ECTS - University of Pisa
| Modules | Area | Type | Hours | Teacher(s) | |
| ECONOMIC ETHICS | SECS-P/01 | LEZIONI | 42 |
|
Students in economics, business, legal and political studies who successfully complete the course will learn to distinguish positive from normative analysis. They will understand the criteria on which normative reasoning is based. They will be able to understand different ethical approaches. They will be able to assess economic problems in ethical terms.
Group works, essays and presentation will reveal the understanding and knowledge of ethical theories by students, as they will be invited to apply them to current ethical problems.
Students will learn to apply ethical theories to practical problems and especially to problems and issues of hot debate in economics. They will learn to assess economic questions in ethical terms and to see the ethical side of them.
Group work, in-class discussion and essays will reveal the ability to manage these skills
Collaborative behaviour in problem-solving is what is expected by students when working together and debating in class. Loyalty to colleages in group work is equally expected.
Participation in discussions and collaborative behaviour will be among the elements considered in the final assessment.
No knowledge of moral philosophy is required to access the course.
Delivery: face to face
Attendance: Advised
Learning activities:
Teaching methods:
The aim of the course is to explore some leading ethical theories and their application to currently hot economic and social issues.The main ethical theories that will be discussed are the following: (Natural) Rights: Kantian Ethics; Utilitarianism and consequentialism; Contractualism; Impartial Spectator; Virtue Theory. The main current economic problems that will be discussed are the following: - Donations to the world’s poorest people: is it a moral obligation? how far? - Vegetarianism: for and against - Birth control - Preserving the planet’s environment: is it an ethical obligation? On what grounds? - Cultural and religious differences: on what grounds and to what extent should we accept their ethical implications (gender equality/inequality, food restrictions, mutilations, etc.) - Laissez-faire: is it ethically justified? - Economic inequalities: on what grounds are they justified? to what extent?
Students will be provided with texts that will be discussed during classes. Non attending students will be asked to prepare their exam on the material posted in the e-learning portal of the Department of Economics and Management and on the following text: Amartya Sen, The idea of justice, London: Allen Lane, 2009 (there is a cheap paperback edition). Another useful text for all is Peter Singer, A Companion to Ethics, Oxford. Basil Blackwell.
Non attending students will be evaluated in a final exam in which they will be asked to write an essay on the subjects of the course.
During in-class discussion, and especially during the presentation of the group work project, the student will be assessed on his/her ability to assess economic subjects in ethical terms, and to make a critical use of the main current ethical theories in order to discuss these subjects. Obviously, an in-depth knowledge of these theories is a prerequisite that will be carefully evaluated. The evaluation of non attending students through the final essay will be based on the same criteria.
Methods:
Further information:
Attending students will be evaluated for active participation in discussion (30%) and on a written report plus oral presentation on subjects provided by the lecturer (70%) Non attending students will be evaluated in a final exam in which they will be asked to write an essay on the subjects of the course.
