SPRING 2015 PHIL101 Introduction to Philosophy: Ethics Schedule #22445 Room: P 146 T-TH 11:00-12:15 Steven Schlesinger Office Location: A&L 436 Office hours: MWF 7:45- 8:45, TTH 9:30- 10:30 Contact Information: Email address: sschlesi@mail.sdsu.edu Office Phone: 594-4678 Required Text: The Moral Life, by Pojman and Vaughn, 4th 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. . 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 VERY IMPORTANT. SCHEDULE OF EVENTS: Week 1. Jan 22 Introduction to Course Jan 27 Relativism Chapter 3, pages 149-211. Week 2 Jan 29 Moral Objectivism-Chapter 1, pages 11-56 Human Rights Week 3 Feb 3 Egoism Chapter 8, pages 521-564 Feb 5 TEST IN-CLASS ESSAY on Relativism and Egoism Week 4 Feb 10 Introduction to Religion and Ethics- Chapter 7, pages 460-465 Chapter 16 pages 928-937, Chapter 9 pages 566-608 Feb 12 Divine Command Theory Week 5 Feb 17 Criticism of Divine Command Theory Feb 19 Summary of Divine Command Theory Week 6 Feb 24 TEST IN-CLASS ESSAY on Religion and Ethics Feb 26 Introduction to Utilitarian Ethics Chapter 4, pages 228-248 Week 7 Mar 3 John Stuart Mill on the Higher Pleasures Mar 5 Act & Rule Utilitarianism Week 8 Mar 10 TEST IN-CLASS ESSAY on Utilitarian Ethics Mar 12 Kant and Deontological Ethics-Chapter 5, pages 291-313. Week 9 Mar 17 Metaphysics of Morals Mar 19 the Categorical Imperative Week 10 Mar 24 TEST IN-CLASS ESSAY on Kant’s Ethics Mar 26 Virtue Ethics-Chapter 6, pages 374-458 Week 11 Apr 7 Criticism of Action-Based Ethics Apr 9 Connections between Virtue-Based & Action-Based Ethics Week 12 Apr 14 A Terrorist Who Claims to be Virtuous; Reading- Trotsky Handout Chapter 16 pages 937-979 Apr 16 Introduction to Marxist Ethics Week 13 Apr 21 Marxist Ethical Criticism of Capitalism Apr 23 Why Communism is Virtuous. Week 14 Apr 28 A Mad Dog Attacks a Child Apr 30 TEST IN-CLASS ESSAY on Trotsky and Virtue Ethics Week 15 May 5 Return and review Exam 5 May 7 Review for final exam May 12 Final Exam 10:30-12:30 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.