Introduction to Ethics: A Weekend Seminar
Geoff Sayre-McCord

This weekend seminar we will be going straight to the classics -- to two of the best books ever written on moral theory: Plato's Republic and Kant's Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals. These two books have had an incredible impact on western culture.  Over the weekend, however, we will be studying them not as influential historical documents but as living contributions to an on going search for an understanding of morality.  The arguments and views presented in the books will be our focus, not their impact through history.  And our aim will be to understand and come to grips with the theories of morality they articulate and defend.

The seminar will meet for four formal sessions over two days. Participants are expected to do the reading in advance and to come to the sessions with the books as well as with questions, concerns, puzzlements, counter-arguments…

You might find the following helpful as you work through the reading.

Summary Guides for:

Plato's Republic and Kant's Groundwork

Study Questions for:

Plato's Republic and Kant's Groundwork

Session Schedule:

Friday January 16:

4:00-6:00 pm
Session I: Introduction to the Seminar, Plato's Republic -- Crucial reading: pp. 32-51 (357a-376c), 88-93(412c-417b), 94-121 (419a-445e)

6:00-7:15 pm
Dinner

7:15-9:15 pm
Session II: Plato's Republic -- Crucial reading: 213-216 (543a-546b), 217-240 (547b-569c), 241-263 (571a-592b)

Saturday, January 17:

9:00-9:30 am
Light breakfast

9:30-11:00 am
Session III: Kant's Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals -- Crucial reading: First Section

11:15-12:45
Session V: Kant's Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals -- Crucial reading: Second Section, up through 431

12:45-2:00 pm
Lunch

2:00-3:30 pm
Session VI: General Discussion and Conclusion