Prof. Norcross’s research is primarily in ethical theory--that is normative ethics and metaethics. His overarching project is to make the world safe for consequentialist theories, in particular utilitarianism. He expounds and develops a nonstandard form of utilitarianism, scalar utilitarianism. This version of the theory accepts at the fundamental level only judgments of goodness of states of affairs, and comparative judgments (better or worse) of actions with alternative possible actions. Notions such as 'right' and 'wrong', 'good' and 'bad' (as applied to actions), and 'harmful' are only intelligible at a higher, contextually sensitive, level. He also does some work in areas of applied ethics, such as abortion, euthanasia, and animal rights (though, like Bentham and Peter Singer, he regards all natural rights as nonsense, sometimes on stilts).
keywords
normative ethics, applied ethics (especially animals, abortion, and euthanasia), metaethics, political philosophy
PHIL 1100 - Ethics
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2018 / Fall 2018
Introduces students to moral philosophy by having them study and evaluate prominent moral theories and their application to a selection of real-world moral problems. Theories studied may include utilitarianism, rights theory, virtue ethics, social contract theory, divine command theory, cultural relativism, and natural law theory. Social problems covered may include abortion, world poverty, animal rights, reparations for slavery, gun rights, or similar such controversies.
PHIL 1200 - Contemporary Social Problems
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2020 / Spring 2023 / Fall 2024
Examines competing positions in debates over a wide variety of controversial moral, social and political issues. Topics may include: abortion, world poverty, animal rights, immigration, physician-assisted suicide, freedom of religion, hate speech, cloning, income inequality, pornography, gun rights, racial profiling, capital punishment, overpopulation, prostitution, drug legalization, torture. Formerly titled 'Philosophy and Society.'
PHIL 3100 - Ethical Theory
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2018
Examines important doctrines and arguments in various areas of theoretical ethics, such as the normative ethics of behavior, axiology, virtue theory, and metaethics. Recommended prerequisite: 6 hours of philosophy course work.
PHIL 4120 - Philosophy and Animals
Primary Instructor
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Fall 2019 / Fall 2021 / Spring 2024
Examines the moral status of nonhuman animals, and its implications for the common use of animals as food and experimental subjects for humans. Same as PHIL 5120. Recommended prerequisites: PHIL 1100 or PHIL 1200 or PHIL 3100.
PHIL 5100 - Values Proseminar
Secondary Instructor
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Fall 2019 / Fall 2020
Covers seminal classic texts and/or fundamental topics in analytic ethics and social/political philosophy, including its history.
PHIL 5120 - Philosophy and Animals
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2024
Examines the moral status of nonhuman animals, and its implications for the common use of animals as food and experimental subjects for humans. Same as PHIL 5120.
PHIL 5810 - Special Topics in Philosophy
Primary Instructor
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Fall 2021
Instructor meets regularly with three or more students to discuss special topics in philosophy. May be repeated up to 9 total credit hours.
PHIL 6100 - Seminar in Ethics
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2019 / Fall 2020 / Fall 2022
Intensive study of selected topics in ethical theory.
PHIL 6940 - Master's Candidate for Degree
Primary Instructor
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Fall 2021
Registration intended for students preparing for a thesis defense, final examination, culminating activity, or completion of degree.
