenment approaches of Immanuel Kant and John Stuart Mill; and then at Friedrich Nietzsche's attack on all of Western philosophy. Finally, we will consider the ideas of Emmanuel Levinas and of two contemporary Indigenous thinkers to see whether their approaches can survive Nietzsche's scathing critique.