COURSE OUTLINE OXNARD COLLEGE I. Course Identification and Justification: A. Proposed course id: PHIL R102H Banner title: Honors: Introduction to Ethics Full title: Honors: Introduction to Ethics B. Reason(s) course is offered: Course fulfills AD-T degree requirements, and general education transfer requirements in Humanities for CSU, UC and IGETC. II. Catalog Information: A. Units: Current: 3.00 B. Course Hours: 1. In-Class Contact Hours: Lecture: 52.5 Activity: 0 Lab: 0 2. Total In-Class Contact Hours: 52.5 3. Total Outside-of-Class Hours: 105 4. Total Student Learning Hours: 157.5 C. Prerequisites, Corequisites, Advisories, and Limitations on Enrollment: 1. Prerequisites Current: 2. Corequisites Current: 3. Advisories: Current: 4. Limitations on Enrollment: Current: D. Catalog Description: Current: This course provides an introduction to ethical theory. Topics include: key ethical terminology, relativism, egoism, utilitarianism, duty theory, virtue ethics, feminist theory, religion and values. In addition, one or more specific contemporary moral issue will be explored such as abortion, capital punishment, euthanasia, discrimination, environmental ethics, war and terrorism. Students will be encouraged to develop a better understanding of themselves as well as to develop a tolerance for differences in societies and culture. The honors component requires students to engage these subjects with a greater degree of intellectual depth and rigor. (Honors work challenges students to be more analytical and creative through expanded assignments, real-world applications and enrichment opportunities. Credit will not be awarded for both the honors and regular versions of a course. Credit will be awarded only for the first course completed with a grade of C or better or “P.” E. Fees: Current: $ None F. Field trips: Current: Will be required: [ ] May be required: [X] Will not be required: [ ] G. Repeatability: Current: A - Not designed as repeatable H. Credit basis: Current: Letter Graded Only [X] Pass/No Pass [ ] Student Option [ ] I. Credit by exam: Current: Petitions may be granted: [ ] Petitions will not be granted: [X] III. Course Objectives: Upon successful completion of this course, the student should be able to: A. Identify key moral terms and language, as well as traditional ethical theories in World and Western thought. B. Identify the aims, methods, issues and problems associated with ethics and moral philosophy. C. Identify the defining features of major ethical theories and evaluate their strengths and weaknesses relative to each other. D. Apply philosophical methods and strategies to ethical theories and current social problems to achieve a deeper understanding of such problems and any potential solutions. E. Assess the practical and/or theoretical consequences associated with assuming a specific position/ethical theory on an ethical issue. F. Critique/critically analyze one's own point of view as a way of better understanding its strengths and weaknesses. G. Demonstrate an understanding of tolerance for individual and cultural differences regarding ethical issues and positions. H. Formulate a carefully reasoned position on an ethical issue and evaluate its strengths and weaknesses relative to opposing points of view. I. Honors: analyze and evaluate primary source materials in ethical philosophy. J. Honors: create a thesis (related to Ethics); support it with reasons; and present and reply to counterarguments using standard elements of scholarship. IV. Course content: Topics to be covered include, but are not limited to: A. The Scope of Ethics 1. Ancient Ethics a. The “good” life b. Reason and freedom 2. Modern Ethics a. Right versus wrong b. Rights and responsibilities 3. Meta-ethics a. Linguistic analysis b. Socio-cultural analysis 4. Applied Ethics a. Interdisciplinary analysis b. Ethical Issues: examples i. Capital Punishment ii. Abortion iii. Euthanasia B. The Field of Values 1. Distinguishing between values, morals, and ethics 2. Facts and values a. Descriptive statements b. Normative statements c. Emotivism 3. The ontological status (the actual reality) of values 4. The cognitive status (subjective/objective reality) of values 5. Intrinsic and instrumental values C. Ethical Relativism 1. Relativism 2. Cultural relativism (conventional ethical relativism) 3. Moral subjectivism (subjective ethical relativism) 4. Moral nihilism/Skepticism 5. Criticisms of ethical relativism D. Moral Objectivism 1. Morals, religion/s, and ethics 2. Natural law theory a. Divine command (moral absolutism) b. Human nature c. Natural rights d. Human/civil law 3. Moderate objectivism 4. Criticisms of objectivism E. Egoism 1. Psychological egoism 2. Ethical egoism 3. Evolution and altruism 4. Criticisms of Egoism F. Utilitarianism 1. Principle of utility a. Cost-benefit analysis b. Preferences 2. Consequentialism 3. Calculating the greatest happiness, pleasure or good 4. Act and Rule utilitarianism 5. Criticisms of utilitarianism G. Deontological Moral Systems 1. Intuitionism (conscience) 2. Decisionism (existentialism) 3. Kant’s moral theory a. Universalizability b. Moral imperatives i. Hypothetical imperatives ii. The categorical imperative iii. Moral obligation 1. Duty 2. Moral equality 3. A kingdom of "ends" c. Prima facie (“at first glance”) duties d. Criticisms of deontology H. Social Contract Theory 1. The “state of nature” (the individual’s relation to others and society) 2. Thomas Hobbes (insecurity and the absolute monarch) 3. John Rawls (justice as fairness) 4. Criticisms of social contract theory I. Virtue Ethics 1. Classical virtue ethics a. Aristotle’s theory of moderation b. Analysis of specific virtues and/or case studies: Examples i. Courage ii. Generosity 2. Contemporary virtue ethics a. Phillippa Foot: Neo-naturalistic virtue ethics b. Alistair MacIntyre: Virtues depend on culture 3. Criticisms of virtue ethics J. Feminist Thought 1. Gender difference in morality 2. Ethics of care versus ethics of justice 3. Rights, equality and voices of "others" 4. Criticisms of feminist ethics K. Applied ethics (involving one or more of the following and/or related subjects) 1. Death penalty 2. Abortion 3. Euthanasia 4. Affirmative action 5. Free speech 6. Sexual morality 7. Ethical issues in science and technology L. Development of character 1. Minimal conceptions of morality 2. Minimal conceptions of justice V. Lab Content: VI. Methods of Instruction: Methods may include, but are not limited to: A. Lecture (e.g., on Kant’s ethical philosophy) B. Text Analysis (e.g., on passages from Aristotle’s Ethics) C. Class discussion (e.g. on the different aspects of ethical relativism) D. Multi-media presentations (including computer-slide presentations, video review, actual demonstrations, etc.) combined with interpretation and analysis (e.g., Reviewing a web page on ethical issues in science or watching a film that explores the issue of discrimination in legal/capital punishment.) E. Small group discussions (e.g., small groups discussing the philosophies of egoism and altruism and then arguing for and against the strengths and weaknesses of each). F. In-class student presentations (e.g. a student presenting his/her own paper on the topic of "Moral vs. amoral values in contemporary U.S. society"). G. Guest speakers (e.g. a guest speaker explaining how his/her religion addresses/answers questions concerning ethics issues). VII. Methods of Evaluation and Assignments: A. Methods of evaluation for degree-applicable courses: Essays [X] Problem-Solving Assignments (Examples: Math-like problems, diagnosis & repair) [ ] Physical Skills Demonstrations (Examples: Performing arts, equipment operation) [ ] For any course, if "Essays" above is not checked, explain why. B. Typical graded assignments (methods of evaluation): 1. Critical essays a. Students must demonstrate use of philosophical methods upon ethical theories and issues of morality, (e.g., comparing/contrasting, critical questioning, etc.) b. Student essays must carefully identify and rigorously analyze major arguments from the history of ethical philosophy c. Students must carefully construct and rigorously defend arguments of their own (which should be responses to ethical arguments and/or the analyses of key ethical concepts) 2. Exams: e.g., Identifying key ethical terms employed by different approaches to ethical questions and comparing the respective theories/solutions with one another; e.g., recognizing how the act of “making promises” is viewed (and valued, or not) by relativists, egoists, utilitarians, social contract theorists, duty theorists, virtue ethicists, feminists, etc.) 3. Term papers (e.g., Contrasting ethical systems which are based upon the concept of "the good" versus/with ethical systems based upon the concept of "what’s right" and/or what one “ought” to do) 4. Quizzes (e.g. Identifying the strengths and weaknesses of an ethical argument in favor of tougher laws against the use of illicit drugs in contemporary society) 5. Honors: Identification and use of primary and secondary source materials. 6. Honors: Taking a lead in discussion, either small group or whole class discussion C. Typical outside of classroom assignments: 1. Reading a. Ethics, Relativism, Egoism i. Why ethics? (Plato’s Apology) ii. Is culture relative? (Ruth Benedict, Patterns of Culture) iii. Why not be selfish? (Niccolo Machievelli, The Prince) b. Utilitarianism, Deontology, Virtue Ethics, Feminism i. What is moral utility? (John Stuart Mill, Utilitarianism) ii. What is moral duty? (Immanuel Kant, Fundamental