A Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal Arts or Humanities has multiple subjects where students can learn about human culture, society, and thought. This course includes philosophy, ethics, and moral theories, exploring concepts like utilitarianism and deontology to encourage critical thinking and ethical reasoning. Practical applications of these theories can often be seen in education, literature and society.  

For those seeking the best BA Humanities course in India, MIT-WPU in Pune is renowned for its comprehensive curriculum and commitment to holistic education. Focusing on nurturing well-rounded individuals equipped with theoretical knowledge and practical skills, MIT-WPU offers a vibrant academic environment for intellectual growth and personal development, which is also the basis of BA Humanities. 

Exploring Ethical Theories in BA Humanities 

A BA in Humanities deals with ethics through various philosophical lenses. Ethics is about right and wrong, good and evil, and how everyone should act. Some of the core ethical theories that you might study in BA Humanities are: 

• Utilitarianism: This theory focuses on happiness or well-being, which teaches that right actions result in good things, not for just one person, but many.  

• Deontology: This theory emphasises duty and following universal moral principles, regardless of consequences. It also details certain moral obligations all must have, like truth-telling and keeping promises. 

• Virtue Ethics: This theory focuses on developing good character traits, such as courage, honesty, and compassion.  

By examining these and other ethical theories, you can better understand moral decision-making. You will also be able to critically analyse real-world situations and ethical dilemmas independently. This critical thinking and ethical grounding are valuable across several fields, but they will be more useful in education, law, or social work. 

Application of Ethical Theories in BA Humanities 

A BA in Humanities isn’t just about learning ethical theories; it’s about using them to make this world a better place to live. You will learn about literature, art, and historical events through the lens of ethics. Imagine analysing a Shakespearean, Marlowe’s or any play, where a character is posed with a tough choice – while the hero must choose between his and others’ happiness (utilitarianism). At the same time, in the case of deontology, he will be tied to his duty to honour a promise, even if it has terrible consequences. This way, ethical theories will help you understand the human mind’s and society’s deeper meanings and motivations. By applying these theories, you will understand the complexities of human behaviour and develop the ability to evaluate your own problems through this lens. 

Utilitarianism in BA Humanities 

In a BA Humanities, utilitarianism is a lens through which everything from classic literature to historical policy is analysed. This theory prioritises maximising overall happiness or well-being and asks you to consider the consequences of actions for the greater good. When reading a novel, you might use utilitarianism to analyse a character’s choice: did their action create the greatest good for most people? Take the classic book The Scarlet Pimpernel, for example, and what the hero Percy Blakeney does to rescue the innocent French aristocrats. Similarly, studying historical events can involve applying a practical perspective – were the decisions made ultimately beneficial for society, even if it meant crushing one segment of the population? This ethical framework makes you think about the human condition, its progress, and how different decisions affect everyone.  

Virtue Ethics and BA Humanities 

BA courses explore how characters and historical figures develop and utilise virtues when studying the Humanities through a Virtue Ethics lens. Instead of focusing solely on the right action, Virtue Ethics asks: what kind of person should one be? By analysing characters in literature and historical figures, you will examine how their courage, honesty, or compassion influence their decisions. All the Shakespearean tragedies can be quoted here since all his tragic heroes suffer from a fatal flaw, ultimately leading to their downfall and how it affects their lives. This encourages the importance of how character and personality shaped human actions in the past until humanity continues to survive. 

FAQs 

How would you apply ethics in your daily life? 

Whatever the situation be, one must try to arrive at a situation amicably, without hurting others or being selfish, even if the world lets one think otherwise. This is how ethics work in real life.  

What is the importance of philosophy and ethics in our everyday life? 

Philosophy helps us question and analyse, leading to better decision-making, while ethics guides those decisions towards what’s right and just. 

What is the ethical theory in philosophy? 

Ethical theories are frameworks for moral decision-making, helping us choose what’s right by considering consequences or following universal duties.