Ethical Theory Applied: Working Through Moral Dilemmas with Consequentialist, Deontological, and Virtue Frameworks

The value of ethical theory is not academic. The frameworks developed by Mill, Kant, and Aristotle are tools — and like any tool, they become useful only when you practice using them on real material. This workbook course develops the practical skill of structured moral argumentation: taking a dilemma, identifying the morally relevant features, applying multiple frameworks, evaluating their verdicts, and articulating a defensible position. By the end of this course you will be able to construct a structured ethical argument for a position on a real-world dilemma using at least two distinct frameworks, identify when different ethical theories converge versus diverge on a given case and explain why, recognize logical fallacies and weak argumentative moves in ethical reasoning, and write a clear, concise philosophical position paper on a moral question. What you will learn: - The structure of a valid ethical argument: from moral principle to case judgment - Identifying morally relevant features in a scenario: what facts matter and why - Applying utilitarian calculation to medical resource allocation and public policy dilemmas - Applying the categorical imperative to questions of honesty, promise-keeping, and rights violations - Using virtue ethics to analyze character and professional integrity in organizational contexts - Responding to objections: how to anticipate and rebut counterarguments - Cases in technology ethics: privacy, algorithmic harm, and autonomous systems examined through multiple lenses - Writing a philosophical position paper: structure, argument, evidence, and response to objection The course provides twelve case scenarios drawn from medicine (end-of-life decisions, resource allocation), technology (data privacy, autonomous vehicles), law (criminal punishment, civil disobedience), and everyday life (whistleblowing, broken promises). For each scenario, a structured analysis worksheet guides you through identifying the dilemma, applying each framework, evaluating the verdicts, and forming a position. Annotated worked examples model rigorous philosophical reasoning through the same scenario. Between cases, short readings provide additional conceptual depth on specific argumentative challenges. Self-assessment exercises help you track the development of your argumentation skills across the course. This course is written for students and professionals who have a basic familiarity with ethical theories and want to develop practical philosophical reasoning skills. It is suitable for those new to applied ethics as a discipline, including students in law, medicine, public policy, engineering, and the humanities. No prior philosophy coursework is required, though the foundational course in this series provides ideal preparation.