Examines arguments about controversial social issues drawn from various areas of applied ethics including biomedical ethics, AI ethics, sexual ethics, criminal justice ethics, and environmental ethics. Multiple topics will be covered and may include abortion, physician-assisted suicide, obligations to the global poor, cloning, genetic engineering, algorithmic fairness, deepfake pornography, prostitution, animal rights, climate change, obligations to future generations, affirmative action, slave reparations, mass public surveillance, predictive policing, and criminal punishment. Recommended prerequisite: 6 hours of philosophy coursework.
instructor(s)
Boonin, David
Primary Instructor
- Fall 2025 / Spring 2026
