To do:
1. For Monday, there is a study guide due. See below for the assignment.
2. The redo assignment's due date has been changed; instead of being due this Monday (Sept. 30) it will be due the Monday after, which is Oct 7.
3. There is a quiz this Wednesday. See below.

Today's questions; for 1 PM class, please bring written answers to class on Friday:

1.  What is FGM? THE FACTS…

2.  What are arguments that it is morally wrong?

3.  What arguments that it is morally permissible??

4.   On the basis of 1, 2 and 3 what do we think about it?

Morehouse Writing Center

You are encouraged to visit the Morehouse Writing Center, in Brawley 200, for help with all your writing projects.

Redo of Cultural Relativism Assignment

Please read these Guidelines on Reading Philosophy http://www.jimpryor.net/teaching/guidelines/reading.html

For next Monday, Oct. 7 [note change!], you are strongly encouraged to redo your writing assignment about what cultural relativism is and the arguments for and against the theory. Please use this template to organize your paper:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/3cgtsnrj7ixxywn/template%20for%20cultural%20relativism%20assignment.doc

or

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ohc1cqyy09en3u1/template%20for%20cultural%20relativism%20assignment.rtf

Please turn in your earlier version with your newer version.

Note: doing this well will result in your original grade being replaced with a new, better grade AND you will receive that number of points as extra credit points! :)

Here is the original assignment:

Please write a short paper on the topic of the moral theory known as moral or cultural relativism. Do not read anything else on these topics besides the Rachels EMP and the paragraphs on the theory in RTD. Please write a brief explanatory essay that follows the guidance suggested below and answers these questions:

1. What is the moral theory known as moral or cultural relativism?

2. What arguments does Rachels discuss for the conclusion that the moral theory known as moral or cultural relativism is false? Explain those arguments.

3. What arguments does Rachels discuss for the conclusion that the moral theory known as moral or cultural relativism is true? Explain those arguments.

4. Based on your understanding of what moral or cultural relativism is, and the arguments for the conclusion that the theory is true and the arguments that the theory is false, what do you believe about the theory? Do you think it's true, or that it's false? Explain.

Reading

Next week, make sure you have read EMP Ch. 2.

We will also discuss the topics of female genital mutilation and monogamy. For the former topic, please read "What's Culture Got to Do with it? Excising the Harmful Tradition of Female Circumcision" and Google and Youtube both the topics.

New Assignments

For Wednesday, Sept 25:
1. Summary or outline of the Introduction and Sections 1, 2 and 3 of the Harvard Writing Book.
2. An explanatory essay: 
How do the different moral theories in the Rachels chapter  (“A Short Introduction to Moral Philosophy”) (online on the blog) explain why the wrong actions (as a group, that we developed in class: you will likely want to mention some items from that last) below are wrong and the not wrong actions are not wrong? Write a short essay (3-4 pages) that explains each theory’s answer(s), starting with the theories at the end of the chapter (e.g., Kant and utilitarianism) and working towards the theories at the beginning. Also briefly discuss the African moral theories: links for these are below. For each theory from Rachels, you should provide a properly cited quote from Rachels to state and explain the theory. Focus on Kant, utilitarianism and the social contract theory. 

Your paper will likely have main claims like this: "According to this theory…. , these actions are wrong because …."

Your paper should have a short introduction that explains what you will do in the paper. It sound begin like this:

"In this paper, I will discuss ______. I will ___[tell the reader what you will do in the paper]___: "

Since this is not an argumentative paper, your paper doesn't have a thesis. Your goal is to just accurately explain the theories. 

Each paragraph should focus on one, and only one, topic. 

To ensure that your paper is formatted properly, you should use the paper template here:
http://morehousebioethics.blogspot.com/2013/08/assignment-template.html

P.S. Here is an essay evaluation sheet, most of which would be helpful; the only part that isn't relevant here is the 'thesis' part, since this assignment above doesn't have a thesis.

Essay Evaluation Sheet

Here are some concerns for argumentative essays. How well does your essay address them? See also "Guidelines on Writing a Philosophy Paper" http://www.jimpryor.net/teaching/guidelines/writing.html 

1.      Introduction: do you have an introduction that explains the topic(s) you will address, or the question(s) you will answer?
2.       Thesis: does your paper have a thesis, that is, a conclusion that you try to support?
3.       Arguments: does your paper give an explicit argument or arguments in support of your conclusion?
a.       Do you explicitly state your premises, and why they should be accepted?
b.      Do you explicitly explain how your premises lead to your conclusions?
4.       Do you respond to any objections or counterarguments? Do you respond to questions that readers might have about your arguments?
5.       Does your paper have a conclusion that reviews what you discussed and what you argued for?
6.       Organization: could your paper be outlined to show its structure? Is it well organized?
7.       Paragraphs: does each paragraph focus on one, and only one, topic?
8.       Writing: is your paper written in plain, ordinary English? Do you use ‘fancy’ words – words that people wouldn’t use in ordinary conversation – only if it is absolutely necessary?
9.       Are there any grammatical and spelling errors?
10.   Are your sentences short and clear? Did you look closely at each sentence to ensure it makes sense?
11.   Did you proofread?
12.   Did you get someone else to read your paper and give you helpful feedback for revision?
13.   Did you revise your paper?
This is available here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/9sxz5wmf3wjwzbb/Essay%20Evaluation%20Sheet.doc

For Monday, Sept 30:
1. Create a detailed study guide covering all material -- all readings and discussion - covered up to that day. All concepts, theories, definitions, cases / examples, arguments stated in logically valid form, responses to objections, responses to those objections. You are encouraged to work on this project in groups, but you must submit your own study guide.

For Wednesday, October 2 :
Quiz 1, covering all material thus far. Usually short answer and fill in the blank. No multiple choice. You will be asked to show that you know and understand the cases, theories and arguments; you will not be asked for your your personal opinions about any of the issues or arguments on this quiz.

Assignments for Wednesday

These assignments were originally given for Monday. But they are being moved to being due Wednesday. 

For Wednesday 9/18, two assignments are due:

Assignment 1. 

We will begin discussing EMP Ch. 2 on moral or cultural relativism and various related moral issues. Please write a short paper on the topic of the moral theory known as moral or cultural relativism. Do not read anything else on these topics besides the Rachels EMP and the paragraphs on the theory in RTD. Please write a brief explanatory essay that follows the guidance suggested below and answers these questions:

1. What is the moral theory known as moral or cultural relativism?

2. What arguments does Rachels discuss for the conclusion that the moral theory known as moral or cultural relativism is false? Explain those arguments.

3. What arguments does Rachels discuss for the conclusion that the moral theory known as moral or cultural relativism is true? Explain those arguments.

4. Based on your understanding of what moral or cultural relativism is, and the arguments for the conclusion that the theory is true and the arguments that the theory is false, what do you believe about the theory? Do you think it's true, or that it's false? Explain.

Sample Chapters

---

Chapter 2: The Challenge of Cultural Relativism (519.0K)
Chapter 3: Subjectivism in Ethics (516.0K)

Assignment 2.

Please evaluate your first essay on a moral issue in light of these concerns below. Please write out answers to these questions after you review your essay.  

Essay Evaluation Sheet

Here are some concerns for argumentative essays. How well does your essay address them?

1.       Introduction: do you have an introduction that explains the topic(s) you will address, or the question(s) you will answer?
2.       Thesis: does your paper have a thesis, that is, a conclusion that you try to support?
3.       Arguments: does your paper give an explicit argument or arguments in support of your conclusion?
a.       Do you explicitly state your premises, and why they should be accepted?
b.      Do you explicitly explain how your premises lead to your conclusions?
4.       Do you respond to any objections or counterarguments? Do you respond to questions that readers might have about your arguments?
5.       Does your paper have a conclusion that reviews what you discussed and what you argued for?
6.       Organization: could your paper be outlined to show its structure? Is it well organized?
7.       Paragraphs: does each paragraph focus on one, and only one, topic?
8.       Writing: is your paper written in plain, ordinary English? Do you use ‘fancy’ words – words that people wouldn’t use in ordinary conversation – only if it is absolutely necessary?
9.       Are there any grammatical and spelling errors?
10.   Are your sentences short and clear? Did you look closely at each sentence to ensure it makes sense?
11.   Did you proofread?
12.   Did you get someone else to read your paper and give you helpful feedback for revision?
13.   Did you revise your paper?
This is available here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/9sxz5wmf3wjwzbb/Essay%20Evaluation%20Sheet.doc

To ensure that your paper is formatted properly, you should use the paper template here:
http://morehousebioethics.blogspot.com/2013/08/assignment-template.html

We will likely not get to the African ethics readings until Monday; please read those and be prepared to discuss them:

Metz, T. (2007), Toward an African Moral Theory. Journal of Political Philosophy, 15: 321–341. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-9760.2007.00280.x  http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1467-9760.2007.00280.x/full 

Gyekye, Kwame, "African Ethics", The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Fall 2011 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.), URL = . http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/african-ethics/ 

How to Succeed in College

Here are some items I found in a search for "How to Succeed in College." Take a look!

http://www.jeffreybennett.com/pdf/How_to_Succeed_general.pdf

http://thechoice.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/06/how-to-succeed-in-college/?_r=0  

http://www.forbes.com/sites/rahimkanani/2011/09/06/how-to-succeed-in-college-new-advice-and-insights/

What would you add? Add in a comment below and/or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Morehouse-College-Philosophy-Religion-Department/204777976219265 

Assignments

Reading and writing assignment for Monday (given earlier, on day 1 and on syllabus and blog):

1. Read Introduction and Part 1 of the Harvard book on writing.
2. Read in A Rulebook for Arguments, the Introduction and the chapter on deductive arguments. This reviews material we have discused in class.
3. Read: "How to Read Philosophy," by Jim Pryor: http://www.jimpryor.net/teaching/guidelines/reading.html

4. Reading writing For Monday (9/9) Ch. 1, "What is Morality?" (Elements of Moral Philosophy, EMP; chapter is available at link if you don't have the book yet):

Writing assignment 1: very detailed summary OR OUTLINE of this chapter, covering every section. 

-          Recall from the syllabus:

•  Writing assignments generally are opportunities for the student to explain the issues and arguments and so teach the material to someone else. Two typical options are these:
• A very detailed outlines or summaries of some assigned readings. You will want them to be so detailed that you can use them for a detailed open outline quiz.
• Alternatively, an essay where you explain the main topic of the reading, the main conclusion(s) advanced in the reading, the main reason(s) given in favor of that conclusion; that argument stated in logically valid form and your evaluation of the argument as sound or unsound. This essay should also be so detailed that it could be used for an open-note quiz.

For Wednesday, re-read the Rachels chapter EMP 1, "What is Morality?"

5. For Friday, read these on African moral theories; come prepared to discuss these theories' explanations for why wrong actions are wrong and what makes an action morally permissible or obligatory:

Metz, T. (2007), Toward an African Moral Theory. Journal of Political Philosophy, 15: 321–341. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-9760.2007.00280.x  http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1467-9760.2007.00280.x/full 

Gyekye, Kwame, "African Ethics", The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Fall 2011 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.), URL = . http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/african-ethics/ 

Stay tuned for the next batch of reading and writing assignments. 

Wednesday's class

Questions:

1.       Why do the wrong actions belong on the wrong list? What is it about these actions that makes them wrong?

2.       How to the moral theories in the Right Thing to Do, “A Short Introduction to Moral Philosophy” answer the questions in (1)?

Actions that you think most people would think are pretty obviously wrong: uncontroversial examples; vivid and extreme examples are good; being specific is good. L	?	Actions (or character traits) that you think  most people would think are pretty obviously NOT wrong, permissible, obligatory or otherwise good.
1.       Killing for leisure .. 2.       Rape 3.       Cannibalism .. when you are not starving.. 4.       Robbing a bank .. stealing from people who have almost nothing when you have plenty.. 5.       Throwing a shoe at the president.. 6.       Bullying children, or old people… 7.       Plagiarism… 8.       Trapping /  kidnapping innocent people… 9.       Pedophilia 10.   Oppression .. holocaust .. 11.   Genocide – Rwanda 12.   Slavery – specific kinds of slavery .. 13.   Treatment of native people: e.g., 14.   Racial discrimination .. esp in the injustice system… 15.   Discrimination re. sexual orientation … you could give specific examples of this.. 2.       Intentionally spreading a disease… 3.       Intentionally killing someone / murdering someone merely because you feel like 4.       Cursing someone out because they walkd in your room without asking.. 5.       Harming the vulnerable .. old people and babies.. and disabled people.. 6.       slavery 7.       rape 8.       holocaust 9.       Genocides …in somalia 10.   Lynchings.. 16.   Mutilation…	Sex before marriage.

Questions:

1.       Why do the wrong actions belong on the wrong list? What is it about these actions that makes them wrong?

2.       How to the moral theories in the Right Thing to Do, “A Short Introduction to Moral Philosophy” answer the questions in (1)?