Universitat Internacional de Catalunya
Ethics
Other languages of instruction: Catalan
Teaching staff
By appointment. In order to make an appointment, please request one by mail.
Introduction
The most frequent problems in our personal and professional activities are usually not really professional, in a technical sense. They are often human problems like: how to act correctly, how to maintain good relationships with other people. The subject “Ethics” is the space to study and think about this.
Pre-course requirements
No pre-course requirements are needed to enrol in this subject.
Objectives
The main objectives in this subject are:
1. To provide students with theoretical tools for the analysis of human behavior.
2. To introduce students into the use of the basic elements of moral thought and the main concepts in ethics.
Competences/Learning outcomes of the degree programme
- CN02 - Students will be able to identify models and policies specific to different cultures and migratory groups, as well as their historical context.
- CP05 - Students will be able to analyse socio-cultural, historical and artistic structures, from a respect for the fundamental rights of equality between men and women, using language that avoids androcentricity and stereotypes.
- HB01 - Students will be able to reflect on issues of a cultural, social, scientific or ethical nature by interpreting relevant data.
- HB03 - Students will be able to develop a coherent understanding and expression of ideas and arguments, both orally and in writing.
- HB04 - Students will be able to develop the capacity for analysis, synthesis and critical thinking.
- HB05 - Students will be able to problem solve based on reasoned judgements.
- HB07 - Students will be able to demonstrate a commitment to ethics, society, and protecting the environment when carrying out research projects and activities related to the field of study.
- HB11 - Students will be able to critically analyse cultural and artistic representations, based on an understanding of their historical context, in order to develop an intercultural perspective and a deeper understanding of the contemporary world.
- HB12 - Students will be able to adequately and effectively apply methods and techniques specific to different humanities disciplines when problem solving and when elaborating critical and well-founded arguments.
Learning outcomes of the subject
Students who enrol in this subject will:
- Develop their capacity to identify ethical values and exercise ethical judgments.
- Learn to identify and solve practical problems and make correct decisions.
Syllabus
PART I. CONCEPTUAL PART
1. What is ethics
Definition of ethics
Ethics as a philosophical discipline
The human being as a moral being
2. Fundamentals of Ethics I
Rational foundations of ethics
Physical laws and moral laws
Sources of morality
Science of Virtue
Fundamentals of Ethics II
Human dignity
Manifestations of human dignity
3. Human action and freedom
Teleology of action
The difference between the external goods of the body and the soul
The ultimate goal
The Role of Reason in Action
Voluntary act. Reason and desire. Rational desire and sensible desire
Integrate passions and emotions
4. Ultimate End and Happiness
Happiness as self-realization (realization of the ultimate end) and fulfillment
The meaning of life
Happiness and emotions
Happiness and pain
5. Virtue
Happiness and virtue
Virtue as "power"
Good habit, in the medium term
Our actions "make us"
Activity according to reason, free activity
Excellence (fullness of personal development)
Happiness and virtue
Virtue is personal and it is a social good
6. Fortitude and Temperance
Definition of Strength
The Need for Force for Freedom
The practice of fortitude
Definition of temperance
The Need for Temperance for Freedom
The Practice of Temperance
7. Justice, natural law, human rights and truthfulness
Definition of justice
Natural Law and Positive Law
Government and the common good. Life in society
Human rights
Veracity
8. Prudence, moral judgment, conscience
Definition of the virtue of prudence
Prudence and practical rationality
Moral Judgment and Moral Conscience
9. Intellectual virtues
Caution
Science
Wisdom
Performance
Art
10. Friendship and love
Conditions of True Friendship
Self-love
11. Moral dilemmas, the lesser evil, cooperation with evil
Conditions and references for evaluation
The end does not justify the means
PART II. REFERENCE AUTHORS
Machiavelli
The Prince
Power, virtue, friendship
Descartes
Discourse on the Method Part III
Provisional morality. Conditions of provisional morality
Hume
Treatise on Human Nature
The ethics of empiricism
Kant
Critique of Practical Reason
The recovery of ideals
Nietzsche
Genealogy of morality
Instinct and resentment
Hannah Arendt
Eichman in Jerusalem
The Banality of Evil
Teaching and learning activities
In person
Three different methodological resources are used in this subject:
1. Interactive class, raising the previous knowledge of the students
2. Theoretical class, explaining the main concepts
3. Analysis of practical cases
Evaluation systems and criteria
In person
25% Final exam 25% Parcial exam 25% Essay 25% Presentation
The work in class is evaluated and can vary up to one point above the final grade
Students must obtain a passing mark of 5 in all parts of the subject, in order to pass it
In the event that the teaching staff detects a plagiarized work or a student cheating during an exam, the latter will notify the Faculty Board, which will undertake the relevant measures, including the automatic obtaining of a grade of 0.0 for that subject by going directly to the next call.
Plagiarism involves taking ideas written by someone else and presenting them as if they were one's own ideas, without citing the author. Plagiarism (a term that comes from the Latin word for 'kidnapping') is misleading and dishonest.
Bibliography and resources
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ARISTÓTELES, Ética a Nicómaco. Ed. bilingüe, Instituto de Estudios Políticos, Madrid, 1970.
AUDI, R.; Means, ends and persons, Oxford University Pres, Oxford 2016
, Reasons, Rights and Values, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2015
BARRIO, José María; De qué va la ética, Rialp, 2024
BASTONS, M.; La inteligencia práctica. Prohom, Barcelona 2003
La toma de decisiones en la organización, Ariel, Barcelona 2000
Logro mis objetivos…, pero ¿Hago lo correcto? 22 respuestas para una ética en la toma de decisiones. Aranzadi, Cizur Menor 2021
BOSCH, M.; La ética amable, EUNSA, Pamplona 2015
CICERÓN, De los deberes
De la amistad
De la vejez
DESCARTES, Discurso del método
FRANKL, El hombre en busca de sentido, Herder
- El hombre doliente. Fundamentos antropológicos de la psicoterapia. Herder, Barcelona 1994
GRISEZ, G., y SHAW, R., Ser persona. Curso de Ética, Rialp, Madrid, 1993.
HABERMAS, J.; Conciencia Moral y Acción comunicativa, Planeta, Barcelona 1994
KANT, Crítica de la razón práctica
- Metafísica de las costumbres
LLANO, A.; La vida lograda, Ariel, Barcelona 2006
MARCO AURELIO, Meditaciones
MACINTYRE, A., Tras la virtud, Crítica, Barcelona, 1987.
Tres versiones rivales de le ética, Rialp, Madrid 1992
MAQUIAVELO, El Príncipe
MARÍAS, J. La felicidad humana, Alianza, Madrid, 1989.
MASSINI-CORREAS, Carlos, Alternativas a la ética contemporánea, Rialp, 2024
MAURI, M.; Bien humano y moralidad, PPU, Barcelona 1989
MEDINA CEPERO, JR; Sistemas contemporáneos de educación moral, Ariel, Barcelona 2001
NAGEL, Th.; The possibility of Altruism, Princeton University Press, Princeton
PETERSON, Ch. and SELIGMAN, M.; Character Strengths and Virtues. A handbook and classification, Oxford University Press, Oxford 2004
PIEPER, J. Las virtudes fundamentales, Rialp, Madrid, 1980.
PAKALUK, M and PEARSON, G.; Moral Psychology and Human Action in Aristotle, Oxford, 2012
RODRÍGUEZ LUÑO, A. Ética, Eunsa, Pamplona, 1986.
SENECA, Sobre la felicidad, Alianza, Madrid 1997
SPAEMANN, R., Ética. Cuestiones fundamentales, Eunsa, Pamplona, 1995.
Lo natural y lo racional, RIALP. Madrid 1989
TAYLOR, Ch.; La ética de la autenticidad, Paidós, Barcelona 1994
TRIGO, T.; En busca de una ética universal: un nuevo modo de ver la ley natural. Eunsa. Pamplona 2011
YEPES STORK, R. Fundamentos de antropología. Un ideal de la existencia humana. Eunsa. Pamplona. 1996.
SCHROEDER, D. and ABOL-HASSAN BANI-SADR, Dignity in the 21st Century. Middle East and West, Springer, Switzerland 2017