PHIL 2030-927
Title: Philosophy of Ethics
Professor:
Raffaele Florio
Liston 1226
Tuesdays 6-8:30
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.geocities.com/thehumanitiesprof
Office: KN 3102
Phone: 825-2451
Cell #: 263-8182
Required Text: Ethics for Life by Judith Boss
and Why Religion Matters by Huston Smith
The unexamined life is not worth living. Know thyself.
-Socrates
Purpose- To gain exposure to various ethical systems in order to better understand our own beliefs and traditions regarding morality. Heavy focus will fall upon
social justice, globalization, environmental concerns, and diversity of beliefs.
Ethical approaches to be considered:
Ethical Subjectivism, Cultural Relativism, Religion, Natural Law, Conscience, Ethical Egoism, Utilitarianism, Deontology, Rights Ethics, Virtue Ethics, Ethical Pluralism
Grading- Attendance, Quizzes,
Exams, Written assignments
Attendance- You must attend class to be successful. Your attendance will count for a grade which will be averaged in with your others. (For example, if the class is scheduled to meet 15 times and you missed 3 you will receive a 12/15 for you attendance grade which equates to an 80.) HOWEVER if you miss more than 25% of the course you will not receive a passing grade regardless of your overall average. Four tardy arrivals will count as an absence.
Quizzes will be administered as needed and will come directly from reading.
Exams- Midterm and Final Exams will come from readings and notes.
Assignments-
Outlines- 5 TYPED outlines will be handed in. Outlines will receive a ü-,ü or ü+. Student will choose one of several questions to address. See schedule.
Essays- Two of the outlines will be converted into full essays. These essays must be TYPED and follow the structure established in the outline. The outline should be stapled to the back of the essay. The essay will be graded on content and format.
Reading Journal- Each week students must record at least five new words that they encountered during their assigned reading in a journal. They must define that word and be prepared to use it in a sentence. Following the vocabulary list, they must write a paragraph or two describing their reaction to the reading. These will be used during each class and must be turned in at the end of the semester.
Movie (extra credit): Choose a movie that deals with a contemporary moral issue and analyze it from at least three ethical perspectives. Write an essay of at least 5 paragraphs describing your analysis.
Miscellaneous Rules-
Cell Phones- Turn them off! DO NOT ANSWER A PHONE DURING CLASS!
Plagiarism- WILL NOT BE TOLERATED! Result will be a failing grade and disciplinary action. Any material that you use from another source, even if it is the text book, must be appropriately cited. Papers that are copied directly from the internet will be turned into the Dean.
Schedule (Subject to change)
Please go to the
course website (accessed through www.geocities.com/thehumanitiesprof)
to download the appropriate outlines for each lecture.
January 18- Overview
Overview of Ethics from Boss pages 3-7
Group Discussion- Chapters 1 and 2 from Smith’s Why Religion Matters.
For Next Class- Read Chapters 2 and 3 from Smith
January 25- More on the Study of Ethics
Normative and Theoretical Ethics
Metaphysics and Human Nature
Epistemology and Moral Knowledge
Philosophy and the Search for Wisdom
After the break we will discuss the reading from Smith
For Next Class- Read Chapters 5, 6 and 7 in Smith.
February 1- Moral Reasoning
Three Levels of Thinking
Moral Analysis, Praxis, and Paradigm Shifts
Read “The Relevance of the Noble Eightfold Path to Contemporary Society” together p 45-46
After the break we will discuss Smith. What kind of “paradigm shift” might he be anticipating?
For Next Class- Read materials listed below. Outline one of the following: p 36, #1; p 40, #1; p 50, #4 or #5; p 67, #4
February 8- Ethical Subjectivism: morality is a matter of personal feeling
Recognizing and Constructing Moral Arguments; Noting Fallacies
Ethical subjectivism: what it is and what it isn’t
Summary of the three theories (see table 3.1 p. 83)
Group Discussion- p 84, #3
J.J. Rousseau and Romantic Sentimentalism
Read “Emile” together- p 85-86
Class Discussion- p 91, #1
Mary Wollstonecraft: Rousseau’s Critic
5 Critiques of Ethical Subjectivism
Class Discussion- p98, #2
For Next Class- Read materials and outline one of the following: p 85, #4; p91, #2; p 93, #2; p 95, #2.
February 15- Cultural Relativism
What is Cultural Relativism?
Group Discussion- p104, #4
Sociological Relativism and Social Darwinian Ethics
Class Discussion- p110, #3
Cultural Relativism and the Moral Community
7 Critiques of Cultural Relativism
Group Discussion- p 141, #3
For Next Class- Read materials and turn in first essay
February 22- Is Morality Grounded in Religion? (First Essay Due)
Religion and Morality
Divine Command and Thomas Aquinas
Class discussion- p 147, #2
Read together The Summa Theologica p. 154-155
Group Discussion- p 157, #1
Review for Midterm Exam
For Next Class- Read materials and study for exam
March 1- Exam and Religion Continued
Midterm Exam
Civil Religion and Cultural Relativism
Class discussion- p 167, #1
Religion and the Moral Community
God and the Problem of Evil
Group Discussion- p 179, #2
For Next Class- Read Materials and outline one of the following: p 147, #2; p 151, #2; p 157, #5; p. 164, #4; p167, #4; p 171, #2; p. 175, #1.
March 8- NO SCHOOL
(SPRING BREAK)
March 15- Conscience and Moral Development
Ethics and the Study of Human Development
The Human Conscience: from Aristotle to Freud
Group Discussion- p 192, #5 or #7
The Cognitive Side of Conscience
Class Discussion- p 202, #4
Kohlberg’s Stages of Moral Development
Class Discussion- p 211, #4
Carol Gilligan’s Ethics of Care
Read Together “In a Different Voice” p 213-214
James Rest: The Four Components of Moral Behavior
Time Permitting- class discussion- p 226, #1
For Next Class- read materials and continue in Smith
March 22- Ethical Egoism: acting in our own self-interest
What is Ethical Egoism?
Group Discussion- p 234, #2
Psychological Egoism
Read together excerpts from Hobbes’ Leviathan p 236-237
Class Discussion- p 242, #6
Ayn Rand and Objectivist Ethics
Read together excerpt from The Fountainhead- p 244-246
Group discussion- p 247, #2
8 Critiques of Ethical Egoism
Class Discussion- p 262, #3
For Next Class- Read materials and outline one of the following: p 234, #4; p 242, #4; p 347, #3; p 253, #1.
March 29- Utilitarianism: the ends justify the means
The principle of utility
Jeremy Bentham and social reform
Read together excerpt from An Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation p 272-273
Class Discussion- p 276, #1
Bentham’s Theory
Group Discussion- p 277, #6
John Stuart Mill: Utilitarianism reformed
Utilitarianism and the Moral Community
Class discussion- p 288, #4
9 Critiques of Utilitarianism
For Next Class- read materials and outline one of the following: p 270, #3; p 276, #1, 2; p 283, #3; p 288, #1; p 295, #2.
April 5- Deontology
Ethics of Duty
Deontology and Duty
Class Discussion- p 299, #2
Kant and the Categorical Imperative
Read Together “Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysic of Ethics- p 306-307
Group Discussion- p 311, #1
Good Will, Proper Self-Esteem and Dr. Seuss
Class Discussion- p 318, #4 AND p 321, #1
The Duty of Justice
Class Discussion- p333, #2
4 Critiques of Deontology
Group Discussion- p 336, #2
For Next Class- read materials. ALSO SECOND ESSAY!
April 12- Rights Ethics (Second Essay Due)
Rights Ethics in Modern Society
Moral Rights vs. Legal Rights
Natural Rights
Read Together from John Locke’s Two Treatises on Civil Government- p 349-350.
Group Discussion- p 353, #1
Marxist Critique
Class Discussion- p 359, #2
Group Discussion- p 372, #2
5 Critiques of Rights Ethics
For Next Class- read materials and continue in Smith
April 19- Virtue Ethics and the Good Life
Virtue Ethics and Character
Aristotle’s Reason and Virtue
Read
Together from Nicomachean Ethics
Class Discussion- P 393, #1 and 2
Confucius and Aristotle
Is Virtue Relative to Culture, Status, and Gender?
Class Discussion- p 410, #3
Group Discussion- p 410, #1
The Unity of Virtue
Virtue and Moral Education
Class Discussion- p 413, #1 and #2
4 Critiques of Virtue Ethics
For Next Class- Read Materials and Finish Smith’s book Also- LAST DAY FOR MAKE UP WORK!
April 26- Ethical Pluralism p. 420-421
Part 2 of Smith
Review for Exam
May 3- Final Exam