This course will begin by examining a number of related
questions concerning character, friendship, and the scope and limits
of morality. In the past couple of decades, numerous philosophers
have argued that contemporary ethical theories--or perhaps morality
itself!--are at odds with important values, in particular, those of
character and personal integrity, and of friendship, loyalty, and
commitment to a person, community or project.  The concern, more
specifically, is that morality--or moral theory--asks us to step
outside our lives, our loves and our commitments, to evaluate them
from a distant and impersonal perspective, and  to be ready to give
up a project if it conflicts with morality's requirements. Some
philosophers see the problem to pose a challenge for certain moral
theories. We will evaluate both utilitarianism and Kantian ethics in
light of this challenge.  Others (in particular Susan Wolf) hold that
it shows only that morality must not be taken too seriously: moral
considerations are not invariably overriding, and there is such a
thing as being "too moral".  Still others, of course, deny that there
is a problem.

Discussion of these issues thus presses in two directions: towards
asking how morality should be understood and what its scope and
limits are; and towards an investigation of personal commitment,
personal integrity, friendship and other forms of personal
attachment. We'll explore both, as well as the tension between
(impartial) morality and personal attachment.

In the last third of the course, depending on students' interests,
we'll probably focus our attention on virtue ethics.

Readings for this class will include articles by Bernard Williams,
Sarah Conly, Susan Wolf, R.M. Adams, Peter Railton, William Wilcox,
Cheshire Calhoun, Diane Jeske, Robert Louden, Alasdair MacIntyre,
Philippa Foot, Martha Nussbaum, and Christine Swanton, among others.
Depending on how strong the students' backgrounds are in the history
of ethics, I may also assign some relevant parts of the classics of
moral philosophy.  (I have in mind work by Hume, Kant, and perhaps
Aristotle.)