Syllabus: Spring 2015 PHIL 3053 – Ethics Faculty Name: Dr. Monica A. Lindemann Catalog Course Description A consideration of the primary ethical theories with respect to personal, social and professional action; the critical discussion of the ethical systems of the major classical philosophies. Measurable Student Learning Outcomes Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to: a. Identify key movements and figures in the history of ethics b. Identify and evaluate major arguments in the history of ethics c. Identify the interaction of values and philosophical theories in various contexts d. critically evaluate the moral values of their own community as well as those of other cultures Each of the above student learning outcomes must be performed at an appropriate level as stated in each course assignment requirements, grading scale or rubric. Required Text Johnson, Oliver & Andrew Reath, Ethics: Selections from Classical and Contemporary Writers , th 11 edition (Boston, MA: Cengage Learning, 2011) Tentative Reading Schedule WEEK 1 Introduction to Philosophy Mon Jan 12 General introduction to the course Wed Jan 14 What is philosophy/ethics? Read: “An Introduction to the Study of Ethics,” pp. 1-12 WEEK 2 Socrates / Plato’s Republic Mon Jan 19 MLK Jr. Day –NO CLASSES! Wed Jan 21 read: Plato’s Republic, pp. 29-47 WEEK 3 Plato’s Republic: What is justice? Mon Jan 26 read: Plato’s Republic, pp. 47-63 Wed Jan 28 read: Plato’s Republic, pp. 47-63 WEEK 4 Aristotle’s Virtue Ethics Mon Feb 2 read: Aristotle, pp. 64-76 Wed Feb 4 read: Aristotle, pp. 76-92 WEEK 5 Test 1 Mon Feb 9 read: Aristotle, pp. 76-92 Wed Feb 11 TEST 1 WEEK 6 Hedonism and Stoicism Mon Feb 16 read: Epicurus, pp. 93-98 Wed Feb 18 read: Epictetus, pp. 99-111 WEEK 7 Hobbes (Social Contract Theory)/Hume Mon Feb 23 read: Hobbes, pp. 147-162 Wed Feb 25 read: Hume, pp. 163-180 WEEK 8 Hume/ TEST 2 Mon read: Hume, pp. 163-180 Mar 2 Wed Mar 4 WEEK 9 TEST Kant’s Deontology Mon Mar 9 read: Kant, pp. 181-199 Wed Mar 11 read: Kant, pp. 199-207 SPRING BREAK: March 16-20 WEEK 10 Bentham and Mill’s Utilitarianism Mon Mar 23 read: Bentham, pp. 208-217 Wed Mar 25 read: Mill, pp. 218-244 WEEK 11 TEST 3 / Marx Mon Mar 30 read: Mill, pp. 218-244 Wed Apr 1 TEST 3 WEEK 12 Existentialist ethics: Nietzsche, Sartre, and Kierkegaard Mon Apr 6 GROUP 1 ESSAY DUE read: Marx, pp. 259-270 Wed Apr 8 read: Nietzsche, pp. 271-293 WEEK 13 Existentialist ethics: Nietzsche, Sartre, and Kierkegaard Mon Apr 13 read: Kierkegaard, pp. 245-258 Wed Apr 15 read: Camus: The Myth of Sisyphus (posted on Blackboard) WEEK 14 Existentialism cont’d/ TEST 4 Mon Apr 20 GROUP 2 ESSAY DUE read: Sartre, pp. 342-352 Wed Apr 22 TEST 4 WEEK 15 Existentialism cont’d and Wrap-up of class Mon Apr 27 read: Ayer, pp. 331-341 Wed Apr 29 read: Rawls, pp. 358-379 Wrap-up of class WEEK 16 (Finals Week) Wed May 6 TEST 5 (1:30pm-3:30pm) Grading The grade for this course will mainly be determined by five multiple choice tests. The dates on which the tests are given will be indicated on the lecture schedule, and cannot be made up (if you are aware of a conflict in advance, we can work something out. However, trying to work something out after the fact, or the day of, is too late). That is, you will need to make a decision as to which is more important to you – your event, or a Unit Test in this course. I will, however, drop your lowest grade, so only 4 will count, thus giving you room to miss one, for, indeed, life happens and sometimes you cannot make it to class. Additionally, students can earn extra credit points if they choose to give a 15 minute power point presentation on an ethical theory of their choosing. In order to receive the extra credit, students will have to show familiarity with as well as a critical analysis of the theory they are presenting. In order to receive credit, students are required to provide the power point slides to the instructor after they have presented. Requirements & Assignments The final grade for the course will be calculated as follows: ● Four (4) unit exams 80 % (4 x 20%) ● One 2-4 page paper 10 % ● Attendance 10 % Exams: The one-hour examinations will only cover the material discussed in the respective sections, i.e. they will not be cumulative. The exams will generally consist of multiple choice as well as true/false questions and will be conducted on scantron test s, which will be provided by the instructor. Essay: the parameters of the essay will be discussed in more detail during class. Note: This is an abbreviated syllabus and is subject to change. A more detailed syllabus will be distributed to students by the instructor.
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