About This Course

This course delves into the integration of ethical values and sustainable development, emphasizing the moral challenges that go beyond technical and political dimensions. The focus is on virtue ethics, exploring the approaches of both religious and secular philosophies towards fostering ethical conduct, with contributions from global religious traditions and scholars. It leverages insights from the Ethics in Action meetings led by Pope Francis to promote multi-faith dialogue and cooperation in addressing contemporary global crises such as poverty, corruption, and climate change.

What Students Will Learn

• Understanding of virtue ethics across different cultural and religious backgrounds.
• Significance of multi-faith consensus in spearheading sustainable development initiatives.
• Roles of faith communities in promoting peace and ethical conduct in development.
• The drive and motivation behind ethical behaviors among various global leaders.
• Development of a collective virtue ethics framework to achieve a sustainable future.

Course Prerequisites

No specific prerequisites are required for this course, making it accessible to anyone interested in ethics, sustainable development, and the interplay between diverse religious philosophies and modern global challenges.

Course Coverage

• Virtue Ethics: Exploration of classical and contemporary virtues across various cultures and religions.
• Role of Religion: Examination of how different faiths address ethical challenges and contribute to sustainable development.
• Leadership and Ethics: Analysis of leadership roles in promoting ethical practices in politics, business, and social sectors.
• Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Integration of ethical considerations into the pursuit of SDGs.
• Multi-Faith Dialogues: Case studies and real-world examples of successful ethical collaborations across faiths.

Who is This Course For?

• Religious and spiritual communities looking to integrate sustainable practices.
• Development professionals aiming to collaborate with faith-based organizations.
• Students and academics interested in ethics, theology, and sustainable development.

Application of Learned Skills

Graduates of this course can apply their understanding of ethical practices and multi-faith cooperation to various real-world scenarios. This can include leading community-driven environmental initiatives, participating in interfaith dialogues, influencing policy development, and integrating ethical practices into business and government strategies to tackle global issues like poverty, inequality, and climate change.

Syllabus

1. Introduction to Ethics in Action: Overview of sustainable development, SDGs, and global ethics.
2. Religion and Virtue Ethics: Insights from various religious and philosophical traditions.
3. The Virtuous Society: Building a consensus on virtue ethics for a sustainable future.
4. Poverty and Inequality: Ethical approaches to tackling global disparities.
5. Peace: Role of ethics in resolving conflicts and building lasting peace.
6. Refugees, Trafficking, and Modern Slavery: Ethical challenges and solutions.
7. Environmental Justice: Addressing global environmental crises through ethical actions.
8. Politics and Power: Exploring the ethical foundations of political power and governance.
9. Business, Work, and the Common Good: Evaluating the ethical dimensions of business practices.
10. Course Conclusion and Case Studies: Summarizing key concepts and exploring practical applications.