Introduction to Moral Philosophy

What will you learn?

The principles of the three major moral theories in Western philosophy: utilitarianism, deontology and virtue ethics.

How to apply those theories to real life ethical dilemmas, such as stealing and killing animals.

How to unpick meta-ethical questions, such as whether there's such as thing as a moral fact.

Who is this course for?

This course gives a basic introduction to Moral Philosophy and can be studied by those who have never studied Philosophy before. It will appeal to those who are simply interested in the topic; those wanting to take an A level qualification in Philosophy, or those teaching the topic who want fresh ideas on how to explain various topics.

What does the course cover?

It focuses on the the three main normative ethical theories of the Western world: utilitarianism, deontology and virtue ethics. It looks at some of the key figures in Moral Philosophy from Aristotle to Kant to John Stuart Mill. It then focuses on how their ethical theories can be applied in practice to answer whether its ever okay to steal, lie, play violent video games or kill and eat animals. The course finishes by exploring where morality might come from. Is it a feature of our psychology or do moral facts exist as properties of the universe? It also asks what we're doing when we make moral statements – are we doing anything more than expressing our emotions?

The course is structured to be interactive, with activities spread throughout and a multiple choice quiz after each section. Information is delivered mainly through narrated slideshows. Each slide includes images that have been paired with the ideas and concepts discussed to help make the material easier to understand and remember. There is also a transcript of each video to help you follow the material and know how to spell new terms. If any topic particularly takes your interest then you can access the additional resources section of each lecture, which will enable you to explore further. There is also a discussion group where you can discuss the ideas and concepts you will be studying.

The syllabus covered in this course is that listed in the AQA's 7172 A Level Philosophy syllabus for the 'Moral Philosophy' module. Further information on how this qualification is structured and assessed are attached to the first video. If you are interested in the other Philosophy topics on the A Level syllabus then you may wish to explore my 'Introduction to the Philosophy of Mind' (Metaphysics of Mind), my 'Introduction to the Philosophy of Western Religion' (Metaphysics of God), or my 'Introduction to Epistemology' (Philosophy of Knowledge).