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.