Exploring Morality and Ethics in NBC's The Good Place

Holy motherforking shirtballs—2020 really was The Bad Place! Let's figure out how to put some good into the world by examining what it means to be good people according to NBC's critically acclaimed sitcom, The Good Place. This course will cover the basics of moral philosophy through the lens of The Good Place, discussing concepts such as moral particularism, utilitarianism, Kant's views on deontology, how to not be "an Arizona trash bag," and much more. Everyone hates moral philosophy professors, but luckily this instructor is just a linguist who wants to take this ethical trolley ride right along with you. Each lesson will conclude with a discussion of "What does this mean for us on our quest to be good people?", and you will be quizzed on your understanding of key concepts in each module. After completing this course, you will be able to impress your friends and family members with your knowledge of moral philosophy, ethics, and how these concepts are demonstrated in The Good Place. You will also conclude this course by brainstorming how to make the world just a little bit better. Together we'll discover ways to be better smartbrained mortals, one Jeremy Bearimy at a time.