Course
Ethics
Theoretical and applied ethics: deontology, utilitarianism, bioethics, AI ethics and business ethics
Part of the Antiquity track — finish it for a verifiable diploma →
§ 01 — Orientation
New here?
What you'll be able to do, who this is for, how long it takes, and where to begin.
By the end, you will be able to
- 01Tell the major ethical theories apart and use them.
- 02Reason through a real moral dilemma.
- 03Apply ethics to business, tech, and medicine.
- 04Engage debates about global justice.
- 05Defend a moral position under pressure.
Who this is for
How long it takes
- Quick orientationSkim the opening module and the cheatsheet to get the shape of it.~2 h
- Full read-throughRead every article once, in order.~2 h
- Mastery pathRead, take the quizzes, and space out your reviews.~2 weeks
- APA
Stoa. (2026). Ethics [Online course]. Stoa. https://stoa.school/course/ethics
- MLA
Stoa. “Ethics.” Stoa, 2026, https://stoa.school/course/ethics.
- Chicago
Stoa. “Ethics.” Stoa. Accessed September 1, 2026. https://stoa.school/course/ethics.
§ 02 — Curriculum
8 modules.
Each module is a small unit. Most read in sequence — but a determined reader can begin anywhere.
- M IFoundations of Ethics: Duty, Consequences, VirtueThe three main ethical traditions and their application to real-world dilemmas3 articles
18 minBegin → - M IIApplied Ethics: Dilemmas of the Contemporary WorldBioethics, AI ethics, global justice, and corporate responsibility3 articles
18 minBegin → - M IIIMetaethics and NormativityWhat are moral facts? Realism, constructivism, and skepticism in ethics3 articles
18 minBegin → - M IVEthics at the Cutting EdgeBioethics, data ethics, artificial intelligence, and global ethics3 articles
18 minBegin → - M VJustice and the Social ContractRawls, Nozick, and theories of a just society3 articles
18 minBegin → - M VIEthics in the Face of EvilThe Holocaust, the banality of evil, and human rights after catastrophe3 articles
18 minBegin → - M VIIApplied Ethics in the 21st CenturyBioethics, medical ethics, and data ethics3 articles
18 minBegin → - M VIIIThe Ethics of the Future: AI, Transhumanism, and Global ChallengesEthics in an era of technological transformation3 articles
18 minBegin →
§ 03 — Learning outcomes
4 outcomes.
Demonstrate understanding of and compare the major normative ethical theories
Analyze complex ethical situations using multiple approaches
Apply ethical principles to issues in bioethics, AI ethics, and business ethics
Evaluate questions of global justice, human rights, and corporate responsibility
§ 04 — Practices