The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience,
but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.
- Martin Luther King Jr. ,‘48
SYLLABUS
AVAILABLE WITH LINKS HERE:
http://philosophy302.blogspot.com
AND AS A PDF HERE - NECESSARY TO SEE THE WHOLE SCHEDULE:
| Instructor: Nathan M. Nobis, Ph.D., nathan.nobis@gmail.com, www.NathanNobis.com Term: Summer 2010
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Catalogue Description: Provides an introduction to philosophical reflection about the nature and function of morality.
Extended Description: This course provides students with the opportunity to improve their skills at reasoning critically about moral issues. Students will learn some basic logic and critical thinking skills and apply them to theoretical and practical questions about morality. We will practice identifying precise and unambiguous moral conclusions (i.e., exact perspectives taken on moral issues) and the reasons given for and against these conclusions. We will then practice evaluating these reasons to see if they provide rational support for these conclusions or not. We will think about what helps people think more carefully and critically about moral issues and what factors and influences discourage this. We will discuss influential ethical theories and moral principles – answers to the questions ‘What’s the basic difference between a right and wrong action?’ and ‘What makes right actions right and wrong actions wrong?’ – and apply our critical thinking skills to moral issues such as female genital mutilation, homosexuality, abortion, famine and absolute poverty, racism, sexism, and speciesism, vegetarianism and the treatment of animals, euthanasia and assisted suicide, capital punishment, affirmative action, civil disobedience, and environmentalism, among others.
Required textbook: James and Stuart Rachels, The Elements of Moral Philosophy, 6th Ed. [Elements]. Any edition will do.
Requirements and grading:
- Come to class and be on time. Attendance will be taken. You are allowed one unexcused absence. Any further unexcused absences will reduce your final grade by 1/3 a grade per absence. Tardiness will result in a final grade reduction as well.
- Do the reading and writing assignments on time, according to the schedule below, which is subject to change, if necessary to achieve educational goals and objectives. Late assignments will lose one letter grade / half a point per day late, starting from after the beginning of class. (That is, since writings are due at the beginning of class, if you turn it in in the afternoon, it will be counted late.)
8 writing assignments, 5 points each = 40 points total
2 exams / quizzes, 20 points each = 40 points
TOTAL POINTS = 80 points
Students with perfect attendance will have 5 points added to their overall grade.
Students with unexcused absences will lose points on their overall grade.
There might be some extra credit opportunities.
Course schedule:
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
| | JUNE 8 - Classes start | JUNE 9 | JUNE 10 | JUNE 11 – |
| | Day 1 · Introductions · Overview of Course · Overview of Logic & Arguments http://sites.google.com/site/nobisphilosophy/arguments.pdf http://sites.google.com/site/nobisphilosophy/validargumentforms.pdf · Overview of Basic Moral Evaluations: Permissible, Obligatory, Impermissible/Wrong o See pp. 3, 5-8; also discusses logic and moral theories: · Overview of Moral Theories, i.e., Hypotheses for what makes actions permissible, obligatory or wrong. o See above. | Day 2 INDEPENDENT STUDY Read Elements Writing assignment 1, due Wednesday, beginning of class (2 pages): (1) identify the possible conclusions regarding what should or should not be done regarding the various cases and the reasons given for and against these conclusions. (2) Summarize how Rachels thinks you should try to think about moral issues, what methods you should use. | Day 3 Wednesday’s Writing Assignment due Discuss Elements Reading assignment for Friday: Elements, Ch. 2. Writing assignment 2, due Friday: what is “female circumcision” / “female genital mutilation”? What are some arguments that it is wrong? What are arguments that it is permissible? (2 pages) Note: research on Youtube and using Google is encouraged for this topic. | Day 4 End Drop/Add period Discuss Elements, Topics: cultural relativism; female genital mutilation; “polyamory” (Google that term) Reading for Tuesday: Elements, Writing assignment 3, due Thursday, June 17 (3-4 pages): What are all the most common reasons to think homosexuality is wrong? What is an argument that homosexuality is morally permissible? Are any of these reasons part of sound arguments that homosexuality is wrong? |
| JUNE 14 – | JUNE 15 | JUNE 16 | JUNE 17 | JUNE 18 |
| Day 5 Withdrawal period begins PEER LEAD LEARNING Video, in class: What’s morally wrong with homosexuality? John Corvino, www.TheGayMoralist.com Watch the main presentation and the “bonus” questions and answers . | Day 6 Discuss Ch. 3 and the arguments regarding homosexuality. Richard Feldman on “Simple Moral Arguments”: http://sites.google.com/site/nobisphilosophy/feldman-simple-moral-arguments.pdf Argument worksheet: http://sites.google.com/site/nobisphilosophy/homosexuality-arguments.pdf | Day 7 PEER LEAD LEARNING In class: “logic lab” on homosexuality arguments. Complete the worksheet. Identity all the premises needed to make the arguments valid. Explain whether any of these arguments are sound or not. AND Peer review / discuss your papers – plans for papers – due Thursday. Assignment previously given on Friday. | Day 8 Writing assignment 3 due. Reading assignment: Elements, Writing assignment 4, due Friday: Summarize the arguments given for and against abortion that Rachels discusses. | Day 9 Writing assignment 4 due. Discuss abortion. Fred Feldman on abortion: http://sites.google.com/site/nobisphilosophy/fred_feldman_on_abortion.pdf Argument worksheet: http://sites.google.com/site/nobisphilosophy/abortion-worksheet.pdf |
| JUNE 21 | JUNE 22 | JUNE 23 - Midterm Week | JUNE 24 - Midterm Week | JUNE 25 - Midterm Week |
| Day 10 PEER LEAD LEARNING &/OR INDEPENDENT STUDY In class: “logic lab” on abortion arguments. Complete the worksheet. Argument worksheet: http://sites.google.com/site/nobisphilosophy/abortion-worksheet.pdf Identity all the premises needed to make the arguments valid. Explain whether any of these arguments are sound or not. | Day 11 Discuss abortion. Argument worksheet: http://sites.google.com/site/nobisphilosophy/abortion-worksheet.pdf A PowerPoint for lecture / discussion: | Day 12 PEER LEAD LEARNING Video: Peter Singer, “A Dangerous Mind?” Read Elements, Writing assignment 5, Due Thursday: Please write a 2-3 page summary of the chapter that would be understood by someone who has not read the book. Poverty Argument worksheet: http://sites.google.com/site/nobisphilosophy/poverty-arguments.pdf | Day 13 Writing Assignment 5 due. Video: 60 Minutes on Peter Singer A PowerPoint for lecture / discussion: http://sites.google.com/site/aphilosopher/famine.ppt Poverty Argument worksheet: http://sites.google.com/site/nobisphilosophy/poverty-arguments.pdf “The Ten Dollar Club, Saving the World $10 at a Time”: http://www.thetendollarclub.org/ | Day 14 Midterm Exam / Quiz A study guide will be provided! |
| JUNE 28 | JUNE 29 | JUNE 30 | JULY 1 | JULY 2 |
| Day 15 PEER LEAD LEARNING Read: Elements Read out loud and discuss “A Call for Unity” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Call_For_Unity and MLK’s response, "Letter from the Birmingham City Jail," Martin Luther King, Jr. http://www.africa.upenn.edu/Articles_Gen/Letter_Birmingham.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Letter_from_Birmingham_Jail Writing project 6: In groups of 3 or 4, identify MLK’s arguments: his conclusions and his reasons for them. Are any of his arguments unsound? | Day 16 Turn in writing project 6. Each student turns in his own writing. Read: Elements, Writing assignment 7, Due Thursday: Please write a 2-3 page (each) summaries of the chapters that would be understood by someone who has not read the book. Discuss Euthanasia “One Nurse’s Story,” http://sites.google.com/site/nobisphilosophy/one_nurses_story.pdf | Day 17 PEER LEAD LEARNING Watch film on ethics and animals: Title TBA. Perhaps “The Witness” or “ | Day 18 Writing assignment 7, Due Thursday: In class, read: “Reasonable Humans and Animals,” John Simmons: http://sites.google.com/site/nobisphilosophy/veg.pdf Argument worksheet: http://sites.google.com/site/nobisphilosophy/veg-responses.pdf | Day 19 Last day to Withdraw Discuss animals issues |
| JULY 5 | JULY 6 | JULY 7 | JULY 8 - | JULY 9 - |
| Day 20 NO CLASS: 4TH OF JULY HOLIDAY | Day 21 Read: Elements Writing assignment 8, Due Thursday: Please write a 2-3 page (each) summaries of the chapters that would be understood by someone who has not read the book. Discuss issues of these chapters. | Day 22 Discuss issues of these chapters. | READING PERIOD / SENIOR EXAMS | FINAL EXAM – STUDY GUIDE WILL BE PROVIDED |
| JULY 12 – | JULY 13 – | JULY 14 – | | |
| final exams ; Senior grades due by noon | final exams | final exams FINAL EXAM – STUDY GUIDE WILL BE PROVIDED | | |
| | Tuesday, July 20, 2010, All Final Grades Due by Noon. | | | |
