FALL2014
PHIL 101 Introduction to Philosophy: Ethics Schedule #22548
Room: PSFA 325 TTH 11:00-12:15
Steven Schlesinger
Office Location: A&L 436
Office hours: MWF 9:00-9:40, TTH 12:30-1:30
Contact Information: Email address: sschlesi@mail.sdsu.edu Office Phone: 594-4678
Required Text: Ethics Discovering Right and Wrong, by Pojman and Fieser, 7th Edition
This text and a handout to be given in class are the basis of all lectures. The book is available at
SDSU bookstore and costs approximately $50.
Statement of Contingency: This syllabus is intended to guide us through the semester. However,
circumstances can change and so I reserve the right to change the syllabus as needed to ensure
that we fulfill the objectives of the course. You will receive full and fair notification regarding
such changes.
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GENERAL INFORMATION
This course fulfills the Humanities portion of the Explorations section of the General Education
(GE) Requirements. Among the “seven essential capacities” that the GE program emphasizes,
this course develops in the student the following in particular:
1. Construct, analyze and communicate arguments.
2. Apply theoretical models to the real world.
3. Contextualize phenomena.
4. Negotiate differences.
Among the “Goals” for GE Courses in the Humanities and Fine Arts, this course aims to fulfill
three of them:
Goal 1: Analyze written, visual or performed texts in the Humanities and fine arts with
sensitivity to their diverse cultural contexts and historical moments.
Goal 2: Argue from multiple perspectives about issues in the Humanities that have personal
and global relevance.
Goal 3: Demonstrate the ability to approach complex problems and ask complex questions
drawing upon knowledge of the Humanities.
Catalogue description: Philosophical inquiry, with emphasis on problems of moral value.
Students are encouraged to think independently and formulate their own tentative conclusions
concerning a variety of vital contemporary issues facing individuals and society
Course Objectives: The aim of this course is first to challenge the idea that there is such a thing
as knowledge of right and wrong. Then acquaint the student with the basic principles of several
influential ethical systems; and how these ethical principles can be applied to a variety of vital
contemporary issues facing individuals and society. In addition, this course gives the student the
opportunity to learn and demonstrate important skills necessary to a well-rounded University
education. As well as reading, these skills include listening, note-taking and organizing ideas to
form a coherent understanding of the material as it relates to their lives.
Learning outcomes- Upon completion of the course student will be able to:
1) Show ability to analyze and critically respond in essay form to the Skeptic’s claim that
we cannot know anything about ethics.
2) Show ability to analyze and critically evaluate the idea that ethics is determined by
something other than Human thinking (i.e. God/Religion).
3) Show ability to analyze and critically evaluate the ideas of major ethical theories.
4) Show ability to analyze and critically evaluate the application of ethical theories to
ethical problems.
5) Show ability to analyze and critically evaluate proposals about how to implement these
theories into practice.
6) Show ability to argue from multiple perspectives.
Organization—Lectures in all classes except for periodic in class essay tests. Readings should be
done before class lectures. ALL LECTURES ARE IMPORTANT.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
Week 1. Aug 26th Introduction to Course
Aug 28th Relativism Chapter 2, pages 14-30.
Moral Objectivism-Chapter 3, pages 30-46.
Week 2. Sept 2nd Human Rights
Sept 4th Egoism Chapter 6, pages 81-100
Week 3. Sept 9th TEST IN-CLASS ESSAY on Relativism and Egoism.
Sept. 11th Introduction to Religion and Ethics- Chapter 11, pages 187-206
Week 4. Sept 16th Divine Command Theory
Sept 18th Criticism of Divine Command Theory
Week 5. Sept 23rd Summary of Divine Command Theory
Sept 25th TEST IN-CLASS ESSAY on Religion and Ethics
Week 6. Sept 30th Introduction to Utilitarian Ethics Chapter 7, pages 100-120
Oct 2nd John Stuart Mill on the Higher Pleasures
Week 7. Oct 7th Act & Rule Utilitarianism
Oct 9th TEST IN-CLASS ESSAY on Utilitarian Ethics
Week 8. Oct 14th Kant and Deontological Ethics-Chapter 8, pages 121-146.
Oct 16th Metaphysics of Morals
Week 9. Oct 21st The Categorical Imperative
Oct 23rd TEST IN-CLASS ESSAY on Kant’s Ethics
Week 10. Oct 28th Virtue Ethics-Chapter 9, pages 146-151
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Oct 30th Criticism of Action-Based Ethics Chapter 9 pages 151-157
Week 11 Nov 4th Connections between Virtue-Based & Action-Based Ethics pages 157-166.
Nov 6th A Terrorist Who Claims to be Virtuous; Reading- Trotsky Handout
Week 12. Nov 11th Holiday.
Nov 13th Introduction to Marx
Week 13 Nov 18th Marxist Ethical Criticism of Capitalism
Nov 20th Why Communism is Virtuous.
Week 14 Nov 25th A Mad Dog Attacks a Child
Nov 27th Thanksgiving
Week 15 Dec 2nd TEST IN-CLASS ESSAY On Trotsky and Virtue Ethics
Dec 4th
QUESTION & ANSWER
Week 16 Dec 9th LAST DAY OF CLASS. Return and review Exam 5
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Each of the 5 exams count equally at 20%.
Criteria for grading:
1) Essay should contain a clear line of thought and argument, and each paragraph logically
contributes to the development of that line of argument.
2) The essay exhibits a thorough understanding of the work being criticized and accurately
explicates the author’s response to the reading.
3) The essay takes a critical stance toward the material under examination and the criticisms are
based on firm reasoning that is well supported with relevant evidence.
During your Final exam you may retake any 2 of the 5 exams at one hour each—the new grade
will replace the previous grade. Your Final is scheduled for Tuesday Dec 16th. 10:30-12:30
PLEASE NOTE: If you are a student with a disability and believe you will need
accommodations for this class, it is your responsibility to contact Student Disability Services at
(619) 594-6473. To avoid any delay in the receipt of your accommodations, you should contact
Student Disability Services as soon as possible. Please note that accommodations are not
retroactive, and that accommodations based upon disability cannot be provided until you have
presented your instructor with an accommodation letter from Student Disability Services. Your
cooperation is appreciated