Moral Thinking: An Introduction to Values and Ethics

By Prof. Vineet Sahu | IIT Kanpur

Learners enrolled: 4906 | Exam registration: 2741

ABOUT THE COURSE:

Why do we do what we do? There are many reasons for arriving at a choice - moral/values/ethics are one of them. Moral thinking is when we examine our value premises that constitute our decision making process. Moral thinking takes place implicitly or explicitly. This course on ethics aims to spark the student into sustained thinking about ethical issues and the tools needed for it - the concepts and broad theories of ethics. The course would be loaded with examples - real life and imaginary, to bring out the connection between the world of values and the day to day lived experience.

INTENDED AUDIENCE: General, Undergraduate students in all streams

INDUSTRY SUPPORT: Consultancy firms, HR, Law firms, Hospitals (medical ethics)

Summary

Course Status :	Ongoing
Course Type :	Core
Duration :	4 weeks
Category :	Humanities and Social Sciences
Credit Points :	1
Level :	Undergraduate
Start Date :	19 Aug 2024
End Date :	13 Sep 2024
Enrollment Ends :	19 Aug 2024
Exam Registration Ends :	30 Aug 2024
Exam Date :	03 Nov 2024 IST

Note: This exam date is subject to change based on seat availability. You can check final exam date on your hall ticket.

Page Visits

Course layout

Week 1 : Values theory: What is to value? Valuation in different disciplines.Values as foundational Intrinsic vs extrinsic values. Universal and situational values. Moral and religious values.

Week 2 : Concepts: Good, Right, Duty, Justice, Equality, Love, Purusarthas.

Week 3 : Egoism, Altruism, Ethical relativism & universalism.

Week 4 : Ethical theories: Consequentialist and Non-consequentialist theories, Hedonism, Utilitarianism, Deontological ethics, Ethical Rules, Situation Ethics, Virtue ethics. Ethics in the Indian tradition. Applied Ethics: Issues and Dilemmas.

Books and references

1.Shand, John, ed. Fundamentals of Philosophy. London: Routledge, 2003
2.Frankena, W.K. Ethics. New Delhi: Prentice Hall of India,1999
3.Hospers, John. An Introduction to Philosophical Analysis. New Delhi: Allied Publishers, 1967
4.LaFollette, Hugh, ed. Ethics in Practice: An Anthology. Cambridge: Blackwell,1997
5.Pojman, Louis P., ed. Ethical Theory: Classical and Contemporary Readings. Belmont,CA: Wadsworth Publishing Company, 1998
6.Cahn, Steven M. & Markie, Peter, ed. Ethics: History, Theory and Contemporary Issues. New York: OUP,1998
7.Chattopadhyay, D.P., ed. History of Science, Philosophy and Culture in Indian Civilization Vol. XII Part 1&2. New Delhi: Concept Publishing Company,2008

Instructor bio

Prof. Vineet Sahu

IIT Kanpur

Prof.Vineet Sahu specializes in the area of ethics, philosophy of social sciences and philosophy of mind. He earned his PhD in the problem of personal identity. His current research interests are in ethics, arising out of the problems of personal identity. He is also working in the area of moral thinking in the Indian tradition. His teaching interests range from hardcore metaphysical issues in philosophy to political philosophy and problems of governance. Prof.Sahu graduated in philosophy from Ravenshaw college followed by a Masters degree in philosophy from the University of Hyderabad, where he was awarded the University Gold medal for standing first in the order of merit. Thereafter, he was awarded a research fellowship of the University Grants Commission (Government of India), for pursuing a PhD, which he did and obtained his PhD in philosophy from the University of Hyderabad in 2009. He is currently an Associate Professor of Philosophy at the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur.

Course certificate

The course is free to enroll and learn from. But if you want a certificate, you have to register and write the proctored exam conducted by us in person at any of the designated exam centres.
The exam is optional for a fee of Rs 1000/- (Rupees one thousand only).
Date and Time of Exams: 03 November 2024 Morning session 9am to 12 noon; Afternoon Session 2pm to 5pm.
Registration url: Announcements will be made when the registration form is open for registrations.
The online registration form has to be filled and the certification exam fee needs to be paid. More details will be made available when the exam registration form is published. If there are any changes, it will be mentioned then.
Please check the form for more details on the cities where the exams will be held, the conditions you agree to when you fill the form etc.

CRITERIA TO GET A CERTIFICATE

Average assignment score = 25% of average of best 3 assignments out of the total 4 assignments given in the course.
Exam score = 75% of the proctored certification exam score out of 100

Final score = Average assignment score + Exam score

YOU WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR A CERTIFICATE ONLY IF AVERAGE ASSIGNMENT SCORE >=10/25 AND EXAM SCORE >= 30/75. If one of the 2 criteria is not met, you will not get the certificate even if the Final score >= 40/100.

Certificate will have your name, photograph and the score in the final exam with the breakup.It will have the logos of NPTEL and IIT Kanpur .It will be e-verifiable at nptel.ac.in/noc.

Only the e-certificate will be made available. Hard copies will not be dispatched.

Once again, thanks for your interest in our online courses and certification. Happy learning.

- NPTEL team

SWAYAM Helpline / Support