Moral Philosophy

PH117

Semester 1, 2017

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SIEW

Classes are held at SFXMS.

Please contact SFXMS for more information.

This course presents St. Thomas’s virtuous way of moral living. It suggests a way of Christian living. Other classical and contemporary ethical viewpoints will also be presented. Some of these complement Aquinas’; others are demonstrations of alternative views which we should understand in order to have meaningful dialogue with them. The course is divided into two parts. The first part discusses the moral system of St. Thomas. It suggests a final end that is grasped by reason. Man, becoming and being a good person, strengthened and empowered by virtues, guided by laws, produces good actions that direct him to this end. This is supported by a community that seeks the common good, ensures justice and enables mutual growth. The second part introduces some other ethical systems as a comparison to Thomistic system. They include utilitarian, pragmatic and Kantian ethics, the approach of analytic philosophers, and Kohlberg’s theory of moral development.

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