Ethics PHI236-71
Wednesday: 6:00 PM- 9:38 PM
Location: JC @ USD Tech
Winter2016Jackson College
Michelle Coleman Marhofer
Office Hours: Wednesday: 5:00- 5:55 PM; Also by appointment
Telephone: 248-343-5089Email:
Course Description: Ethics is the inquiry into the principles and presuppositions operative in the daily crises of moral decision making. The course is organized to examine, in an open ended way, the various standards of responsible choice making in life.
Required Texts: 1) the Fundamentals of Ethics, 3rdEd. Shafer Landau, R. OxfordUniversity Press. New York: Oxford University Press: 2015. ISBN 9780199997237
2) The Ethical Life: Fundamental Readings in Ethical and Moral Problems. 3rdEd. Shafer Landau, R. Oxford University Press: 2015.
Technology Requirement. This course uses JetNetas a companion site in order to post assignments and class information.
Course Goals:The course will involve examining various issues in ethics. We will begin by considering various accounts of what makes a good life. Following that, we will examine various accounts of how we determine what is right and wrong (“normative ethics”). Finally, we will examine various accounts of what moral judgments actually are, or if they are even possible (“metaethics”). Your grade will be determined on the basis of your ability to understand and make use of these various accounts.
Student Bill of Responsibilities
In order to maximize their learning potential, students have the responsibility:
- To come to every class prepared to listen, participate and learn;
- To read the textbook(s) carefully;
- To ask questions of the instructor when they are unclear;
- To keep an open mind and try to comprehend what others are trying to convey;
- To consult the instructor, a tutor, classmates and other resources whenever they need assistance;
- To view their instructors as partners in their education, not as impediments to learning;
- To let the instructor and group members know if they cannot attend a class;
- To learn about others’ cultures and experiences in the world;
- To share their life experiences and perspectives in order to facilitate other students’ learning.
Consequences of plagiarism/academic dishonesty. Any form of plagiarism on either a short assignment or the paper is absolutely unacceptable. This includes, but is not limited to, referencing or paraphrasing someone else’s ideas without proper citation as well as handing in someone else’s work as your own. This also includes using any part of an internet resource without proper citation. Either writing assignment that is at all plagiarized will automatically receive an F and depending on the circumstances may constitute grounds for failing the course. Moreover, every incident will be reported to the University. DO NOT TEST ME ON THIS! Simply put: DON’T PLAGIARISE!
Technology Policy. Technological devices (e.g., cellphones, texting devices, computers etc.) must be turned off throughout the duration of the course. Students who disrupt class due to the use of such devices will be asked to leave class and will be considered absent. Arrangements can be made under certain emergency circumstances. Laptops for taking notes in class are permitted.
Attendance policy. Students are expected to come to class on time and prepared to discuss the reading for the week. Students who arrive late or leave early will be considered absent for ½ a class period. Attendance is taken at the beginning and at the end of each class period. Students may miss up to two classes without affecting their grade. After each additional absence, the students’ grade will be lowered to the next lowest grade. For example, a student who earned an A but missed three classes will earn anA- for the course as a final grade. Exceptions may be made for emergency circumstances or events discussed with professor ahead of time.
Assignments and grading. Your final grade will be based on the following assignments: study question/ quizzes,three exams, a written reflection and in-class participation.
Assignment / Possible Points / Percentageof Final Grade
In class Participation / 150 / 15%
Study Questions/ Quizzes / 150 / 15%
Final Reflection (Paper) / 100 / 10%
Exam One (June 29, 2016) / 200 / 20%
Exam Two (July 27, 2016) / 200 / 20%
Final Exam (August 10, 2016) / 200 / 20%
Totals / 1000 / 100%
Assignments
In class participation: One part of your grade will be based on participation and reading the assignment before class. The success of this class will depend upon discussion and participation, so it will be very important for you to come to class having read the assigned texts and prepared to discuss your reactions. Every student is allowed to miss two classes without a penalty. However, on the third absence the student will lose 25% of the participation grade. The 4th 50% and so on.
Study Question/ quizzes: Throughout the semester you will receive either aquiz or a study question for the class. Quizzes will be done at the beginning of the class. Study questions will be passed out at the beginning of class and will be required to be turned in on the class website before the next class period.
Exams: Each exam will cover the section of the class prior to the exam. The exam will be divided up into matching, short answers, and essay questions.
Final Reflection: One essay question that will be turned in the final day of class.
Extra Credit: Given at the discretion of the professor, each student will be allowed to earn up to 50 points in extra credit.
Grading. Your final grade for the course is based upon the points you have earned throughout the course. The grading scale is as follows:
Grade / Points Earned / PercentageA 4.0 / 930-1000 / 93%+
A- 3.5 / 895-929 / 90%-92%
B+ 3.2 / 875-894 / 88%-89%
B 3.0 / 825-874 / 83%-87%
B- 2.8 / 795-824 / 80%-82%
C+ 2.5 / 775-794 / 78%-79%
C 2.0 / 725-774 / 73%-77%
C- 2.0 / 695-724 / 70%-72%
D+ 1.5 / 675-694 / 68%-69%
D 1.0 / 595-674 / 60%-67%
F 0.5 / 0-594 / Less than 60%
Class Schedule. Listed below is the tentative class schedule that includes the assigned reading for the class period, as well as any assignments that are due. Slight modifications to the schedule will be made as needed throughout the semester.
Part I: Normative Ethics
June 1: Morality and Religion
Fundamentals: Chapter 5, “Morality and Religion” (pp. 63-75)
Ethical Life: Chapter 6, Plato, “Euthyphro” (pp. 57-65)
June 8: Natural Law Theory
Fundamentals: Chapter 6, “Natural Law” (pp. 76-90)
Ethical Life: Chapter 7, Philippa Foot, “Natural Goodness” (pp. 66-76)
June 15: Egoism
Fundamentals: Chapter 7, “Psychological Egoism” (pp. 91-105)
Fundamentals: Chapter 8, “Ethical Egoism” (pp. 106-118)
June 22: Consequentialism
Fundamentals: Chapter 9, “Consequentialism – Its Nature and Attractions” (pp. 119-137)
Fundamentals: Chapter 10, “Consequentialism – Its Difficulties” (pp. 138-158)
Ethical Life: Chapter 8, J.J.C. Smart, “Extreme and Restricted Utilitarianism” (pp. 77-86)
June 29: Kantian Ethics
Fundamentals: Chapter 11, “The Kantian Perspective – Fairness and Justice” (pp. 159-172)
Fundamentals: Chapter 12, “The Kantian Perspective – Autonomy and Respect” (pp. 173-191)
Ethical Life: Chapter 9, Immanuel Kant, “The Good Will and the Categorical Imperative” (pp. 87-99)
July 6: Social Contract Theory
Fundamentals: Chapter 13, “The Social Contract Tradition – The Theory and Its Attractions” (pp. 192-205)
Ethical Life: Chapter 10, Thomas Hobbes, “Leviathan” (pp. 100-110)
Fundamentals: Chapter 14, “The Social Contract Tradition – Problems and Prospects (pp. 206-218)
July 13: Virtue Ethics
Fundamentals: Chapter 17, “Virtue Ethics” (pp. 254-273)
Ethical Life: Chapter 12, Aristotle, “Nicomachean Ethics” (pp. 123-134)
July 20: Ethical Pluralism
Fundamentals: Chapter 15, “Ethical Pluralism and Absolute Moral Rules” (pp. 219-236)
Fundamentals: Chapter 16, “Ethical Pluralism – Prima Facie Duties and Ethical Particularism” (pp. 237-253)
Ethical Life: Chapter 11, W.D. Ross, “What Makes Right Acts Right?” (pp. 111-122)
July 20: Feminist Ethics
Fundamentals: Chapter 18, “Feminist Ethics” (pp. 274-288)
Ethical Life: Chapter 13, Hilde Lindemann, “What Is Feminist Ethics?” (pp. 135-147)
Part III: Value Theory
July 27: Hedonism
Fundamentals: Chapter 1, “Hedonism” (pp. 23-31)
Ethical Life: Chapter 1, Epicurus, “Letter to Menoeceus” (pp. 11-16)
Fundamentals: Chapter 2, “Is Happiness All That Matters?” (pp. 32-43)
Ethical Life: Chapter 3, Robert Nozick, “The Experience Machine” (pp. 27-30)
July 27: Desire Theory
Fundamentals: Chapter 3, “Getting What You Want” (pp. 44-50)
Ethical Life: Chapter 4, Chris Heathwood, “Faring Well and Getting What You Want” (pp. 31-42)
Fundamentals: Chapter 4: “Problems for the Desire Theory” (pp. 51-60)
Ethical Life: Chapter 5, Jean Kazez, “Necessities” (pp. 43-54)
Part III: Metaethics
August 3: Ethical Relativism
Fundamentals: Chapter 19, “Ethical Relativism” (pp. 291-307)
Ethical Life: Chapter 14, David Hume, “Moral Distinctions Not Derived from Reason” (pp. 151-160)
Ethical Life: Chapter 17, Harry Gensler, “Cultural Relativism” (pp. 183-191)
August 3: Moral Nihilism
Fundamentals: Chapter 20, “Moral Nihilism” (pp. 308-321)
Ethical Life: Chapter 15, A.J. Ayer, “A Critique of Ethics” (pp. 161-173)
Ethical Life: Chapter 16, J.L. Mackie, “The Subjectivity of Values” (pp. 174-182)
August 3: Responses to Relativism
Fundamentals: Chapter 21, “Ten Arguments against Moral Objectivity” (pp. 322-341)
Ethical Life: Chapter 18, David Enoch, “Why I Am an Objectivist about Ethics (And Why You Are Too)” (pp. 192-205)