Syllabus
Approaches to Ethics
Philosophy 214
Spring 2008
Instructor: Jim Butler
Phone: 985-3943
Office: 203D Draper
Hours: MWF 9-10 &11-12
email: jim_butler@berea.edu
CPO 1914
Webpage: http://faculty.berea.edu/butlerj/default.html
The focus of this class is an introduction to normative ethical theory. Normative ethics is the
study of human goodness, right action and what we ought to do (as opposed to what we may in
fact do). Thus the fundamental questions in philosophical ethics are “what is the good for
humans?” and “what makes an action right?” We will critically examine various authors’
answers to these questions, which includes a variety of perspectives. One should note that, from
these different perspectives, one should not assume that every author agrees on what constitutes
the human good, or even on the meaning of the human good.
Texts:
Classic Utilitarians: Bentham and Mill. Hackett (0-87220-649-1)
Plato. Five Dialogues. Hackett (0915145227)
Aristotle. Nicomachean Ethics. Hackett (0-915144-61-1)
Kant. Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals. Hackett (872201678)
Butler, Joseph. Five Sermons. Hackett (0-915145-61-8)
Nietzsche. On The Genealogy Of Morality. Hackett (0-87220-283-6)
Readings to be accessed from my web page
Requirements:
In this class we will be scrutinizing arguments and texts in order to discuss and to fully
understand the ideas presented. Thus, students should come to class having read the
assigned texts carefully and be prepared to discuss the material.
The final grade for the course will be based on the following:
3 Tutorials - 20% each
Small papers - 30%
Class Participation -10%
Policies:
Late papers: Late papers will be accepted, but because the student has taken extra time,
late papers will be held to a higher standard of achievement. Basically, the later the paper,
the tougher it will be graded.
Grade scale: Standard A=90& up, B=80-89, C=70-79, D=60-69, F= under 60. I will not
use the +/- system for final grades.
Regular attendance is a requirement of the class. Those students who miss a
substantial amount of class will be penalized on their final grades.
1
No form of academic dishonesty will be tolerated. See Student Handbook for more
details
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE
[Notice that this syllabus is tentative. We may, depending on the amount of discussion, end
up going slightly faster or slower than the syllabus states. I will always announce in class
the assignment for the next class. So if you miss class, it is your responsibility to find out
what the assignments are for the upcoming classes, rather than just following the syllabus.]
WEEK 1
Introduction to Ethical Theory
Plato :Euthyphro
WEEK 2
Aristotle: Nicomachean Ethics
WEEK 3
Aristotle: Nicomachean Ethics
Short paper due
WEEK 4
Butler: Five Sermons
WEEK 5
Butler: Five Sermons
First tutorial
WEEK 6
Kant: Grounding
WEEK 7
Kant: Grounding
Short paper due
WEEK 8
Bentham
Second tutorial
************************* Spring Break *********************
WEEK 9
Mill
WEEK 10
Mill
WEEK 11
Feminism
Short paper due
WEEK 12
Nietzsche
WEEK 13
Nietzsche
WEEK 14
Socrates
Final tutorial
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3