Happiness, Goodness and Justice

• • Introduction to Practical Philosophy
  • Epicureanism: Happiness as Pleasure
  • Stoicism: Happiness as Self-containment
  • Happiness and Character: Aristotle's Ethics
  • Morality, Religion and Atheism
  • The Challenge of Moral Relativism
  • Egoism and Self-interest
  • Kant and the Universality of Reason
  • Utilitarianism
  • Justice and Inequality
  • Justice, Immigration and Refugees
  • Climate Change

Equivalent subjects

You should not enrol in this subject if you have successfully completed any of the following subject(s) because they are considered academically equivalent:

• MAQ-PHI110 (Not currently available)
• MAQ-PHIX132-Happiness, Goodness and Justice (No longer available)

Others

If you have no prior university experience, you should complete BAR100 Academic Learning Skills or COM10006 Academic Literacies: Learning and Communication Practice before starting this subject. NCCW (pre-2020 units) PHI110, PHL132, PHIL132, PHIX132 NCCW (2020 and onwards) PHIL1032 Happiness, Goodness and Justice

Additional requirements

• Other requirements -

  Students who have an Academic Standing of Suspension or Exclusion under Macquarie University's Academic Progression Policy are not permitted to enrol in OUA units offered by Macquarie University. Students with an Academic Standing of Suspension or Exclusion who have enrolled in units through OUA will be withdrawn.

Please note: This subject is available in Macquarie Semester 3, which is an intensive semester that spans only 5 intensive teaching weeks, plus a mid-semester recess and an assessment period. Students are advised to enrol in only one or two subjects in Semester 3. Students who would prefer to take the unit over 13 teaching weeks should enrol in the Semester 2 offering.

This subject provides an introduction to major topics in ethics, moral theory and contemporary political philosophy. The first section focuses on the nature of happiness. Is pleasure essential to happiness? Or does the pursuit of pleasure harm our chances of lasting fulfilment? Must we be virtuous in order to be happy? What is the relationship between happiness and duty? The second section explores the nature of moral goodness. Is morality based ultimately in self-interest? What is the relationship between morality and religion? Are there moral principles that everyone is bound by reason to recognise? Or is the validity of moral standards relative to specific societies and cultures? In the third section we turn to questions of applied political philosophy, focusing on questions such as: What principles should govern the distribution of economic and social resources within a society? What are the obligations of wealthy nations to those less fortunate, including immigrants and refugees? And what issues of justice are raised by climate change?

• Critical Essay (40%)
• Online Participation (20%)
• Weekly Quiz (20%)
• Reading-based reflective exercise (20%)

For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).