Introductory Ethics (Phil 214)
Dr. Joshua Stuchlik
Office: John Roach Center, 216a
Email: jstuchlik@stthomas.edu
Office Hours:
MWF 2:45-3:30 pm
and by appointment
Course Description:
Is anything really right or wrong? If so, what? Ethics is the philosophical discipline that
explores questions like these. The purpose of this course is to provide you with an
understanding of some of the ways in which philosophers have tried to answer them.
The course is divided into three parts. In the first part we’ll look at some important ethical
issues raised in dialogues by Plato: Is death bad for us? Are we always obligated to obey the
law? Is morality objective? What role does God play in ethics? In the second part we’ll
examine some of history’s biggest ethical theories: utilitarianism, deontology, and virtue
ethics. The questions we’ll ask here include: What makes certain actions right or wrong? Is
there any relation between morality and happiness? Which character traits are virtues and
which are vices? Finally, in the third part of the course we’ll apply the concepts we’ve
learned to some difficult contemporary ethical problems.
Course Objectives:
The course has three main objectives: First, you will learn fundamental ethical principles,
generalizations, and theories. Second, you will learn how to analyze and critically evaluate ideas,
arguments, and points of view. Finally, you will learn to apply moral concepts and
principles, improving your ability to make ethical decisions.
1
Meeting Times:
MWF September 9 – December 18, 2015
Note: For every hour of class time, students are expected to devote at least two hours of
study to this course, including homework reading, review, and written assignments.
Required Texts:
1. Plato, Five Dialogues, Second. Ed. (ISBN: 978-0872206335)
2. Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, Penguin Classics (ISBN: 978-0140449495)
3. Rebecca Konyndyk DeYoung, Glittering Vices (ISBN: 978-1587432323)
Course Requirements and Grading:
Midterm exam: 25%
Final exam: 25%
Argument analysis papers: 24%
Quizzes: 11%
Participation: 15%
Exams
Exams will consist of a combination of “objective”, short-answer, and essay questions. See
the final page of the syllabus for the date and time of the final exam.
Argument Analysis Papers
There will be four short argument analysis papers due throughout the semester. The length
of the papers will be between 1 and 1.5 pages single-spaced. Late penalty policy: you may
turn in the paper up to one class period late for half-credit.
2
Quizzes
There will be 11 short weekly quizzes, which will cover the reading assigned for the day and
material covered in the previous class. Each quiz will have three (multiple choice and
true/false) questions. The purpose of these quizzes is to provide an incentive to do the
reading, review your notes, and attend class.
Quizzes will be announced one class period in advance. At the end of the term, your lowest
quiz grade will be dropped. Make-up quizzes will only be given in the case of an excused
absence.
Participation
Regular attendance and attentive and respectful listening to the instructor and to your peers
will be sufficient to earn a participation grade of “C”. In order to receive a higher grade, you
must thoughtfully contribute to full class discussions on a regular basis.
Attendance
I will be taking attendance as part of your participation grade. In addition, if there is a quiz
on the day you are absent you will not be able to make it up unless your absence is excused.
Excused absences are those due to (1) a serious illness, (2) a documented job/internship
interview, (3) the death of a family member, or (4) an activity sponsored by the university.
Any other absence must be discussed with me in advance in order to count as excused.
Academic Integrity:
Please note that we will be following the UST Academic Integrity Policy. Plagiarism and
other forms of academic dishonesty, such as cheating, will not be tolerated. Confirmation of
academic dishonesty will result in notification of the dean and the maximum penalty possible.
You can read more about the university’s academic integrity policy online:
http://www.stthomas.edu/policies/student_policy_book/academic_integrity_policy.asp.
3
Classroom Accommodations:
Students who may need classroom accommodations due to a disability should make an
appointment within the first two weeks of the term with the Enhancement Program—
Disability Resources office (Murray Herrick, room 110; Telephone: 651-962-6315 or 800-3286819, extension 6315).
Schedule:
DATE
1
2
Sept. 9
Sept. 11
3
4
Sept. 14
Sept. 16
SUBJECT
Week 1
Introduction
Logic Review
Week 2
Logic Review (cont.)
Socrates’s Defense
5
Sept. 18
Is Death Harmful?
6
7
8
Sept. 21
Sept. 23
Sept. 25
Week 3
Is Death Harmful? (cont.)
Must We Always Obey the Law?
Must We Always Obey the Law? (cont.)
9
Sept. 28
Week 4
Is Morality Relative?
10
11
Sept. 30
Oct. 2
12
Oct. 5
Piety
Is Morality Based on God’s Commands?
Week 5
Bentham’s Utilitarianism
13
Oct. 7
Mill’s Utilitarianism
14
Oct. 9
Mill’s Utilitarianism (cont.)
4
ASSIGNMENT
------Weston, Rulebook pp. 37-44
Plato, Apology 28a-35d; 38c42a
Epicurus and Lucretius on
Death
Nagel, “Death”
---Plato, Crito
King Jr., Letter from
Birmingham Jail
Rachels, “The Challenge of
Cultural Relativism”
Argument Analysis 1 Due
Plato, Euthyphro, 2a-11a
---Bentham, excerpt from
Introduction to the Principles of
Morals and Legislation
Mill, Utilitarianism Ch. 2
pp. 6-15
Nozick, “The Experience
Machine”
Mill, Utilitarianism, Ch. 2 pp.
16-26
Argument Analysis 2 Due
15
Oct. 12
Week 6
Utilitarianism and Justice
16
Oct. 14
Deontology
17
Oct. 16
18
Oct. 19
The Principle of Double Effect
Week 7
Kant: The Good Will and Duty
19
Oct. 21
Oct. 23
20
21
Oct. 26
Oct. 28
22
Oct. 30
Kant: The Formula of Universal Law
Fall Break
Week 8
***MIDTERM EXAM***
Kant: The Formula of Humanity and the
Formula of the Kingdom of Ends
Aristotle’s Search for the Supreme Good
23
Nov. 2
Week 9
The Function Argument
24
25
Nov. 4
Nov. 6
Temperament and Moral Virtue
Moral Virtue
26
Nov. 9
Week 10
Intellectual Virtue and Contemplation
27
Nov. 11
Friendship
28
Nov. 13
29
Nov. 16
Animal Rights
Week 11
Abortion
30
31
Nov. 18
Nov. 20
Abortion (cont.)
Abortion (cont.)
32
Nov. 23
Week 12
Famine Relief
33
Nov. 25
Nov. 27
34
Nov. 30
TBD
Thanksgiving Break
Week 13
Famine Relief (cont.)
5
LeGuin, “The Ones Who Walk
Away from Omelas”
Anscombe, Mr. Truman’s
Degree
---Kant, Grounding for the
Metaphysics of Morals pp. 7-13
Kant, Grounding pp. 25; 30-33
----
Kant, Grounding pp. 35-41
Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics
I.i-v, vii (to top of p. 15)
Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics
I.vii (from top of pg. 15), xiii
Do online personality test
Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics
II.i-vii
Argument Analysis 3 Due
Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics
X.vii
Aquinas, ST I-II Q.3 a.5, 8
Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics
VIII.i-iv; IX.iv, viii
Singer, “All Animals are Equal”
Warren, “On the Moral and
Legal Status of Abortion” pt. 1
Warren, pt. 2 and Postscript
Marquis, “An Argument that
Abortion is Wrong”, pp. 439-46
Singer, “Famine, Affluence,
and Morality”
----------
35
Dec. 2
Capital Punishment
36
Dec. 4
The Seven Capital Vices
Pride and Vainglory
37
38
39
Dec. 7
Dec. 9
Dec. 11
Week 14
Envy
Avarice
Wrath and Sloth
40
Dec. 14
Week 15
Gluttony and Lust
Final Exam:
Thursday, December 17, 10:30 am – 12:30 pm
6
Oderberg, “Capital
Punishment”, pp. 144-64
Argument Analysis 4 Due
Aquinas, On Evil, Q. VIII, a. 2
and 4
DeYoung, Glittering Vices ch 3
DeYoung, Glittering Vices ch 2
DeYoung, Glittering Vices ch 5
DeYoung, Glittering Vices chs
4 and 6
DeYoung, Glittering Vices chs
7 and 8