What does it mean to be moral?

Is murder morally wrong?  If we think that murder is morally wrong is
this just because we have been successfully educated by our culture
to have this “correct” opinion about murder?  Are moral judgments
like murder is wrong merely opinions that are relative to the
practices of a particular culture?  Is there anything more behind the
idea that murder is wrong other than the fact that many of us happen
to believe that it is wrong?  What kind of argument could we make to
a person who did not hold the opinion that murder is an unethical
action?  Would we be left with nothing to say?  Does our prohibition
against murder represent an objectively valid moral principle that
holds for all people at all times?

We all have ideas about right and wrong action.  These ideas are
generally so basic, such as the idea that murder is unethical, that
we rarely question them.  This course will examine the question what
does it mean to be moral?  The guiding idea behind this course is
that it is not sufficient to simply have opinions about ethical
issues.  If these issues are truly important to us, we ought to be
able to critically examine and defend our opinions as well.

We will begin the course by examining the controversy between ethical
relativism and moral objectivism.  The greater part of the course
will then be dedicated to examining several classical answers to the
question stated above, what does it mean to be moral?  We will look
carefully at the ethical theories of David Hume, Immanuel Kant, and
John Stuart Mill and evaluate their respective strengths and
weaknesses.  Finally, in the latter part of the course we will apply
these ethical theories to some of the following contemporary issues:
abortion, capital punishment, economic and social justice,
affirmative action, censorship, and multiculturalism.

Participation is classroom discussion is highly encouraged and
expected.  Part of examining morality entails looking at the ideas we
already have about ethical and unethical behavior.  Students will be
expected to do the readings ahead of time and come to class prepared
to ask questions and discuss the issues.  Classroom discussion will
provide students with the opportunity to develop the ability to
articulate and critique different ideas including their own.

The final grade for this course will be based on regular homework
assignments, occasional quizzes, one short paper, and midterm exam,
and a final exam.  Both the midterm and final exam will be given in
class.