Spring 2016 Making Moral Decisions – PHIL-W252 – Sections 003 and 051 Instructor: Joshua Lott When: Section 003 – MW – 3:30 – 4:45 p.m. Section 051 – MW – 4:55 – 6:10 p.m. Where: Bobet Hall 219 Office Hours: MTWTH – 12 – 2 p.m.; F – 12 – 5 p.m. Phone: Ext. # 2258 Email: [email protected] [email protected] GOALS AND OBJECTIVES This course introduces students to the major ethical traditions of the West and their application to issues of significant moral concern. During the first part of the course, students will become acquainted with Utilitarianism, Kant’s Ethics, Virtue Ethics, and Social Contract Theory. During the second part of the course, these theories will be applied to issues such as the Death Penalty, Global Justice, Affirmative Action, Abortion, Euthanasia, Animal Rights, and Sexual Morality. Students are not required to “take a side” on any of these issues, but they are expected to understand each viewpoint and to develop the ability to write and think about them deeply and clearly. This course is designed to meet objectives 1, 2, 5, and 6 of the Department of Philosophy for the Upper Level Common Curriculum (see http://cas.loyno.edu/philosophy/programs.html for these objectives). REQUIRED TEXTS: All of the readings for this course will be posted on Blackboard. But if you would prefer physical textbooks, the following two books contain the bulk of the readings for the semester: Rachels, James & Rachels, Stuart. The Elements of Moral Philosophy (5th Edition). New York: McGraw – Hill, 2007. Arthur, John & Scalet, Steven (Eds.). Morality and Moral Controversies (8th Edition). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson – Prentice-Hall, 2009. ASSESSMENT: Video Analysis Reflections – 10% Term Paper– 20% Midterm Exam – 35% Final Exam 35% All students are expected to attend every class. However, each student is allowed 4 absences, no questions asked, no penalties. The final average of any student with more than 4 absences will be reduced by one half of a letter grade. Exceptions can be made only if a student provides written documentation of a legitimate excuse (a doctor’s note documenting illness, an obituary documenting the death of a suitably close relative, a letter from a coach documenting an athletic obligation, a written summons for jury duty, etc.). The components that determine each student’s grade are listed above. More information on the video analysis reflections will be made available during the semester. The instructor does not grade these reflections, but they must be submitted on time in order to receive full credit. All students must submit a 5 – 7 page term paper by the last day of the semester. Students may choose to write on one of two topics – either the theoretical part of the course, or a moral issue. The instructor will provide more information about this assignment during the semester. Each exam will be a combination of short answer and essay questions. A study guide will be made available before each exam and the test questions will correspond directly to the study guide. EMERGENCY CLOSURES AND/OR EVACUATIONS At times, ordinary university operations are interrupted as a result of tropical storms, hurricanes, or other emergencies that require evacuation or suspension of on-campus activities. To prepare for such emergencies, all students will do the following during the first week of classes: 1. Practice signing on for each course through Blackboard. 2. Provide regular and alternative e-mail address and phone contact information to each instructor. In the event of an interruption to our course due to emergency requiring an evacuation or suspension of campus activities, students will: 3. Pack textbooks, assignments, syllabi and any other needed materials for each course and bring during an evacuation/suspension. 4. Keep up with course work during the evacuation/suspension as specified on course syllabi and on-line Blackboard courses. 5. Complete any reading and/or writing assignments given by professors before emergency began. Assuming a power source is available…. 6. Log on to university Web site within 48 hours of an evacuation/suspension. 7. Monitor the main university site (www.loyno.edu) for general information. 8. Log on to each course through Blackboard or e-mail within 48 hours of an evacuation/suspension to receive further information regarding contacting course instructors for assignments, etc. 9. Complete Blackboard and/or other online assignments posted by professors (students are required to turn in assignments on time during the evacuation/suspension period and once the university campus has reopened.] 10. Contact professors during an evacuation/suspension (or as soon as classes resume on campus) to explain any emergency circumstances that may have prevented them from completing expected work. Further information about student responsibilities in emergencies is available on the Academic Affairs web site: http://academicaffairs.loyno.edu/students-emergency-responsibilities STUDENT SUCCESS CENTER The Student Success Center (SSC) helps undergraduates in all disciplines at Loyola meet their academic goals. Located on the first floor of Marquette Hall, the SSC offers a range of academic assistance in the form of individualized tutoring, study groups, academic development courses, and support programs for Loyola’s diverse student body. In addition to academic assistance, the SSC houses Writing Across the Curriculum and the Office of Disability Services. The SSC can be reached at (504) 865-2990. WRITING ACROSS THE CURRICULUM Writing is a process. Don’t wait to begin writing your paper until the night before it is due. Go to the Writing Center, located within the Student Success Center--MA 112, and a writing consultant can assist you – whether you are formulating your ideas or revising a final draft. The center is open Monday-Thursday 9am-7pm, and Sunday 4pm- 9pm. No appointment necessary. For any additional questions about the Writing Center, call 865-2297. ACCOMMODATIONS FOR DISABILITIES If you have a disability and wish to receive accommodations, please contact Sarah Mead Smith, Director of Disability Services at 504- 855-2990. If you wish to receive test accommodations (e.g., extended test time), you will need to give the course instructor an official Accommodation Form from Disability Services. The Office of Disability Services is located in Marquette Hall 112. ACADEMIC HONESTY The MLA Handbook loosely defines “Plagiarism” as “… repeating another’s sentences as your own, adopting a particularly apt phrase as your own, paraphrasing someone else’s argument as your own, or even presenting someone else’s line of thinking in the development of a thesis as though it were your own,” (1985). I will follow the Philosophy Department’s policy on academic dishonesty in this course. The policy states that cases of plagiarism and/or dishonesty will be subject to all three of the following penalties: (1) A report of the incident to the Department Chair and the Associate Dean (2) A grade of zero on the assignment in question (3) A grade of “F” for the course Tentative Schedule of Topics 1/20 – Introduction – The Nature of Morality and a Crucial Question 1/25 – Why Be Moral? – The Myth of the Ring of Gyges 1/27 – Relativistic Moral Theories Video Analysis (1): The Twilight Zone – “The Masks” 2/1 – Religious Moral Theories 2/3 – Video Analysis (2): Scenes from Frailty, Se7en, and House of Cards 2/8 – 2/12 – MARDI GRAS HOLIDAYS 2/15 – Consequential Moral Theories – Egoism and Utilitarianism 2/17 – Video Analysis (3): Scenes from M. Night Shyamalan’s Unbreakable 2/22 – Social Contract Theories – Hobbes and Rawls 2/24 – Video Analysis (4): Scenes from Miller’s Crossing 2/29 – Kant’s Ethics 3/2 – Video Analysis (5): Scenes from Hero 3/7 – Virtue Ethics – Plato and Aristotle 3/9 – Video Analysis (6): Scenes from Fargo 3/14 – Review for Midterm Exam 3/16 – MIDTERM EXAM 3/21 – 3/28 – EASTER HOLIDAYS 3/30 – Punishment and the Death Penalty 4/4 – The Death Penalty Video Analysis (7): Tales From The Crypt – “The Man Who Was Death” 4/6 – Global Justice and Economic Obligations 4/11 – Global Justice and Economic Obligations Video Analysis (8): The Twilight Zone – “A Quality of Mercy” 4/13 – Affirmative Action and Reverse Discrimination 4/18 – Abortion 4/20 – Abortion Video Analysis (9): The Twilight Zone – “It’s A Good Life” 4/25 – Euthanasia 4/27 – Euthanasia Video Analysis (10): Tales From The Dark Side – “The Life Bomb” 5/2 – Sexual Morality 5/4 – Animal Ethics 5/9 – Animal Ethics Final Video Analysis: The Walking Dead – “Here’s Not Here” 5/11 – Review for Final Exam Term Paper Due by Midnight Schedule of Readings 1/20 – Required Readings 1/25 Rachels, James & Rachels, Stuart. “What is Morality?” in The Elements of Moral Philosophy, 5th Ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2007, pp. 1-15. Nagel, Thomas. “Ethics,” in John Arthur & Steven Scalet (Eds.) Morality and Moral Controversies, 8th Ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson-Prentice Hall, 2009, pp. 46-49. Bennett, Jonathan. “The Conscience of Huckleberry Finn,” in John Arthur & Steven Scalet (Eds.) Moralit and Moral Controversies, 8th Ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson-Prentice Hall, 2009, pp. 23-30. Plato, “The Ring of Gyges,” in Lewis Vaughn (Ed.) Contemporary Moral Arguments, 2nd Ed. New York: Oxford University Press, 2013, pp. 26-30 “Good Reasoning,” in Jeffrey Olen, Julie C. Van Camp, & Vincent Barry (Eds.) Applying Ethics, 9th Ed. Belmont, CA: Thomson-Wadsworth, 2008, pp. 54-73. 1/27 Required Readings from Morality and Moral Controversies: Mary Midgley, “Trying Out One’s New Sword,” pp. 34-37 William H. Shaw, “Relativism in Ethics,” pp. 38-41 Strongly Recommended Readings from The Elements of Moral Philosophy: “The Challenge of Cultural Relativism,” pp. 16-34 “Does Morality Depend on Religion?” pp. 52-67 2/1 Required Readings from Morality and Moral Controversies: John Arthur, “Morality, Religion, and Conscience,” pp.