This course explores the moral standards, responsibilities, and duties of
professionals, such as accountants, architects, engineers, journalists,
lawyers, physicians, scientists, and teachers. We will scrutinize the
obligations of professionals towards their clients and towards third
parties. While we will examine cases that come up in "real life," we
will intersperse our study with explorations of common philosophical
theories of moral obligation, rights, and justice. Since this is a
philosophy course, we will consider various views with an eye toward
critical assessment instead of blind acceptance.
Text:
Joan C. Callahan, editor, Ethical Issues in
Professional Life (Oxford University Press, 1988)