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Thinking about ethics can be difficult at the best of times; in an atmosphere of polarization, heightened public controversy and soundbites it is even more difficult. In this course we will consider a few concepts that are central to ethical discussion and try to understand how different ideas may have shaped the way that we think. For example: we tend to hear the word ‘justice’ used to oppose inequality in society. But in the ancient world, ‘justice’ is linked to ideas about harmony and order; so is there more to justice than a concern for equality and fairness? Catholics will be familiar with the idea of ‘natural law’, but very often, doing what is natural often seems to be opposed to doing what a law demands – so how can a law be something ‘natural’?
The aim of this course is not to put forward any particular theory or argument about good and bad, right or wrong; rather, we aim to come to a clearer understanding of how we talk and think about ethics – to understand our ethical ‘toolkit’ a bit better.
Week 1
Good & bad; right and wrong
In this first session, we look at some of the most basic ideas in our ethical language. What do we mean when we describe something as ‘good’? Is this the same as saying that it is ‘right’ to do something? Is everything that is bad also wrong?
Week 2
Righteousness and justice
‘Justice’ is one of the most powerful words in our ethical discourse. But why do people agree so much about what justice actually consists in? In this session we explore a few different ways of thinking about justice, and then reflect on how ‘justice’ connects to ‘righteousness’.
Week 3
Happiness and fulfilment
Sometimes it seems as though one thing we could all agree on is that happiness is a good thing – and that we should act so as to increase the happiness of others. But what if there are several very different ways of understanding happiness – and its connection to fulfilment? This session examines our moral intuitions about happiness.
Week 4
Nature and law
Questions about what is or is not ‘natural’ are central to many of the fiercest debates in our own culture. And ‘nature’ has played an central role in some of the most influential philosophical accounts of goodness. This session examines the connection between nature and law in one especially important thinker: Thomas Aquinas.
Week 5
Love
People talk about love in many different ways, and it might seem to be too vague and slippery a term to be useful in ethics. But love might be the most important idea in Christian ethics. So why did Jesus think that all other commandments are summed up in the command to love one another? And what does love of another actually involve?
In this first session, we look at some of the most basic ideas in our ethical language. What do we mean when we describe something as ‘good’? Is this the same as saying that it is ‘right’ to do something? Is everything that is bad also wrong?
Questions for reflection
For further reading
Wittgenstein, ‘Lecture on ethics’ (extract), from The Wittgenstein Reader.
Thomas Nagel, ‘Right and Wrong’, extract from What Does it All Mean? A Very Short Introduction to Philosophy.
In this session, we explore an issue that has haunted modern moral philosophy: the question of moral truth. Are there moral truths that exist in an objective realm? If there are, on what are they based? This issue is unavoidable if we are to reflect seriously on our understanding of ethics, because the experience of ethical disagreement is so prevalent. What if the reason that we find it difficult to agree on ‘the truth of the matter’ in ethical questions is because there is no‘ truth of the matter’? If we are to refute this sceptical conclusion, we will need to give some account of the relationship between reality and goodness.
No readings for this week
Questions for reflection
Sometimes it seems as though one thing we could all agree on is that happiness is a good thing – and that we should act so as to increase the happiness of others. But what if there are several very different ways of understanding happiness – and its connection to fulfilment? This session examines our moral intuitions about happiness.
Questions for reflection
For further reading
John Stewart Mill, Utilitarianism (extract)
Bernard Williams, Against Utilitarianism (extract)
Questions about what is or is not ‘natural’ are central to many of the fiercest debates in our own culture. And ‘nature’ has played a central role in some of the most influential philosophical accounts of goodness. This session examines the connection between nature and law in one especially important thinker: Thomas Aquinas.
Questions for reflection
For further reading
Brian Davies, The Thought of Thomas Aquinas, ch. 12
People talk about love in many different ways, and it might seem to be too vague and slippery a term to be useful in ethics. But love might be the most important idea in Christian ethics. So why did Jesus think that all other commandments are summed up in the command to love one another? And what does the love of another actually involve?
Reading
Volf_Exclusion and Embrace
Video
Volf interview- Loving enemies
Volf interview - Justice and Christianity
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Stuart is the Theology Lead at LJC. He graduated with a degree in Literature and Theology from the University of Hull in 2000. From 2003-9 he studied Philosophical Theology part-time at the University of Nottingham, whilst continuing to work in the third sector with vulnerably-housed or homeless people, and young asylum seekers (as well as pulling pints in a pub). He was Lecturer at York St John University for almost a decade, before moving to London Jesuit Centre in 2021. He now lives in South East London, and spends as much time as he can in the woods.
