Western culture is experiencing significant change and conflict in regard to social issues.  Issues like free speech, a new sexual revolution, identity politics, increasing racial tensions, abortion, capital punishment, gun control, and whether capitalism or socialism are better socio-economic systems - are all discussed regularly and are dividing more and more people.  Many on either side of each issue seem to no longer be able to speak to one another in a civil manner.  This animosity and conflict should be a concern to all who live in Western nations, and solutions should be sought to reduce the hostility and encourage thoughtful dialogue.  That will start with a personal commitment to understand one’s positions on any of these issues and having sound reasons for defending one’s views.  Sound reasons do NOT include, 'Oh, I just feel that...' or 'Oh, well, I am just right about it'.

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This class will examine some of the major social issues of our day in the light of reason, logic, and within an ethical framework of moral objectivism, not cultural relativism.

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(It is best if people taking this class will have first taken the Logic and Intro to Ethics classes.  While I will do a brief review of the main concepts in those classes that are relevant to this class, I will not spend a lot of time on those topics.)

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Part one of this class will explain the philosophical framework to more objectively examine the major social issues of our day – namely using reason and logic well, and doing so within an ethical framework of moral objectivism, not moral relativism.  Moral relativism is a view that says that ethics or moral views are determined by either individuals or cultures and thus no objective, universal ethical principles exist that apply to all human beings.

 

After laying down the foundation, this class will look at the current popular doctrines of judgmentalism, tolerance, and respect, and we will find the best definitions and working models for these important concepts.  Hint: Claiming you are tolerant while judging others as "hateful" or "haters" who are not actually expressing hatred  but rather who merely disagree with you is not actually being tolerant : )

 

We will then examine the importance of free speech and the arguments that are being used against it.  Finally, we will examine identity politics as well as racism and show how some concepts are contradictory or mis-used.

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The goal of the course will be to encourage reason over emotionalism, and thus to bring clarity to the issues so the learner can understand why they have a position on an issue; whether a certain position has more merit than another (passes the test of logic better or has fewer contradictions); and thus be able to defend their position using well-reasoned arguments from a sound ethical framework.

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The following issues will be covered in the following order:

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• The Important of Reason and Logic versus Emotionalism

• The Problems with Relativism & Popular Relativistic Doctrines Like Tolerance

• Can Democracy Survive without Truly Free Speech?

• What is Identity Politics (IP) and Does it Give Racism a Pass?

• Gun Control: What is a Reasonable Position and Policy?

• Capital Punishment: Just or Cruel?

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This is a six-week class held once a week for one hour per week for a total of six hours of instruction.

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For a full description of this course, please click the Full Course Syllabus to view or download that PDF document.

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