2020 Faculty Courses Liberal arts and basic science courses Humanities and social science courses
Philosophy A
- Academic unit or major
- Humanities and social science courses
- Instructor(s)
- Yusuke Nagato
- Class Format
- Lecture (Zoom)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 5-6 Mon (W631,W641)
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- LAH.H101
- Number of credits
- 100
- Course offered
- 2020
- Offered quarter
- 4Q
- Syllabus updated
- Jul 10, 2025
- Language
- Japanese
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
This course is meant to provide a way of discussion about ethical concepts in our daily life, e.g. well-being, duty, morality, self-deception and death. We start with a brief discussion of morality’s status: What is self-deception? Why be moral? Or Happiness depends upon ourselves, is it true?
The central aim of the course is to acquaint you with the many philosophical problems that populate the field of moral philosophy, alongwith the tools to tackle them.
Course description and aims
At the end of this course, students will be able to:
1. Acquire the ability to use critical thinking skills
2. Have an understanding of the core ideas of moral philosophy, and based on this, argue basic problems related to social issues.
3. Prepare an overview of different positions, identify issues, and propose a solution.
Keywords
Ethics, Concept Analysis, Utilitarianism, Values, Good and Evil
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
This class consists of lectures and discussions between instructer and students.
Towards the end of class, students are given minute paper related to the lecture given that day to solve.
Required reading a manual of style and standards in academic writing.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Self: What is self-deception? | Understand the debate over the relationship between good behavior and motivation. |
| Class 2 | Discrimination: When is discrimination wrong? | Understand philosophical theories of discrimination. |
| Class 3 | Happiness: Happiness depends upon ourselves, is it true? | Understand various theories of happiness, such as pleasure theory, desire fulfillment theory, and objective list theory. |
| Class 4 | Death: Does my death harm me? | Understand theories of harm of death. |
| Class 5 | Morality: Why be moral? | Understand the confrontation between deontology and utilitarianism. |
| Class 6 | Morality: "If God does not exist, then everything is permitted." | Understand the relationship between "Why be moral?" problems and following rules. |
| Class 7 | Metaethics: Can Ethics Provide Answers? | Understand various theories of cognitivism and non-cognitivism. |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.
Textbook(s)
None required.
Reference books, course materials, etc.
Course materials are provided during class.
Evaluation methods and criteria
Minute paper(30%) and Term-end report(70%)
Related courses
- LAH.H201 ： Philosophy B
- LAH.H301 ： Philosophy C
- LAH.S432 ： Essence of Humanities and Social Sciences36:Philosophy
Prerequisites
None required.