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TRN171Y1: Ethics and the Public Sphere

COURSE DESCRIPTION

To whom and to what are we obligated, and on what grounds? What are our rights and what are our duties? Are we defined most by our individuality or our relationships? What is our relationship to the past and what are our obligations to the future? In this course, we will read a range of texts including philosophy, political science, literature and beyond, that engage with the theme of ethics in the public arena. These will provide valuable analytic tools as we confront contemporary issues that raise urgent ethical questions.

Breadth Requirements: 0.5 FCE 2) Thought, Belief and Behaviour + 0.5 FCE 3) Society and Its Institutions

HOW WILL I BE EVALUATED?

Assignments can include but are not limited to:

Weekly participation and written reflections
Papers
Presentations
Exams

Note: Assignments can vary year to year.

WHAT WILL I GAIN FROM THIS COURSE?

Students will learn to read challenging texts in philosophy, political science, and literature and to use these texts to inform and engage in discourse around broader cultural and social phenomena.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How should I prepare for this course?

You are not expected to come to this course with any previous knowledge of course material.

What if I'm nervous about speaking in class?

Because this course lasts a full year, you will have time to get to know your professor and your classmates. This familiarity should make talking in class easier. There will also be plenty of opportunity for small-group and one-on-one discussion, if you find speaking in front of the entire class especially daunting. If speaking in class is something you are concerned about, be sure to meet with the professor within the first couple weeks of the semester to discuss strategies for participation.

TRN171Y1 COURSE INSTRUCTOR

Dr. Laura Rabinowitz, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream

Email: laura.rabinowitz@utoronto.ca

Laura Rabinowitz teaches in Political Science and at Trinity College. Her area of specialization is the history of political theory, especially ancient Greek ethical and political thought. Prior to joining the department, she was an Assistant Professor at St. Thomas University in Fredericton, NB and taught in the Herbst Program for Ethics, Engineering & Society at the University of Colorado, Boulder.

Contact Us:

Sharon Reid
Margaret MacMillan Trinity One Program Coordinator
trinityone@utoronto.ca

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