History of Ethics (NCHPH726)

The History of Ethics course at Northeastern University London investigates the history of philosophical ethics in the west. We study closely five classic works, by Plato, Aristotle, Hume, Kant and Mill. Besides placing these works in their respective historical settings, the seminars introduce other important trends and figures from the ancient, medieval and modern periods. We consider to what extent the questions of ethics have changed, and how the ostensibly divergent outlooks of different thinkers relate to each other.

We also link ethical debate with questions about politics, religion and law, and consider the relationship between philosophical and everyday thinking about how to live.