Syllabus
Introduction to Ethics:
Philosophy
2030-001
University of
Nebraska – Omaha
Room: AH 312
Instructor: Edward Abplanalp
E-mail: philosophered@cox.net
Office: ASH 205B
Office Hours: Thursday 2:30 - 3:30 p.m.
Text: Ethical Theory: classic and contemporary readings (4th ed.) by Louis P. Pojman, Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, 2002.
Course Description: The purpose of this course is to introduce students to ethical theories, concepts and moral reasoning. We will critically examine the prominent ethical theories of Western Philosophy and explore how they address the underlying moral concepts and problems of relativism, objectivity, happiness, obligation, absolutism, goodness, egoism, altruism, obligation, religious precepts, justice, freedom, virtue, moral rules, and moral language.
Course Objectives: The
objectives of this course are: (1) to raise the student's understanding of the
complex nature of certain prevalent ethical problems, (2) to provide students
with a historical background for many of the ethical traditions within Western
Philosophy, (3) to enable students to communicate in an intelligent manner on
issues regarding morality, (4) to increase the student's adeptness in
critiquing an ethical position, and (5) to have students refine their own
ethical positions. Additionally, students will learn and demonstrate these
specific skills:
· Identify and define the main moral concepts in moral philosophy.
· Identify the major theories in ethics and the arguments supporting them.
· Be able to critically evaluate (in written essay) the arguments for and against
particular ethical theories
· Learn to appreciate the complexity and fruitfulness of philosophical inquiry.
· Be able to apply many of the major theories in ethics to real world situations.
Assignments:
· There will be two take-home examinations/writing assignments. These exams will require a substantial amount of time and effort. Besides containing short answer questions, these examinations will require you to write a 6-8 page essay on the topics discussed in class.
· There will be two in-class examinations. These examinations are composed of definitions, true/false, and short essay questions. More specific information regarding the questions asked on the in-class exams will be provided as the time of the exams nears. Materials asked on each exam are discussed thoroughly in class lectures.
● There is no extra credit.
Grades:
Exam 1: 25%
Exam 2: 25%
Exam 3 25%
Exam 4 (Final): 25%
Final grades are assessed on the following point scale:
97-100 A+ 77-79 C+
93-96 A 73-76 C
90-92 A 70-72 C-
87-89
B+ 67-69 D+
83-86 B 63-66 D
80-82 B- 60-62 D-
Student Responsibilities:
· Honor Code: Students must uphold the Student Code Of Conduct published in the University of Nebraska College Catalog. I will recognize and enforce the guidelines to its fullest extent. There are no exceptions to these guidelines. All work submitted for this class is expected to be your own original work. Any idea that is not your own must be documented (i.e. the source must be cited). Any cheating or plagiarizing will result in an F.
· Late policy: All late work and absences for examinations must be accompanied by written documentation. If late work is accepted, it will be grated harder than work submitted on time.
· Attendance: Students are expected to attend all of their classes. Moreover, students should read the assigned readings before class, come prepared ask questions, and engage in productive class discussions. Students who are unable to attend class are expected to bear the burden of understanding the material on their own.
Tentative Schedule
· Tuesday, January 10th: Introduction to Ethics
o Areas of Moral Philosophy:
§ Metaethics
§ Normative Ethics
§ Applied Ethics
o Ethics vs. Morality
· Thursday, January 12th: Domains of Ethical Assessment
o Read “What is Ethics?” on pp. 1-7.
· Tuesday, January 17th: Ethical Relativism
o Read pp. 15-19 and “Custom is King” by Herodotus: p. 20.
· Thursday, January 19th: Ethical Relativism vs. Ethical Objectivism
o Read “A Critique of Ethical Relativism” by Louis Pojman: pp. 38-51.
· Tuesday, January 24th: Ethical Egoism
o Read “The Leviathan” by Thomas Hobbes: pp. 66-78.
· Thursday, January 26th: Morality and Self-Interest
o Read “Why Be Moral?” by Plato: pp. 540-5
o Read “Morality and Advantage” by David Gauthier: pp. 551-8.
· Tuesday, January 31st: Arguments Against Psychological Egoism
o For class – read “Psychological Egoism” by Joel Feinberg: pp. 79-90.
· Thursday, February 2nd: Types of Value
o Read “Value” on pp. 111-4.
o Exam #1 (Take Home)
· Tuesday, February 7th: Hedonism
o Read “Classical Hedonism” by Jeremy Bentham: pp. 115-7.
o Read “The Experience Machine” by Robert Nozick: pp. 118-9.
· Thursday, February 9th: Rule Utilitarianism
o Read “Utilitarianism” by John Stuart Mill: pp. 155-76.
· Tuesday, February 14th: Objections to Utilitarianism
o Read “Against Utilitarianism” by Bernard Williams: pp. 192-201.
o Exam #1 is due at the beginning of class.
· Thursday, February 16th: Utilitarianism and the Supererogatory
o Read “Famine, Affluence, and Morality” by Peter Singer: pp. 241-8.
· Tuesday, February 21st: Kant’s Deontology
o Read “The Foundation for the Metaphysic of Morals” by Immanuel Kant: pp. 255-75.
· Thursday, February 23rd: The Categorical Imperative
o Finish reading Kant: pp. 255-75.
· Tuesday, February 28th: Kant’s Categorical Imperative and Our Duty to Assist
o Read “Kantian Formulation of the End in Itself and World Hunger” by Onora O’Neill: pp. 284-94.
· Thursday, March 2nd: Exam #2 (In Class)
· Tuesday, March 7th: Moral Luck
o Read “Moral Luck” by Thomas Nagel: pp. 294-301.
· Thursday, March 9th: Ross’s Intuition Based Deontology
o Read “What Makes Right Actions Right?” by W.D. Ross: pp. 275-83.
· Spring Vacation
· Tuesday, March 21st: Religion and Ethics
o The Problem of The Euthyphro
o Read “Morality and Religion” by Plato: pp. 600-1.
· Thursday, March 23rd: Natural Law Theory
o Read “Objectivism: Natural Law” by Thomas Aquinas: pp. 20-33.
· Tuesday, March 28th: Does Morality Depend on God?
o Read “A Free Man’s Worship” by Bertrand Russell: pp. 606-10.
· Thursday, March 30th: Virtue-Based Ethics
o Read “The Ethics of Virtue” by Aristotle: pp. 333-46.
· Tuesday, April 4th: Aristotle’s Virtue Ethics
o Finish reading Aristotle
· Thursday, April 6th: Golden Rule Ethics
o Exam #3 (Take Home)
· Tuesday, April 11th: The Fact/Value Problem
o Read “On Reason and the Emotions: The Fact/Value Distinction” by David Hume: pp. 405-12.
· Thursday, April 13th: The Open Question Argument
o Read “Non-Naturalism” by G.E. Moore: pp. 412-18.
· Tuesday, April 18th: Twentieth Century Noncognitivism
o Read “Emotivism” by A.J. Ayer: pp. 419-24.
o Exam #3 is due at the beginning of class.
· Thursday, April 20th: Hare’s Prescriptivism
o Read “Prescriptivism: The Structure of Ethics and Morals” by R.M. Hare: pp. 425-32.
· Tuesday, April 25th: Feminist Ethics
o Read “In a Different Voice” by Carol Gilligan: pp. 682-7.
· Thursday, April 27th: Equality and Second Wave Feminism
o For class: Study for your final exam!
· Tuesday, May 2nd: Final Exam