PHIL 330 - Seminar in Ethics & Theory of Value

Semester Offered: Fall and Spring
1 unit(s)

Topic for 2022/23a: Social Reproduction Theory. This seminar explores the philosophical literature on Social Reproduction Theory. This is a strand of Marxist feminism that focuses on the relationship between capitalist exploitation and oppression. In particular, Social Reproduction Theory seeks to understand the role of unwaged work in the creation of surplus value. We examine the theoretical foundations of Social Reproduction Theory, its contemporary formulation, as well as some criticisms and alternatives. Authors include Tithi Bhattacharya, Angela Davis, Silvia Federici, Susan Ferguson, and Lise Vogel. Assignments in this course are oriented around a single, ongoing research project. Students aree required to conduct independent research culminating into two separate writing assignments submitted near the end of the semester. Along the way, students defend a research prospectus, prepare an annotated bibliography, and lead an in-class discussion. Jamie Kelly.

Topic for 2022/23b: Examining Effective Altruism. In his 1972 article, “Famine, Affluence and Morality,” Peter Singer argued that people in affluent nations who do not give away most of their money to help the global poor are acting in a way that is morally wrong. Within academic philosophy, that article has been both influential and highly controversial. Outside of academic philosophy, it has spawned a practical movement, Effective Altruism (EA), with chapters at many colleges, and web-sites like givingwhatwecan.org and 80000hours.org that offer ideas and forums for debate to people who want to live by the principles of EA. The logic of EA has led to some surprising conclusions: for instance, that because there may be many more future people than there are people alive now, it may be more important to spend money researching ways to prevent existential risks to human civilization than to spend it feeding hungry people. We examine arguments for EA, debates within the movement, and critiques of EA that have been offered both from within and from outside of academic philosophy. Jeffrey Seidman.

Prerequisite(s): Two intermediate or advanced Philosophy courses, or permission of the instructor.

One 3-hour period.

Course Format: CLS