COGS 305 - Departmental Seminar: Moral Boundaries and Limits of Science

Institution:

Case Western Reserve University

Subject:

Description:

Cognitive Science is essentially interdisciplinary, and this seminar will focus on deep issues that lie at the intersection between science and philosophy. The class will explore how, and to what extent, science might both shape our ethical judgments and help us to understand them. We will also consider what, if anything, our deep moral intuitions, as evidenced by strong sentiments such as disgust or repugnance, tell us about the nature of morality. Current scholarship in moral psychology, moral neuroscience, and moral philosophy are shedding new light on these issues. We will focus on moral boundaries: distinctions between things that have powerful ethical and emotional significance, at least for some people. We will consider the following boundaries: -Male/female and moral responses to homosexuality; -Human/animal and moral responses to bestiality and stem cell research that inserts human stem cells into animals; -Life/death and moral responses to euthanasia; -Human/machine and the moral responses to artificial intelligence, robots, and the use of steroids to enhance athletes and warfighters. In addition to learning and writing about relevant psychological and neuroscientific research, the course contains two other essential aspects. First, students will engage with relevant philosophical issues and arguments. Are there moral facts? If so, what is their basis? Second, the course will include experiential aspects--students will be asked to examine their own ethical responses, and to reexamine them in light of what they are learning. Recommended Preparation: (any two of following pre-requisites) COGS 101, COGS 102, COGS 201, COGS 202.

Credits:

3.00

Credit Hours:

Prerequisites:

Corequisites:

Exclusions:

Level:

Instructional Type:

Lecture

Notes:

Additional Information:

Historical Version(s):

Institution Website:

www.case.edu

Phone Number:

(216) 368-2000

Regional Accreditation:

North Central Association of Colleges and Schools

Calendar System:

Semester

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