MORAL THEORIES AND APPLIED ETHICS

The course of Moral Theories and Applied Ethics is divided into two distinct but interrelated moments: 1) the study of the history of moral philosophy, from its origins to the present day; 2) an examination of the so-called applied ethics, i.e. those disciplines that arise from the application of moral theories and principles in particular areas of human existence, especially those related to life (bios) and the living world in general.

The course in its entirety aims to deepen the student's understanding of the moral aspect of philosophical reflection of all times, making him aware of the importance of the origins of such reflection, which are the roots and foundations of any contemporary reflection. In addition to historical-theoretical knowledge, the student will acquire a clear and firm awareness of the most problematic and crucial phenomena of our times, on which moral philosophy finds practical application today, from medical bioethics to business ethics, from gender ethics to ecology, from ethics of communication to ethics of care.

The first part of the course will be traditionally held through lectures that will cover the history of moral philosophy, from its beginnings (VI-V century BC) to the so-called practical philosophies (Philosophy for Children, Socratic Dialogue, Counseling, Café Philo).

In the second part of the course, conducted in seminar mode, students will have the opportunity to actively participate in the deepening of applied ethics, through the presentation of individual or group work, power points or other. To this end, some recently published essays are indicated, on which the student will deepen the section of applied ethics with personal interventions (power points, oral reports, group work), elaborated with the aid of these texts, from which he will have to choose and buy only one.

The student who approaches this discipline, so current but at the same time so linked to the history of the entire philosophical thought, from its beginnings in Greek antiquity, must have a knowledge, even if not perfectly complete, of philosophical thought in its historical evolution. This fundamental requirement may have been acquired even only during the school curriculum, if the student did not come from a three-year degree in which philosophical disciplines were included. Our three-year degrees guarantee the acquisition of the required requirement, since they offer teachings in the History of Philosophy.

From the text of the Da Re:

The good life and knowledge of good. Happiness and virtue (from Socrates to Plotinus).

The good and virtues. Freedom and Will (from Augustine to Duns Scotus).

Ethics and politics (from Machiavelli to Thomas More).

Good and supreme good. The motive for moral action. Moral duty and the test of universalizability (from Descartes to Mill).

The problem of moral autonomy (from Hegel to Nietzsche)

Reason and feeling (from Moore to MacIntyre).

The ethics of responsibility (from Weber to Jonas).

Analytical metaethics.

About the applied ethics: the contents indicated in the texts related to the second part of the course

For institutional part of course:

1. Antonio Da Re, Filosofia morale. Storia, teorie, argomenti, Bruno Mondadori, Milano 2008 oppure Pearson, Milano-Torino 2018 (non saranno accettate edizioni precedenti alle due indicate)

For deeping and workgroups (choose one text):

1. Adriano Fabris, Etiche applicate. Una guida, Carocci, Roma 2018.

2. Elena Pulcini, La cura del mondo. Paura e responsabilità nell'età globale, Bollati Boringhieri, Milano, 2009.

3. Luisella Battaglia, Un'etica per il mondo vivente. Questioni di bioetica medica, ambientale, animale, Carocci, Roma, 2011

4. Luigina Mortari, Filosofia della cura, Cortina, Milano 2015

5. Adriano fabris, Etica per le tecnologie dell'informazione e della comunicazione, Carocci, Roma 2018.

6. Monia Andreani, Questioni etiche nel caregiving: contesto bioplotico e relazione di cura, Carocci, Roma 2016.

7. Caterina Botti, Cura e differenza. Ripensare l'etica, Led, Milano 2018