Meta-ethics
Meta-ethics examines the foundations of morality rather than particular moral rules. MIT's course, offered through OpenCourseWare, works through questions like whether moral claims can be objectively true, what moral language actually means when someone says an act is wrong, and how, if at all, we can gain moral knowledge. Readings draw on major figures in twentieth and twenty-first century ethics, covering positions such as moral realism, expressivism, and error theory, and the syllabus pairs each topic with primary texts and discussion questions rather than a single textbook. Materials include a full reading list, lecture notes, and written assignments that ask students to construct and defend arguments on contested questions rather than summarize positions. No video lectures are included, but the course structure supports independent study of a semester-length undergraduate philosophy course. All materials are free under MIT's OpenCourseWare license.