Philosophy 201 Introduction to Ethics
PHILOSOPHY 201 INTRODUCTION TO ETHICS
Fall 2004
Christopher Meyers, PhD
Office: FT-103F
Phone: 664-2072
Office Hours: T/TH 3:30-5:30 and By Appointment
Email:
Texts:
John Arthur, ed. Morality and Moral Controversies, sixth edition.
Articles on Electronic Reserve
COURSE ASSIGNMENTS:
1). You will be expected to participate actively in all class discussions. Five percent of your final grade is based on the amount and quality of such participation. For those who do not feel comfortable speaking up in class, you may stop by my office to chat or you may email me at the address above, commenting on the issues discussed in the most recent class meeting.
2). There will be daily (or almost daily) quizzes on the readings. Graded on a scale of 1-10, these true/false and short answer quizzes will be worth 20 percent of your final grade.
3). Two options, either worth 20 percent of the final grade (you must tell me which option you’ve chosen by September 21):
A. A take home midterm exam in which you will be asked to critically evaluate the theoretical perspectives discussed in the first half of the quarter.
Grading criteria for the exam are as follows:
1. Understanding of the material--35%
2. Sophistication of your argument--40%
3. Grammar, style, spelling, etc.--25%
B. A group project in which you and your partners will pick an ethical problem of contemporary relevance (other than the topic any one of you chooses for your research paper) and present a 30 minute class presentation (including ten minutes for discussion). In this project you will discuss the issues involved and then attempt to convince the rest of us that your group’s recommended choice is the most ethically sound. Your argument must also appeal to the four theoretical perspectives discussed in the first part of the quarter. Note: Your group must clear its topic with me by October 5 and I strongly recommend each group speak with me before starting serious work on the presentation.
Grading criteria for the group project are as follows:
1. Creativity in presentation of the material--10%
2. Sophistication of argument--40%
3. Understanding of issues--25%
4. Reference to theories--25%
Important Note: Each student will be graded individually and each student must turn in prior to the presentation a brief description of his/her contribution to the project, initialed by all the other members of the group. Each student must also turn in, prior to the presentation, an outline of his/her presentation.
4). An approximately eight to ten page paper (double spaced, normal margins and typeface), in which you analyze one of the ethical issues discussed in class or, in consultation with me, on an outside issue. You will be expected to present all relevant sides to the problem, discuss four theoretical positions, and defend the position(s) you find most ethically sound. Worth 40 percent of the course grade. Important Note: I have a particular model I want you to follow on these papers. While I will discuss this model in class and provide a handout, I strongly urge each of you to speak with me individually about your topic and approach.
Grading criteria for the paper are as follows:
1. Creativity, sophistication, and realism of scenario--10%
2. Grammar, style, spelling, etc.--15%
3. Extent to which you accurately and thoroughly incorporate theoretical
perspectives--25%
4. Extent to which you incorporate the readings--20%
5. Sophistication of argument--30%.
5). You will need to read one or more newspapers and watch local or national news. I will, on occasion, ask you to find an ethical issue from the news to turn in and discuss with the class. These will not be graded, but the number completed will determine borderline grades.
6). (Tentative) A true/false and multiple choice final exam, based strictly on class discussions. If given, it will be worth 15 percent of the final grade. If not, class participation, quizzes, and the midterm/group project will each be bumped up five percent. My determination as to whether to give the exam will be based on the extent to which students do the readings, regularly attend class, engage the conversation of the day, and incorporate earlier discussions into later class sessions.
MISC. POINTS:
Please turn off all electronic devices upon entering class.
If you need to leave class early, please let me know before doing so.
Unless you receive prior approval, assignments will be marked down a full letter grade for every class meeting they are late (or, at the end of the quarter, for every day they are late). Failure to complete either the paper or the group project will result in an "F" for the course, regardless of the grade going in to that assignment. There will be no make-up quizzes. If you need to miss class and inform me of such in advance (i.e., prior to the beginning of that day’s class), I will provide you with an alternative assignment for quizzes, but I allow only two such exceptions.
You may withdraw from the course through October 1 for any reason and without a ‘W’ appearing on your transcript. After this, you may withdraw through November 1 upon discussing your reasons with me (university policy requires that you give "serious and compelling reasons"). My own policy is quite flexible about allowing students to withdraw at any point. University policy, in theory, prevents withdrawal from a single course in the last three weeks of class. If you seek an exception to this policy, speak with me. Important Note: Because my withdrawal policy is so lenient, and because I think they almost always work to the student's detriment, I am very disinclined toward "incompletes." I will grant them only under the following conditions: You must have been keeping up with the work (and receiving a "C" or better) prior to something unusual and beyond your control occurring which prevents completion of course assignment(s). Merely "being overwhelmed with other classes/work" is not sufficient.
Plagiarism and other forms of academic dishonesty will result in an immediate "F" for the course as well as possible disciplinary action from the University. Plagiarism is defined as using any source for words or ideas without giving appropriate reference. Examples of academic dishonesty include (note, though, this is not an exhaustive list): looking at others’ quizzes, turning in a paper for me that you wrote for another class (or vice-versa) and verbally seeking answers from other students.
TENTATIVE CALENDAR
(Unless otherwise noted, all readings are from Morality and Moral Controversies.)
September
14. Introduction to Class.
16.Excerpt from The Magus (library reserve).
21.Article by Midgley; Nature and Purpose of Ethics (discussion).
23.Virtue Ethics. Article by Aristotle.
28.Strict Deontologism. Article by Kant.
30.Utilitarianism. Article by Mill.
October
5.Comparing Kant and Mill. Article by O’Neill.
7.Revised Deontologism--Ross. Library Reserve Article (required); article in book (recommended). Take home exam distributed.
12.Euthanasia. Film, “Whose Life Is It Anyway?” Cruzan v. Director, Missouri Dept. of Health and Article by Godwin. Take home exam due.
14.A Defense of Active Euthanasia. Article by Rachels.
19.A Rejection of Active Euthansia. Article by Dyke.
21.Group Presentations?
26.Abortion. Roe v. Wade. Lecture on Abortion and Personhood. Recommended Reading--Article by Marquis .
28. A Moderate Defense of Abortion. Article by Thomson.
November
2.Death Penalty. Gregg v. Georgia. Film?
4.A Defense of the Death Penalty. Article by Perlmutter.
9.A Rejection of the Death Penalty. Article by Reiman.
11.Holiday.
16.Animal Rights. Article by Singer.
18.Animal Rights. Article by Steinbock. Papers due for those wishing written comments.
23.TBA, Papers due for those not wishing written comments.
TBA.Final Exam Period (only if necessary).