ETHICSPHILOSOPHY 432Spring Semester, 2004INSTRUCTOR: Stephen Scholz Ph.D. TIME: MWF 2:00PM - 2:50PM , TuTh 4:00PM - 5:15PM OFFICE: 126 Seby Jones Fine Arts Bldg. PRE-REQUISITE: English 132 REQUIRED TEXT: Rachels, J. The Elements of Morality4th ed McGraw Hill Publishers ISBN:0-07-247690-7 WEB RESOURCES: http://st-aug.blackboard.com/bin/common/course.pl?course_id=_850_1&frame=top COURSE DESCRIPTION: Ethics is about how we should live. It covers morality, judgment, and what constitutes the good life. It is the basis for political and social philosophy. Ethics comes before the law, and trumps any other concerns, or so I will argue. This is a broad survey divided roughly into two major parts: meta-ethics, and normative ethics. Meta-ethics is the study of the conditions under which ethics is possible. This includes the questions of moral relativism, religion, and egoism. Normative Ethics includes theoretical attempts to provide principles for our behaviors and judgments. It includes: Utilitarian; Kantian; Social Contract Theories, Feminist Theories, and Virtue Ethics. COURSE OBJECTIVES : 1. To develop reasoning skills of the students. 2. To introduce students to major ethical theories. 3. To provide tools for evaluating ethical dilemmas.
COURSE GOALS : A. Students will be able to analyze and evaluate ethics arguments. B. Students will be able to develop and express their own ethical beliefs. C. Students will respect the diversity of ethical theories and traditions. METHOD OF INSTRUCTION : This class will rely primarily on in depth class discussions. The instructor will take the role as facilitator for these discussions, but it is hoped the students will lead the class. We will start with the assigned readings and written assignments as our jumping off point, and then take the discussion where it leads us. To do this, students must come prepared to discuss the subject matter, having read and digested the text before the class meets. No one will be permitted to be a passive participant. Since we will rely on discussion it is imperative that all participants demonstrate respect for each other as speakers and listeners. The instructor will act as facilitator calling on individual students to speak, if a student has something to add, she should raise her hand and await recognition by the instructor. Students are encouraged to do additional outside readings to supplement the required text. All students are expected to look up words they do not know, and make some good faith attempt to understand the readings. This can be demonstrated by attempting to paraphrase the original author (in other words, putting the writing in your own words).
All Students must pass the Methods Test in order to remain in the class. GRADES: Grades will be determined on the basis of the following point scheme:
Grades will be based on the percentage of total points received. Grades can be challenged in a written argument (no email) within 1 class day of when returned. GRADE SCALE A: >= 90% , B: 89% - 80%, C: 79%-65%, D: 65%-51% , F: <=50% Quizzes can be made up for legitimate emergency or medical excuses only.
ATTENDANCE/TARDY POLICY:
QUIZZES/EXAMS : There will be nine quizzes given on a regular basis throughout the semester. Each quiz is worth 10% of your grade. Quizzes will focus on the readings listed next to the Quiz date. At the end of the semester you can take the optional final exam. It can take the place of one, two or three quizzes (10%, 20% or 30% of your grade respectively) You decide prior to taking the exam.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: You are responsible for doing your own work, for familiarizing yourself with the St. Augustine's policy on academic integrity (http://www.st-aug.edu/academics/policies/types.htm), and for satisfying me that you have adhered to the requisite standards of honesty. That means, basically, that you must do your own work, credit the work of others you cite, and not assist others to otherwise. All written work must be signed by you indicating your word that you've adhered to the policies of academic integrity.
FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES OR SPECIAL NEEDS It is my policy to provide, on a flexible and individualized basis, accommodations to those who have disabilities, or special needs (because of having children for example) that may affect their ability to participate in course activities or to meet course requirements. Students with disabilities or special needs are encouraged to contact me in the first week of classes if they think their disability may interfere with their coursework. PHI 432 – MWF – CLASS SCHEDULE †Dates Subject Reading DueJan 7 W Introduction None 9 F Introduction Syllabus 12 M Methods Syllabus 14 W Methods Syllabus 16 F Methods Test Methods Test 19 M MARTIN LUTHER KING HOLIDAY No Class 21 W What is Morality? 1-11 23 F What is Morality? 11-15 26 M Class Cancelled for Ice 28 W The Challenge of Cultural Relativism 16-26 30 F The Challenge of Cultural Relativism 27-31 2 M Quiz #1 1-31 Feb 4 W Subjectivism 32-39 6 F Subjectivism 39-47 9 M Quiz #2 32-47 11 W Does Morality Depend on Religion? 48-53 13 F Does Morality Depend on Religion? 53-62 16 M Quiz #3 48-62 18 W Psychological Egoism 63-75 20 F Ethical Egoism 76-90 23 M Quiz #4 63-90 25 W The Utilitarian Approach 91-101 27 F The Debate over Utilitarianism 102-109 1 M The Debate over Utilitarianism 109-116 Mar 3 W Quiz #5 91-116 8 – 12 SPRING BREAK No Class 15 M Are There Absolute Moral Rules? 117-126 17 W Are There Absolute Moral Rules? 126-129 19 F Kant and Respect for Persons 130-133 22 M Kant and Respect for Persons 133-141 24 W Kant and Respect for Persons 130-141 26 F Quiz #6 117-141 29 M Idea of a Social Contract 141-150 31 W Idea of a Social Contract 150-159 Apr 2 F Feminism and the Ethics of Care 160-167 5 M Feminism and the Ethics of Care 167-172 7 W Quiz #7 141-172 9 F GOOD FRIDAY HOLIDAY No Class 12 M Ethics of Virtue 173-185 14 W Ethics of Virtue 185-190 16 F Quiz #8 173-190 19 M What Would a Satisfactory Moral Theory Be Like? 191-196 21 W What Would a Satisfactory Moral Theory Be Like? 196-203 23 F Quiz #9 191-203 26 M TBA 28 W Final Review 1-203 3 - 5 Final Exams (Optional) Final Exams † Dates are subject to change Consult professor and web-page for up-to-date information PHI 432 – TuTh – CLASS SCHEDULE †Dates Subject Reading DueJan 8 Th Introduction None 13 Tu Methods Syllabus 15 Th Methods Syllabus 20 Tu Methods Test Methods Test 22 Th What is Morality? 1-15 27 Tu Class Cancelled for Ice 29 Th The Challenge of Cultural Relativism 16-26 3 Tu The Challenge of Cultural Relativism Quiz #1 26-31 Feb 5 Th Subjectivism 32-44 10 Tu Subjectivism Quiz #2 44-47 12 Th Does Morality Depend on Religion? 48-57 17 Tu Does Morality Depend on Religion? Quiz #3 57-62 19 Th Psychological Egoism 63-75 24 Tu Ethical Egoism Quiz #4 76-90 26 Th The Utilitarian Approach 91-101 2 Tu The Debate over Utilitarianism 102-111 Mar 4 Th The Debate over Utilitarianism Quiz #5 111-116 8 – 12 SPRING BREAK No Class 16 Tu Are There Absolute Moral Rules? 117-126 18 Th Are There Absolute Moral Rules? 126-129 23 Tu Kant and Respect for Persons 130-136 25 Th Kant and Respect for Persons Quiz #6 136-141 30 Tu Idea of a Social Contract 141-150 Apr 1 Th Idea of a Social Contract 150-159 6 Tu Feminism and the Ethics of Care 160-167 8 Th Feminism and the Ethics of Care Quiz #7 167-172 13 Tu Ethics of Virtue 173-187 15 Th Ethics of Virtue Quiz #8 187-190 20 Tu What Would a Satisfactory Moral Theory Be Like? 191-196 22 Th What Would a Satisfactory Moral Theory Be Like? Quiz #9 196-203 27 Tu TBA 29 Th Final Review 1-203 3 - 5 Final Exams (Optional) Final Exams † Dates are subject to change Consult professor and web-page for up-to-date information TOP OF PAGE |
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