INTRODUCTION TO ETHICS Baton Rouge Community College Philosophy 205, Section 2 Tues., Thurs., 4:30-5:45 Emily Cogburn, instructor e-mail: When emailing me, please let me know the course and section you are taking: [email protected]. Web site: www.geocities.com/cogburn83 About the course: In this course, we will talk about ethics, the study of morality or what we ought to do. First, we will explore different ethical theories, which are supposed to help us figure out the right thing to do. Maybe the right thing to do is what will produce the most happiness or maybe doing our duty is the most important thing. Then, we will discuss some real life moral issues such as euthanasia, using ethical theories to evaluate them. The goal is not to change your mind about any of these issues, but simply help you think about them. Both doing the assigned reading and coming to class are absolute necessities in this course. Below I have listed each class period and the required reading for that day. You are required to do the reading indicated for that class period before coming to class. Reading philosophy is not like reading fiction for fun. You may find you have to read something more than once and think about it before you understand it fully. This is especially true of the selections at the end of each chapter. Try reading the assignment and then writing in your own words what you think the author is saying and don't be afraid to read something more than once or even a few times! I do not use Blackboard since there have been problems with it in the past. You are responsible for checking my website at www.geocities.com/cogburn83 for updates to the syllabus and important information throughout the semester. You also must access the web site to complete assignments. You are responsible for coming to class to receive grades on all tests. I will not post the grades to my web site (a violation of privacy) or email them to you. Final and midterm grades are available through Banner (the same way you registered for the class) or by mail. I cannot email midterm or final grades. Policies: Talking (except during class discussion), reading, cell phone usage, and electronic games are distracting to both instructor and students and will not be allowed during class time. Academic dishonesty (cheating and plagiarism) may take various forms, including copying other students' work, and using cheat sheets during exams. None of them will be tolerated in this course. Cheating on any assignments or tests will result in an F in the course. You are responsible for familiarizing yourself with the rules and regulations of this College. You may find these in the Student Handbook on BRCC's website. You are required to attend every class. Attendance will be taken at the end of class. If you do not sign the roll, you will be marked absent. You must present a doctor's excuse (or similar documentation) in order to have an absence excused. Make-ups on exams will only be given in the case of excused absences (doctor's note etc.) For exams, one make-up time may be scheduled with the instructor (at her discretion). If you fail to keep this appointment, another will not be scheduled. Baton Rouge Community College and I are dedicated to making reasonable accommodations for persons with documented disabilities. Students should notify the Office of Special Programs of any special needs. You should notify me as soon as possible that you are working with the Office of Special Programs. The telephone number there is 216-8503. Required texts: You must acquire the textbook for this course. It is available in the BRCC bookstore and also from www.amazon.com. It will be impossible to pass the class without it. If you cannot afford the text, at least get an earlier edition from www.amazon.com. Cheap used books are usually available this way. MacKinnon, Barbara. Ethics: Theory and Contemporary Issues, Fifth Edition     Grading: Keeping track of your grade in the class is your responsibility. If you are worried about whether I received an assignment or if you have a documented excuse for missing a class period or assignment, please feel free to contact me. However, I will return all tests and assignments, so you will be able to figure out your current grade or what you need to get on a test or assignment to get a certain grade in the class. You should also keep track of your own attendance record as well.   Students have informed me in the past that they cannot figure out their grade when I tell them an assignment is worth a certain percentage of the final grade. With that in mind, I have devised a new (and entirely equivalent) system based on points instead (though each can, of course, be converted to the other- something you should learn to do for your own knowlege). There will be 700 total points in the class (or 100%). Each assignment etc. will be worth a certain number of points toward this total. If you want to know what grade you have at any given time, you will have to convert to percentages, however, it should be fairly simple to see what you need to make on your tests etc. to get a certain grade.   When midterm grades are due, there will be 348 points. So, 348-313 will be an A (or 100-90%), 312-278 a B (89-80%), 277-244 a C (79-70%), and 243-209 a D (69-60%)   Final grades will be calculated as follows: Attendance: 100 points. Each class period is worth 3 points, so if you miss one class, you lose 3 points. This may leave us a few points short of 100, but I'll add whatever extra there is to everyone's grade. This includes test days and the days of midterms and finals, but not holidays. You must sign the roll to receive attendance credit for that day.   Tests: 500 points. There will be 5 tests, each worth 100 points. All tests will be consist of short answer, multiple choice, and essay questions (except for make-up exams which will be all short answer and essay). Tests cannot be made up without a documented excuse. Tests cannot be retaken after the next test has been given. If I allow you to reschedule a test and you do not show up, you have forfited your right to take that test.   Assignment: 100 points. Assignments turned in late (without a documented excuse) will be worth 1/2 credit maximum. I will not accept emailed assignments. They must be printed out and brought to class. No assignments will be accepted after the last day of class (December 8).   Total: 700 points (100%) A- 700-630 (100-90%) B- 629-560 (89-80%) C- 559-490 (79-70%) D- 489-420 (69-60%)   If you are coming up on the last test and want to know what you have to get on it to get an A, say, then add up the points you made on all the other things and try plugging in different grades for the final test and see what you get. For example, if I have perfect attendance, I have 92 points, then say I got 90 on the first assignment, 80 on the first test, 85 on the second test, 100 on the second assignment, 90 on the third test. My total is 537 points. Even if I get zero on the last test, I get a C. I need 93 on the final test to get an A. Or if you like percentages, add everything up and divide it by how many things we have done so far (don't forget attendance). So if we've taken two tests and the assignment, add those together plus your attendance grade and divide by 4.   Schedule:   Jan. 16-18 Chapter 1: Ethics and Ethical Reasoning, p. 2-12   Jan. 23 Chapter 2: Ethical Relativism, p. 18-28   Jan. 25 Chapter 2: Ethical Relativism, p. 18-28   Jan. 30 Chapter 3: Egoism, p. 30-36 Assignment due   Feb. 1 Chapter 3: Egoism, p. 30-36   Feb. 6 Test 1   Feb. 8 Chapter 4: Utilitarianism, p. 49-59   Feb. 13-15 Chapter 4: Utilitarianism, p. 49-59 Chapter 5: Kant's Moral Theory, p. 72-81   Feb. 20 Mardi Gras Holiday   Feb. 22 Chapter 5: Kant's Moral Theory, p. 72-81   Feb. 27 Test 2   Mar. 1 Chapter 6: Natural Law and Natural Rights, p.95-101   Mar. 6-8 Chapter 7: Virtue Ethics, p. 109-114   Mar. 13 Test 3   Mar. 15 Chapter 8: Euthanasia, p. 134-149   Mar. 20-22 Chapter 8: Euthanasia, p. 134-149   Mar. 27 Reading: The Wrongfulness of Euthanasia by J. Gay-Williams, p. 151-154, Active and Passive Euthanasia by James Rachels, p. 154-158   Mar. 29 Test 4   April 2-7 Spring Break   April 10-12 Chapter 13: Economic Justice, p. 270-280   April 17 Readings from Chapt 13: Justice as Fairness by John Rawls, p. 282-288, Distributive Justice by Robert Nozick p. 289-295   April 19 Chapter 14: Legal Punishment, p. 300-311   April 24-26 Chapter 14: Legal Punishment, p. 300-311 Chapter 14: Readings from A World without Punishment by Hugo Adam Bedau, p. 312-320, and The Ultimate Punishment: A Defense by Ernest Van Den Haag, p. 321-326   May 1-3 Chapter 18: Violence, Terrorism, and War, p. 419-431   May 8-10 Chapter 18: Violence, Terrorism, and War, p. 419-431 Chapter 18: Reading: What is a Terrorist by Jean Bethke Elshtain, p. 432-435 Chapter 18: Reading: The Triumph of Just War Theory, p. 436-441   May 12-18 Final Exams (Test 5)