OVERVIEW

The course introduces and critically discusses the main issues in moral epistemology and aims at providing students with an overview of the key views and open debates in this field.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

This course purports to investigate the key epistemic challenges to morality and offer an overview of the main positions in the contemporary discussion in moral epistemology, with a focus on the Anglo-American debate

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course aims at providing students with the conceptual and methodological tools to navigate the current discussion in moral epistemology. The course will encompass selected themes such as the possibility of moral knowledge (standard accounts of moral knowledge and moral skepticism), the sources of moral knowledge (e.g., moral perception, intuition, moral reasoning, moral testimony), moral disagreement and moral expertise. Students will be encouraged to take active part in the classroom activities: among other things, we will hold philosophical debates on specific topics and students will be asked to defend a specific position against the objections of the other participants.  

The specific objectives of the course encompass:

• Introducing the main accounts of moral knowledge;
• Presenting and discussing the main ongoing discussions about selected themes in moral epistemology;
• Analyzing the ethical, epistemological, and broader implications of these discussions. 

The main expected learning outcomes encompass:

• Acquiring knowledge of the main views and discussions in moral epistemology;
• Developing the appropriate conceptual, terminological, and methodological tools of (analytic) philosophical discussion;
• Learning how to critically analyze specialistic philosophical essays and developing argumentation and collective discussion skills;
• Learning how to conduct a philosophical debate. 

PREREQUISITES

The course will be held in English. Students are expected to read texts and take active part in classroom discussions in English.

TEACHING METHODS

The first part of the course will consist of lectures. The second part of the course will also include seminars/student presentations. Students are required to enroll in Aulaweb.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The course introduces and analyzes the main accounts of moral knowledge and the main skeptical arguments against the possibility of acquiring knowledge in the moral domain. It also discusses the main accounts of the various sources of moral knowledge, such as moral perception, intuition, moral reasoning, and moral testimony. Finally, the course addresses such questions as: What epistemic value should we pursue in the moral domain? How can moral disagreement be resolved? Whom can we trust in the moral domain? Can there be moral experts? 

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Bibliography (6 cfu):

1. One reading among the following:

• A selection of essays that will be provided during the course
• Audi, R. (2012), Moral Perception, Princeton, Princeton University Press.
• Zimmermann, A. (2010), Moral Epistemology, London, Routledge.
• Zimmermann, A., Jones, K., & Timmons, M. (2019), The Routledge Handbook of Moral Epistemology, London, Routledge. [selected essays]

Alternatively, students can write:

2) One short paper (3000-4000) on a relevant topic (which has to be selected with the lecturer)

Students who do not attend the course (“non frequentanti”):

Should meet both requirements 1) and 2). 

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

MICHEL CROCE (President)

MARIA SILVIA VACCAREZZA

CORRADO FUMAGALLI (Substitute)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

16.03.2022

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Students who attend the course (“frequentanti”):

• Short paper or Oral exam (30/30)

The short paper must be sent to the lecturer at least two weeks before the oral exam date.

Students must enroll in the exam session at least one week before the exam date.

Students who do not attend the course (“non frequentanti”):

• Short paper (15/30)
• Oral exam (15/30)

The short paper must be sent to the lecturer at least two weeks before the oral exam date.

Students must enroll in the exam session at least one week before the exam date.

Exam schedule

FURTHER INFORMATION

Those who do not attend the course (“non frequentanti”) are required to inform the lecturer.