“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
- Martin Luther King Jr.,‘48
Syllabus
Introduction
to Philosophical Ethics, PHI 302
Fall 2012
AVAILABLE IN
PDF here:
Note:
Students
are responsible for understanding
all the information and policies presented
in this syllabus. Students
will be referred to it if they
have questions that are
answered here. A syllabus is not a
contract
and can be revised, if needed, to
promote learning and other educational
goals.
12-
12:50 PM course, Sale Hall 107:
41881
- HPHI 302G - 01 : www.Turnitin.com ;
class ID= 5385627, password is ethics:
written work should be submitted through Turnitin and in hardcopy, in class.
1-1:50
PM course, Sale Hall 107:
47656
- HPHI 302G - 02 : www.Turnitin.com
; class ID= 5385638, password is ethics:
written work should be submitted through Turnitin and in hardcopy, in class.
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Preferred Email: nathan.nobis@gmail.com
(preferred email); nnobis@morehouse.edu
Telephone: 404-215-2607
office; 404-825-1740 cell
Office: Sale Hall 113, Philosophy & Religion Department
Office Hours: Monday 2- 4, Friday 1:50 to 2:30 and by appointment
on Tuesdays and Thursdays: please email!
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Department of Philosophy
and Religion: Mission and Objectives:
The two-fold objective of this Department is to
prepare students for graduate or professional study in the fields of philosophy
and religious studies and to enable them to satisfy the College requirements in
the general education program. The courses in philosophy and religion seek to provide the student not
only with a firm base in these two academic disciplines, but also with a means
for self-examination and self-orientation. The work in philosophy aims to
develop a critical and analytical approach to all the major areas of human
inquiry. The work in religion aims to describe, analyze and evaluate the
role of religion in the life of humans since earliest times and how the
religious quest continues as a variegated and often tortuous climb toward human
growth and fulfillment.
1. CATALOG COURSE DESCRIPTION: Provides an introduction to
philosophical reflection about the nature and function
of morality. Readings will include
both historical
and contemporary materials.
EXTENDED
COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course provides students with the opportunity to
improve their skills at reasoning critically
about moral issues. Students
will learn some basic logical concepts
and argument
analysis skills and apply them to theoretical and practical
questions about
morality. We will practice identifying
clear (i.e., unambiguous) and precise moral conclusions (i.e., exact perspectives
taken on moral issues) and the premises, or 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 morally permissible and a morally
impermissible (or wrong) action?’
and ‘What makes wrong actions wrong and what
makes permissible actions
permissible?’ – and apply our argument
analysis skills to moral issues such
as the treatment of
disabled newborns, female genital mutilation,
homosexuality, abortion, absolute
poverty, racism, sexism, and speciesism, vegetarianism and the
treatment of animals, euthanasia
and assisted suicide, drug use, and
capital punishment, among others.
2. COURSE
PREREQUISITES: There are no formal
prerequisites for this course. However, students will benefit
most from the
course when they enter it with the
abilities to:
a.
read critically
and identify the
structure
and components of an argumentative
essay or passage, i.e., the
conclusion(s), the premises(s) or
supporting elements, and so forth;
b.
write clear, concise and simple grammatical, spelling-error-free sentences
and well-organized expository and
argumentative
essays, as taught in Introductory English courses;
c.
speak clearly, concisely, and grammatically.
·
Basic mathematical
and scientific literacy is desirable.
·
Familiarity
with moral issues, common positions taken
on them and reasons given in favor
of these positions
is desirable, since we will build on any previous understanding.
·
Intellectual
and moral virtues, such as curiosity, patience,
and openness to the possibility
of error and the need for change,
are desirable as well.
3. COURSE
OBJECTIVES: Upon successfully completing
this course, students
will be able to use the set
of argument analysis skills below to
identify and evaluate moral arguments:
a.
identify
whether any presentation (“text”) is
“morally argumentative” or not,
i.e., whether it presents
an argument for a moral conclusion
on a moral issue or not;
b.
identify
conclusions of morally argumentative presentations, evaluate
these conclusions for clarity and precision, and (if needed) reconstruct /
restate
the conclusion in clear and precise terms;
c.
identify
stated
premises or reasons in morally argumentative presentations, evaluate
these conclusions for clarity and precision, and (if needed) reconstruct /
restate
these premises in clear and precise terms;
d.
identify
(if needed) unstated premises in argumentative presentations that are logically essential
to the
structure
of an argument and state them as part
of the argument
in clear and precise terms;
e.
identify
and distinguish factual/empirical/scientific
and moral/philosophical premises in moral arguments;
f.
evaluate
moral arguments as (1) logically
valid or invalid (or
otherwise logically cogent) and (2) sound or unsound (or otherwise
strong);
g.
identify
and explain reasons given to think an argument
is sound, reasons to think it
is unsound (often using counterexamples
to general moral premises), and
responses to these
reasons.
Students will be able to
accurately explain historically influential
moral theories and common arguments against
them, in light
of their implications, explanatory
power and theoretical virtues
and vices.
Students will be able to
accurately explain (in essays and
oral presentations)
the most
common arguments given on a number
of controversial moral issues, from
a variety of perspectives, and criticisms
of these arguments.
A GREEN SYLLABUS: This course contains content that allows it to contribute to
Morehouse’s Institute for Sustainable Energy program, its planned academic
Minor in Energy and the Morehouse-Wide
Initiative for Sustainable Energy (M-WISE) program: http://www.morehouse.edu/news/InsideMorehouse_w/dec10jan11/hbcu-energy.html
This content is indicated in green below.
4. REQUIRED
MATERIALS, which must always be brought
to class: students
without course materials may be asked to leave and counted absent for that day.
- James and Stuart Rachels, The Elements of Moral Philosophy (McGraw Hill Publishing, 2012) (7th edition is ideal, but any will do). http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0078038243/information_center_view0/table_of_contents.html
- James and Stuart Rachels, eds. The Right Thing to Do (McGraw Hill Publishing, 2012) 6th edition is ideal, but any edition will do: however, students are responsible for getting copies of any readings in the current edition not found in prior editions). http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0078038243/information_center_view0/the_right_thing_to_do.html
- Lewis Vaughn, Writing Philosophy: A Student's Guide to Writing Philosophy Essays (Oxford 2005). http://www.oup.com/us/catalog/general/subject/Philosophy/?view=usa&ci=9780195179569
- Additional materials will be posted online and/or handed out in class.
5. ASSIGNMENTS &
GRADING:
- 12 weekly short writing assignments, often on the readings, usually due Monday at the time of class in hardcopy – no work will be accepted late -- and submitted to the Turnitin.com system, with a print out of your submission receipt attached the assignment (see above for the Course ID and password): 5 points each, 60 points total.
- 3 Quizzes: In class. 20 points each, 60 points total.
- 2 Argumentative essays (approx 5 pages), including rough drafts, peer and instructor review and revisions: 20 points each, 40 points total.
- 1 small group project and class presentation. Groups of three students will create a webpage or blog (e.g., on Google pages, blogger or some other online forum) that introduces a moral issue and presents and critically evaluates at least 5 arguments concerning that issue and share this webpage with the class (and the entire planet online). 20 points.
- Attendance and participation is required. Each unexcused absence after 4 will result in a 2% reduction from students overall grade. Unexcused tardiness will result in 1% reduction.
- EXTRA CREDIT ASSIGNMENTS. There likely will be many extra credit opportunities, including this assignment related to finding your “calling” through your career(s): https://docs.google.com/open?id=1TKXEcQS1D5AJ_PwKf8T3UWgHdXtOkNcNTrSmlrdQ_U2vP7FXdpXwmTLAHDW0
No work will be accepted late except with a written,
college-approved excuse.
Final grades will be determined by the quantity and
quality of work done only: students who need a certain grade should work to
ensure that they earn that grade.
Plagiarism and cheating is not allowed and will be severely penalized by either a
zero on an assignment (and no chance for making up that assignment) or failing
the course. Do not consult any outside sources for any assignments or examine
the work of any other students – current or past students – unless directed to
do so by the instructor.
First assignments:
For next Monday (8/27):
o Rachels, The
Right Thing to
Do (RTD: Ch. 2, “Some Basic Points
About Arguments,”
available here for students who don’t yet
have the books: http://aphilosopher.googlepages.com/rachels-on-arguments.pdf
Handouts
on Overview of Logic & Arguments
·
Overview of Basic Moral Evaluations:
Morally Permissible, Obligatory,
Impermissible/Wrong
o See pp. 3, 5-8; also discusses logic and moral theories:
https://sites.google.com/site/ethicsandanimals/EthicsandAnimalsLecturesDiscussionQuestionsAssigments.pdf\
For the next Friday (8/31):
o Rachels, The
Right Thing to
Do: Ch.1 “A Short Introduction
to Moral Philosophy,” available here
for students don’t yet have the books: http://aphilosopher.googlepages.com/rachels-intro-to-ethics.pdf
For Wednesday (1/25) Ch. 1, "What
is Morality?" (Elements
of Moral Philosophy, EMP):
Writing
assignment 1: very detailed summary of this chapter, covering every section.
After this, we will review
the later chapters on utilitarian and Kantian moral theory in greater detail,
discuss John Rawls’s moral theory, and then return to earlier chapters of the
Elements of Moral Philosophy and related readings in The Right Thing to Do and
read them in the order presented.
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FALL 2012
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Wk
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Monday-Tuesday
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August 20-21, 2012
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Official Registration
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1
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Wednesday
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August 22, 2012
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First Day of Class
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2
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Friday
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August 31, 2012
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End Drop/Add
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2
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Saturday
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September 1, 2012
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Withdrawal Period
Begins
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3
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Monday
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September 3, 2012
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Labor Day
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8
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Monday-Friday
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October 8-12, 2012
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Mid-term Week
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Monday-Friday
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November 5-9, 2012
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Academic Advising Week
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Monday
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November 12, 2012
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Web Registration
Begins for 201301
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Friday
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November 16, 2012
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Last Day to Withdraw
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14
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Thursday-Friday
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November 22 - 23, 2012
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Thanksgiving Day
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15
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Wednesday
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November 28, 2012
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Last Day of Classes
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15
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Thursday-Friday
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November 29 - 30, 2012
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Reading Period
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15
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Thursday-Friday
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November 29 - 30, 2012
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Senior Final Exams
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16
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Monday-Friday
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December 3 - 7, 2012
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Final Exams
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Thursday
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December 6, 2012
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Senior Grades due by
Noon
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Friday
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December 7, 2012
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Semester Ends
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Tuesday
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December 11, 2012
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All Final Grades due
by Noon
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Order of Readings (however, we will not discuss all these readings below); exact dates
and assignments will be announced in class and online:
1.
"Some
Basic Points about Arguments,"
James Rachels (RTD, #2). Available
here if you don’t yet have the
books: http://aphilosopher.googlepages.com/rachels-on-arguments.pdf
Logic Handout 1: http://sites.google.com/site/nobisphilosophy/arguments.pdf
Logic Handout 2: http://sites.google.com/site/nobisphilosophy/validargumentforms.pdf
2.
James Rachels,
"A Short Introduction
to Moral Philosophy" (RTD, #1).
Available here if you don’t yet
have the books: http://aphilosopher.googlepages.com/rachels-intro-to-ethics.pdf
3.
Ch. 1,
"What is Morality?" (Elements)
5.
Ch. 2,
"The Challenge of Cultural Relativism" (Elements)
6.
“What’s Culture
Got to
Do with it?
Excising the Harmful Tradition of Female Circumcision,” Harvard Law Review, http://sites.google.com/site/nobisphilosophy/female_circumcision.pdf
7.
"Monogamy: A
Critique," John McMurtry (RTD, #28) [This goes with
the brief discussion of polyamory on
pp. 29-30 of Elements; the readings below also concern sexual ethics.]
8.
"Our Sexual
Ethics," Bertrand Russell (RTD, #29)
9.
"Alcohol and
Rape," Nicholas Dixon (RTD, #30)
10. Ch. 3, "Subjectivism
in Ethics" (Elements)
11. "The Subjectivity of Values," J. L. Mackie (RTD, #6) [This
defends a version of Ethical Subjectivism.]
12. Richard Feldman on “Simple Moral Arguments”: http://sites.google.com/site/nobisphilosophy/feldman-simple-moral-arguments.pdf
13. "Is Homosexuality
Unnatural?" Burton M. Leiser (in older versions of RTD) [This is an
expanded version of the argument given on pp. 44-45 of Elements.]
14. “A Few Words About Gay Marriage,” Andrew Sullivan
15. “Same Sex Marriage and the argument from Public
Disagreement,” David Boonin
Video: John Corvino: “What’s
Morally Wrong with Homosexuality?” http://johncorvino.com/wp/photos/ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SutThIFi24w
Argument
worksheet: http://sites.google.com/site/nobisphilosophy/homosexuality-arguments.pdf
14. Ch. 4, "Does Morality
Depend on Religion?" (Elements)
15. Fred Feldman on abortion:
http://sites.google.com/site/nobisphilosophy/fred_feldman_on_abortion.pdf
16. "On the
Moral and Legal Status of Abortion
/ Postscript
on Infanticide," Mary Anne
Warren (RTD, #13)
17. "Why Abortion
Is Immoral," Don Marquis (RTD, #11) [One aspect
of the abortion
debate is discussed on pp. 57-61 of
Elements.]
18. "A Defense of Abortion,"
Judith Jarvis Thomson (RTD, #12)
Argument
worksheet: http://sites.google.com/site/nobisphilosophy/abortion-worksheet.pdf
19. Ch. 5, "Ethical
Egoism" (Elements)
20. "9/11 and Starvation," Mylan Engel, Jr. (RTD, #17) [Poverty is discussed on pp. 62-63 of Elements.]
21. "The Singer Solution
to World Poverty,"
Peter Singer (RTD, #18)
Argument
worksheet: http://sites.google.com/site/nobisphilosophy/poverty-arguments.pdf
There are many
more resources on sustainability and sustainable development, justice and
energy consumption, justice and pollution and related topics.
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22. "Is Racial Discrimination
Arbitrary?" Peter Singer (RTD, #32) [This essay asks whether "The Principle of Equal Treatment"
(as we call it on p. 77 of Elements) applies to
three difficult
test
cases.]
23. Ch. 6, "The Idea of a Social Contract"
(Elements)
24. "Letter from the
Birmingham City Jail," Martin Luther
King, Jr. (RTD, #31) [King's letter is quoted
on pp. 90-91 of Elements.]
25. "In Defense of Quotas,"
James Rachels (RTD, #33) [This reading goes with
King's "Letter from the
Birmingham City Jail." In
King's day, America was so racist that
preferential quotas were justified.
Are they justified
today?]
26. Ch. 7, "The Utilitarian Approach" (Elements)
27. "Utilitarianism," John Stuart Mill (RTD, #3)
28. “One Nurse’s Story,”
http://sites.google.com/site/nobisphilosophy/one_nurses_story.pdf
29. "The Morality
of Euthanasia," James Rachels
(RTD, #34) [Euthanasia is discussed
on pp. 98-101 of Elements.]
30. "The Wrongfulness of Euthanasia,” J. Gay-Williams
31. "America's Unjust
Drug War," Michael Huemer (RTD, #26) [Marijuana is discussed on pp.
101-104 of Elements.]
32. "All Animals Are Equal," Peter Singer (RTD, #14) [The treatment of
animals is discussed on pp. 104-108 of Elements.]
33. "Torturing
Puppies and Eating Meat: It's
All in Good Taste," Alastair Norcross (RTD, #15)
34. "Do Animals Have Rights?"
Tibor R. Machan (RTD, #16)
35. “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
There are many more resources on animal agriculture
and sustainability, energy consumption, global warming, pollution and related
topics.
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36. Ch. 8, "The Debate
over Utilitarianism"
(Elements)
37. "Utilitarianism and Integrity," Bernard Williams (RTD, #4) [This selection presents
Williams' most famous objection to Utilitarianism.]
38. "The Experience Machine," Robert Nozick (RTD, #5) [This selection
presents Nozick's most famous objection
to Hedonist
Utilitarianism.]
39. Ch. 9, "Are There Absolute
Moral Rules?" (Elements)
40. "The Categorical
Imperative," Immanuel Kant (RTD, #7) [The Categorical
Imperative is discussed on pp.
127-129 of Elements.]
41. “Hellhole,” Atul Gawande (RTD)
42. "The Ethics
of War and Peace," Douglas P. Lackey (RTD, #19) [The Allies' conduct of the
Second World War is discussed on pp. 124-126 of Elements.]
43. "Fifty
Years after Hiroshima," John
Rawls (RTD, #20) [The bombing of Hiroshima is discussed on pp. 124-126 of
Elements.]
44. "What
Is Wrong with Terrorism?"
Thomas Nagel (RTD, #21) [The readings on war and terrorism
go together.
Also, Nagel implies that the
prohibition on aiming at the death of a harmless person is an absolute moral rule.]
45. "Liberalism, Torture,
and the Ticking Bomb," David
Luban (RTD, #23) [One may ask: is the
prohibition on torture
an absolute moral rule?]
46. Ch. 10, "Kant
and Respect for Persons"
(Elements)
47. "A Defense of the
Death Penalty,"
Louis P. Pojman (RTD, #24) [Punishment
is discussed on pp. 139-145 of Elements.
We discuss the death penalty
specifically on p. 143.]
48. "Why the
United States Will Join the
Rest of the
World in Abandoning Capital
Punishment," Stephen B. Bright
(RTD, #25)
49. Ch. 11, "Feminism and the
Ethics of Care" (Elements)
50. "Caring Relations
and Principles of Justice,"
Virginia Held (RTD, #10) [See pp. 152-157 of Elements.]
51. Ch. 12, "The Ethics
of Virtue" (Elements)
52. "The Virtues,"
Aristotle
(RTD, #8)
53. "Master
Morality and Slave Morality," Friedrich Nietzsche
(RTD, #9) [Nietzsche glorifies the virtues
of "master morality" and ridicules the
vices of "slave morality."]
54. Ch. 13,
"What Would a Satisfactory
Moral Theory Be Like?" (Elements)
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