Concentration in Ethics
Ethics is the study of questions about how we should live and how things should be. For example:
- How much should we give to the poor?
- How should we distribute scarce bio-medical resources?
- Should we violate the rights of individuals when we can bring about the greater good by doing so?
- How should a society be organized if it is to count as just?
This concentration will give you a variety of different theoretical tools to help ask and answer such questions.
1. The Requirement
Students must take three of the following subjects:
| 17.051 | Ethics of Energy Policy |
| 21A.302J/WGS.271J: | Dilemmas in Biomedical Ethics |
| 21A.305J/STS.062J | Drugs, Politics, and Culture |
| 21A.410 | Environmental Struggles |
| 21A.442J/WGS.270J | Violence, Human Rights, and Justice |
| 21L.450: | Leadership, Ethics, and Literature |
| 24.02: | Moral Problems and the Good Life |
| 24.03: | Good Food: The Ethics and Politics of Food |
| 24.04J/17.01J: | Justice |
| 24.06J/STS.006J: | Bioethics |
| 24.120: | Moral Psychology |
| 24.131: | Ethics of Technology |
| 24.230: | Meta-ethics |
| 24.231: | Ethics |
| 24.235J/17.021J | Philosophy of Law |
| 24.236: | Topics in Social Theory and Practice |
| 24.237J/17.007J/WGS.301J | Feminist Thought |
| STS.032 | Energy, Environment, and Society |
| STS.049 | The Long War Against Cancer |
| STS.085J/6.805J | Foundations of Information Policy |
At least one of the three must cover ethical theory (24.02, 24.04, 24.120, 24.230, 24.231).
Only one of the following three subjects may count towards the concentration: STS.032, STS.049, STS.085J.
A concentration proposal must be approved by the Ethics Concentration Advisor. If appropriate, the Ethics Concentration Advisor may approve courses other than those listed above.
2. Application Forms
Concentration credit in philosophy is obtained by submitting an on-line proposal form and afterwards submitting a certificate of completion form. Proposal and completion forms can be found at http://studentformsandpetitions.mit.edu/. Both forms are reviewed and approved by the philosophy concentration advisor.
3. Consultation
Professor Jack Spencer is available for consultation. Please contact him at 32-D929, 617-253-5744 or jackspen@mit.edu for an appointment.
Ms. Jennifer Purdy in 32-D812 (x3-9372; purdy@mit.edu) will also be glad to be of help, both in giving general information and in directing students to the faculty advisors.