GEN2003 Understanding Morality – Common Core Curriculum Office (CCCO)

Department

Social Science

Semester

AY2010/11 Sem 2, AY2011/12 Sem 2, AY2012/13 Sem 1, AY2012/13 Sem 2, AY2013/14 Sem 1, AY2014/15 Sem 1, AY2014/15 Sem 2, AY2015/16 Sem 1, AY2015/16 Sem 2, AY2016/17 Sem 1, AY2016/17 Sem 2, AY2017/18 Sem 1, AY2017/18 Sem 2, AY2018/19 Sem 1, AY2018/19 Sem 2, AY2019/20 Sem 1, AY2019/20 Sem 2, AY2020/21 Sem 1, AY2020/21 Sem 2, AY2021/22 Sem 1, AY2021/22 Sem 2, AY2021/22 Summer Sem, AY2022/23 Sem 1, AY2022/23 Sem 2, AY2023/24 Sem 1, AY2023/24 Sem 2, AY2024/25 Sem 1

Method

Lecture 3 hours

Cluster

4 (Moral Reasoning)

Prerequisite

GEN1000 Perspectives on General Education

Exclusion

PPE1003 Ethics

Module Description

The module focuses on the understanding of morality by the application of moral theories to the study of contemporary moral issues. It aims to introduce students to major moral theories in the Western and Chinese traditions, for instance, Utilitarianism, Kantian ethics, Virtue ethics and Confucian ethics. It also explores the study of morality in relation to the meaning of life. Students are encouraged to apply those moral and philosophical theories to examine and review contemporary moral issues by building critical arguments and generating reflective comments. It helps students to develop the critical methods and analysing skills of their moral reasoning in order to make their own judgments that connect those theories they have learned from the module with moral and existential questions in their life.

Module Intended Learning Outcomes (MILO)

Upon completion of this module, students should be able to:
a. describe the nature, methods and theories of morality;
b. explain and evaluate various theories of ethics;
c. identify and criticize contemporary moral issues;
d. develop their philosophical understanding of morality and answer to moral and existential questions;
e. engage in moral debate in a rational manner.

Module Content

1. What is morality?

1.1 Basic definition of morality
1.2 The nature of morality
1.3 The concern of moral philosophy
1.4 Moral judgments in everyday life

2. Moral theories

2.1 Ethical and psychological egoism
2.2 Natural law theory
2.3 Cultural and moral relativism
2.4 Consequentialism
2.5 Kantianism
2.6 Virtue ethics
2.7 Confucian ethics

3. Morality and the meaning of life

3.1 Question on the meaning of life: human life and non-human life
3.2 Moral quest in the meaning of life: humanism and existentialism
3.3 Pursuit of a good life: virtue and happiness

4. Contemporary moral issues

4.1 Bioethics (e.g., abortion, euthanasia, cloning, sexual morality, etc.)
4.2 Environmental concerns (e.g., animal rights, climate change, integral ecology, sustainable development, etc.)
4.3 Public issues (e.g., public health, death penalty, information technology, etc.)

5. Great challenges to morality in the future

5.1 Thinking morality in diversified aspects
5.2 Morality and globalization
5.3 The resolution of moral conflicts

Assessment Methods

1. Presentation and Assignment (35%)
2. Test (25%)
3. Final essay (40%)

Texts & References

General References:
1. LaFollette, H. (2020). Ethics in Practice: An Anthology (5th Edition). Chichester, West Sussex: Wiley Blackwell.
2. MacKinnon, B. (2018). Ethics: Theory and Contemporary Issues (9th Edition). Stamford, CT.: Cengage Learning.
3. May, L. & Delston, J.B. (2016). Applied Ethics: A Multicultural Approach (6th Edition). New York: Routledge.
4. Rachels, J. & Rachels, S. (2018). The Elements of Moral Philosophy. (9th Edition). New York: McGraw-Hill Education.
5. Wolff, J. (2020). An Introduction to Moral Philosophy. 2nd Edition. New York: W. W. Norton & Company.

Other References:
1. Bakewell, S. (2016). At the Existentialist Café: Freedom, Being, and Apricot Cocktails. New York: Other Books.
2. Blackburn, S. (2021). Ethics: A Very Short Introduction (2nd Edition). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
3. Bryant, J.A. & Baggott la Velle, L. (2018). Introduction to Bioethics (2nd Edition). Wiley-Blackwell.
4. Cohen, A.I. & Wellman, C.H. (2014). Contemporary Debates in Applied Ethics(2nd Edition). Malden, MA.: Blackwell.
5. Eagleton, T. (2008). The Meaning of Life: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
6. Flynn, T. R. (2006). Existentialism: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
7. Frey, R.G. & Wellman, C.H. (2005). A Companion to Applied Ethics. Malden, MA. Blackwell.
8. Seachris, J.W. ed. (2012). Exploring the Meaning of Life: An Anthology and Guide. Hoboken, N.J.: Wiley-Blackwell.
9. Singer, P. (2011). Practical Ethics (3rd Edition). New York: Cambridge University Press.
10. Tao, J. & Yan, H. ed. (2006). Meaning of Life. Singapore: McGraw-Hill.
11. Van Camp, J.C., Olen, J. Barry, V. (2015). Applying Ethics: A Text with Readings(11th Edition). Stamford, CT, USA: Cengage Learning.
12. Weston, A. (2017). A 21st Century Ethical Toolbox (4th Edition). New York: Oxford University Press.
13. 李天命 (2019)。《存在主義概論》。台北：臺灣學生書局。
14. 何懷宏 (2002)。《倫理學是甚麼？》。北京：北京大學出版社。
15. 林火旺 (2004)。《倫理學》。台北：五南圖書。
16. 林火旺 (2009)。《基本倫理學》。台北：三民書局。
17. 陳特 (2009)。《倫理學釋義》。台北：東大圖書。
18. 區結成 (2019)。《生命倫理的四季大廈》。香港：三聯書店。
19. 勞思光 (2001)。《存在主義哲學新編》。香港：中文大學出版社。
20. 曾瑞明 (2018)。《香港人應該思考的 40 個哲學問題》。香港：商務印書館。
21. 楊國榮 (2008)。《青紅皂白：從社會倫理到倫理社會》(修訂本)。香港：三聯書店。
22. [英] 莎拉．貝克威爾 (著)；江先聲 (譯) (2017) 。《我們在存在主義咖啡館》 (Sarah Bakewell. At the Existentialist Café: Freedom, Being, and Apricot Cocktails) 。台北：商周出版。
23. [美]雷秋爾 (著)；林逢祺 (譯) (2010) 。《道德哲學要義》(第四版) (James Rachel. The Elements of Moral Philosophy) 。台北：桂冠。