61092002 Ethics

Hiroshima University Syllabus

Japanese

Academic Year 2026Year School/Graduate School Liberal Arts Education Program

Lecture Code 61092002 Subject Classification Area Courses

Subject Name 倫理学

Subject Name
（Katakana）リンリガク

Subject Name in
English Ethics

Instructor SAWAI TSUTOMU

Instructor
(Katakana) サワイ　ツトム

Campus Higashi-Hiroshima Semester/Term 1st-Year, First Semester, 1Term

Days, Periods, and Classrooms (1T) Mon1-4：IAS K211

Lesson Style Lecture Lesson Style
(More Details) Face-to-face

Lecture-based instruction, discussion, and student presentations.

Credits 2.0 Class Hours/Week 4 Language of Instruction B : Japanese／English

Course Level 1 : Undergraduate Introductory

Course Area（Area） 23 : Arts and Humanities

Course Area（Discipline） 02 : Ethics

Eligible Students

Keywords

Special Subject for Teacher Education 　 Special Subject 　

Class Status within
Liberal Arts Education Area Courses（Courses in Arts and Humanities/Social Sciences)　Category：Philosophy / Ethics / Religion / Arts
Expected Outcome 1. To be able to explain the formation and development processes and contemporary issues of each academic discipline.
2. To be able to explain historical and contemporary issues that span multiple academic disciplines from multifaceted perspectives.

Class Objectives
/Class Outline Ethics, a branch of philosophy, is generally divided into three subfields: normative ethics, metaethics, and applied ethics.

In the first half of the course (Weeks 1–6), we will provide an overview of major debates in ethics, particularly in contemporary Anglo-American philosophy. Students will learn what kinds of questions ethics addresses and what methods it employs. Through this, they will develop the ability to critically and self-reflectively examine concepts such as “rightness” and “goodness,” which many people tend to hold only vaguely.

In the second half of the course (Weeks 7–14), we will address specific issues in applied ethics, including enhancement, artificial intelligence (AI), assisted dying, and designer babies. Using audiovisual materials, we will conduct group discussions and plenary discussions. Active participation from students is expected.

Regardless of whether students major in philosophy or ethics, this course aims to equip them with the ability to clarify their own positions on issues in applied ethics and to communicate those positions persuasively to others.

Class Schedule lesson1: Introduction – Foundations of Ethics
lesson2: Normative Ethics (1): Utilitarianism
lesson3: Normative Ethics (2): Deontology and Virtue Ethics
lesson4: Normative Ethics (3): Ethical Principles, Theories of Justice, Moral Status
lesson5: Metaethics (1): Moral Realism
lesson6: Metaethics (2): Anti-Realism
lesson7: Applied Ethics (1): Background of Enhancement and Ethical Issues
lesson8: Applied Ethics (2): Audiovisual Materials on Enhancement / Group Discussion
lesson9: Applied Ethics (3): Background of AI and Ethical Issues
lesson10: Applied Ethics (4): Audiovisual Materials on AI / Group Discussion
lesson11: Applied Ethics (5): Background of Assisted Dying and Ethical Issues
lesson12: Applied Ethics (6): Audiovisual Materials on Assisted Dying / Group Discussion
lesson13: Applied Ethics (7): Background of Designer Babies and Ethical Issues
lesson14: Applied Ethics (8): Audiovisual Materials on Designer Babies / Group Discussion
lesson15: Final Examination

A final examination will be conducted at the end of the semester.

Text/Reference
Books,etc. Required Textbook: None
Recommended Readings: Introduced during the course as appropriate

PC or AV used in
Class,etc. Handouts, Visual Materials, moodle

(More Details)

Learning techniques to be incorporated Discussions, Post-class Report

Suggestions on
Preparation and
Review Lecture materials will be made available prior to each class. Students are expected to prepare in advance.
Reviewing recommended readings beforehand will enhance learning effectiveness.

Requirements To earn credit, attendance at 10 or more classes is required.
・Attendance will be recorded using an IC card reader.
・After each class, students are required to submit reflections or questions via Moodle.
・Students arriving more than 20 minutes after the start of class will be marked absent (though they may still attend).
・Students who leave class early without a valid reason will also be marked absent.

Grading Method Final Examination: 100%

The final exam consists of multiple-choice and essay questions.
The multiple-choice section evaluates understanding of fundamental concepts in ethics covered in the course.
The essay section evaluates students’ ability to think ethically and demonstrate mastery of the specific applied issues discussed in class.

Practical Experience

Summary of Practical Experience and Class Contents based on it

Message It may be difficult to understand everything during the lecture. If you have questions, please ask them via the comment sheet, email, or other appropriate means.

Other

Please fill in the class improvement questionnaire which is carried out on all classes.
Instructors will reflect on your feedback and utilize the information for improving their teaching.

Academic Year	2026Year	School/Graduate School	Liberal Arts Education Program
Lecture Code	61092002	Subject Classification	Area Courses
Subject Name	倫理学
Subject Name （Katakana）	リンリガク
Subject Name in English	Ethics
Instructor	SAWAI TSUTOMU
Instructor (Katakana)	サワイ　ツトム
Campus	Higashi-Hiroshima	Semester/Term	1st-Year, First Semester, 1Term
Days, Periods, and Classrooms	(1T) Mon1-4：IAS K211
Lesson Style	Lecture	Lesson Style (More Details)	Face-to-face
Lecture-based instruction, discussion, and student presentations.
Credits	2.0	Class Hours/Week	4	Language of Instruction	B : Japanese／English
Course Level	1 : Undergraduate Introductory
Course Area（Area）	23 : Arts and Humanities
Course Area（Discipline）	02 : Ethics
Eligible Students
Keywords
Special Subject for Teacher Education		Special Subject
Class Status within Liberal Arts Education	Area Courses（Courses in Arts and Humanities/Social Sciences)　Category：Philosophy / Ethics / Religion / Arts
Expected Outcome	1. To be able to explain the formation and development processes and contemporary issues of each academic discipline. 2. To be able to explain historical and contemporary issues that span multiple academic disciplines from multifaceted perspectives.
Class Objectives /Class Outline	Ethics, a branch of philosophy, is generally divided into three subfields: normative ethics, metaethics, and applied ethics. In the first half of the course (Weeks 1–6), we will provide an overview of major debates in ethics, particularly in contemporary Anglo-American philosophy. Students will learn what kinds of questions ethics addresses and what methods it employs. Through this, they will develop the ability to critically and self-reflectively examine concepts such as “rightness” and “goodness,” which many people tend to hold only vaguely. In the second half of the course (Weeks 7–14), we will address specific issues in applied ethics, including enhancement, artificial intelligence (AI), assisted dying, and designer babies. Using audiovisual materials, we will conduct group discussions and plenary discussions. Active participation from students is expected. Regardless of whether students major in philosophy or ethics, this course aims to equip them with the ability to clarify their own positions on issues in applied ethics and to communicate those positions persuasively to others.
Class Schedule	lesson1: Introduction – Foundations of Ethics lesson2: Normative Ethics (1): Utilitarianism lesson3: Normative Ethics (2): Deontology and Virtue Ethics lesson4: Normative Ethics (3): Ethical Principles, Theories of Justice, Moral Status lesson5: Metaethics (1): Moral Realism lesson6: Metaethics (2): Anti-Realism lesson7: Applied Ethics (1): Background of Enhancement and Ethical Issues lesson8: Applied Ethics (2): Audiovisual Materials on Enhancement / Group Discussion lesson9: Applied Ethics (3): Background of AI and Ethical Issues lesson10: Applied Ethics (4): Audiovisual Materials on AI / Group Discussion lesson11: Applied Ethics (5): Background of Assisted Dying and Ethical Issues lesson12: Applied Ethics (6): Audiovisual Materials on Assisted Dying / Group Discussion lesson13: Applied Ethics (7): Background of Designer Babies and Ethical Issues lesson14: Applied Ethics (8): Audiovisual Materials on Designer Babies / Group Discussion lesson15: Final Examination A final examination will be conducted at the end of the semester.
Text/Reference Books,etc.	Required Textbook: None Recommended Readings: Introduced during the course as appropriate
PC or AV used in Class,etc.	Handouts, Visual Materials, moodle
(More Details)
Learning techniques to be incorporated	Discussions, Post-class Report
Suggestions on Preparation and Review	Lecture materials will be made available prior to each class. Students are expected to prepare in advance. Reviewing recommended readings beforehand will enhance learning effectiveness.
Requirements	To earn credit, attendance at 10 or more classes is required. ・Attendance will be recorded using an IC card reader. ・After each class, students are required to submit reflections or questions via Moodle. ・Students arriving more than 20 minutes after the start of class will be marked absent (though they may still attend). ・Students who leave class early without a valid reason will also be marked absent.
Grading Method	Final Examination: 100% The final exam consists of multiple-choice and essay questions. The multiple-choice section evaluates understanding of fundamental concepts in ethics covered in the course. The essay section evaluates students’ ability to think ethically and demonstrate mastery of the specific applied issues discussed in class.
Practical Experience
Summary of Practical Experience and Class Contents based on it
Message	It may be difficult to understand everything during the lecture. If you have questions, please ask them via the comment sheet, email, or other appropriate means.
Other
Please fill in the class improvement questionnaire which is carried out on all classes. Instructors will reflect on your feedback and utilize the information for improving their teaching.

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