3002 - Contemporary Ethics 1 (David Smith)
Course Description
Instructor: David Smith
An overview of moral theories in circulation today, including relativism, egoism, utilitarianism, deontology, divine command theory, and virtue theory, and application of those theories to contemporary moral issues. Issues include abortion, war, and end of life decisions. The series addresses both ethics and the law and includes discussion.
Bio: Dr. David E. Smith grew up in the world of fundamentalist religion. As an adult he gradually moved away from that worldview and became a religious progressive/skeptic. After earning an M.A. in philosophy of religion, he received a second M.A. and a Ph.D. in religious studies from Temple University in Philadelphia, PA. Formerly a full-time philosophy and religious studies faculty member at Central Washington University in Ellensburg, WA, he now teaches for the National Osher Resource Center and offers independent seminars and personal consultations in comparative religion and philosophy. He has published widely in these areas, as well. His mission is to empower people to think well for themselves about things that matter.
Course Outline
Instructor: David Smith
An overview of moral theories in circulation today, including relativism, egoism, utilitarianism, deontology, divine command theory, and virtue theory, and application of those theories to contemporary moral issues. Issues include abortion, war, and end of life decisions. The series addresses both ethics and the law and includes discussion.
Bio: Dr. David E. Smith grew up in the world of fundamentalist religion. As an adult he gradually moved away from that worldview and became a religious progressive/skeptic. After earning an M.A. in philosophy of religion, he received a second M.A. and a Ph.D. in religious studies from Temple University in Philadelphia, PA. Formerly a full-time philosophy and religious studies faculty member at Central Washington University in Ellensburg, WA, he now teaches for the National Osher Resource Center and offers independent seminars and personal consultations in comparative religion and philosophy. He has published widely in these areas, as well. His mission is to empower people to think well for themselves about things that matter.