Concordia University—Department of Philosophy—Syllabus
Class “Introduction to Ethics”
PHIL 232
General Information
Course: Title: “Introduction to Ethics.” Number: PHIL 232. Credits: 3. Semester: Winter 2023.
Class date, time and location:
Lectures: Thursdays 11:45 – 14:30hs. Room H920. Campus SGW.
Conferences:
Thursdays 14:45 – 15:30hs. Room MB 3.255 . Campus SGW.
Thursdays 14:45 – 15:30hs. Room H 609. Campus SGW.
Thursdays 16:15 – 17hs. Room MB 2 H 607. Campus SGW.
Thursdays 16:15-17hs. Room MB 2.265. Campus SGW.
Instructor: Pablo Gilabert, Professor, Department of Philosophy.
Office phone: 848 2424 ext. 2520; E-mail: pablo.gilabert@concordia.ca
Office hours: Mondays 15:30-16:30hs, or by appointment, in M210.
Teaching Assistants: Zhichang Guo, Fahimeh Nazarian.
Course Description and Objectives
Calendar description: Philosophical discussions of ethics have both practical significance (What should one
do?) and theoretical interest (What does it mean to say “That’s the right thing to do”?). In this course,
students are introduced to some representative approaches to ethical thought and action. General
questions about the nature of ethical reasoning are also considered. For example: Are there objective
ethical truths or are ethical judgments merely relative to social norms? An effort is made to incorporate
those ethical issues which are of specific importance to contemporary society.
This class will provide an introductory survey of the field of moral philosophy, including the most important
theories of the good life, normative ethics and meta-ethics. The class has two objectives. First, we will seek to
understand the main theories in moral philosophy. Second, we will engage in a critical assessment of the central
claims and arguments advanced in those theories by asking whether they should be retained, reformulated or
abandoned. The format of the class, encouraging both careful reconstruction of the texts and active critical
discussion of the themes, theses and arguments raised in them, is geared toward satisfying these objectives. Class
requirements include class participation and two take-home exams. In the event of extraordinary circumstances
beyond the University's control, the content and/or evaluation scheme in this course is subject to change.
Course Materials
Required books
Russ Shaffer-Landau, The Fundamentals of Ethics, fifth edition (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2021).
Russ Shaffer-Landau, The Ethical Life, fifth edition (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2021).
- The books will be available in the Concordia Bookstore.
Other, recommended sources
Shelly Kagan, Normative Ethics (Boulder, Colorado: Westview Press, 1998).
Mark Timmons, Moral Theory. An Introduction, 3nd. ed. (Lanham, Maryland: Rowman and Littlefield, 2022).
Journals
It is a good idea to browse philosophy journals that usually publish works in the domain of our discussion. Some
journals specialized in moral and political philosophy are the following: Critical Review of International Social and
Political Philosophy, Ethical Theory and Moral Practice; Ethics; The Journal of Ethics; Journal of Ethics and
Social Philosophy; The Journal of Moral Philosophy; The Journal of Political Philosophy; Journal of Social
Philosophy, Philosophy & Public Affairs; Oxford Studies in Metaethics; Oxford Studies in Normative Ethics; Oxford
Studies in Political Philosophy; Philosophy & Social Criticism; Social Theory & Practice; and Utilitas. Some
“generalist” journals of philosophy also publish first-rate work in moral philosophy. Some excellent ones are:
Australasian Journal of Philosophy; Canadian Journal of Philosophy; European Journal of Philosophy; Journal of
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Philosophy; Mind; Nous; The Philosophical Quarterly; The Philosophical Review; Philosophical Studies; and
Philosophy and Phenomenological Research. Most of these journals (and many more) are available in our Library
(either in print or in electronic version). Remember that you also have access to the other university libraries in
Montreal. It is also a good idea to browse the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (a free, online resource) and the
site PhilPapers.org (the most extensive online source for scholarship in philosophy).
If you want to explore any of the topics in our discussion in more depth, I will be happy to provide you
with a more detailed bibliography.
Reading
For each class a reading will be assigned and I expect you to read it before the class (see the schedule below). Make
sure you do the reading before each class. You should be able to formulate questions about the assigned texts and
respond to queries about the most important points made in them. Philosophical texts are not easy, and you should
devote time to read them carefully.
Class requirements
The final course grade will be based on two take-home exams (40% each) and class participation (20%).
The exams are comprehensive: the midterm covers the material discussed up until that point; and the final covers the
material discussed between the midterm and the end of the semester. The exams include questions that you will
answer in an essay format. They will thus require the introduction of clear and original theses and arguments, and
constitute and opportunity for students to articulate their own thoughts on the issues discussed. I will give you the
questions a few days before you have to hand in your type-written response.
No extensions will be given on exams except for medical reasons, and requests (with appropriate evidence) must be
made at least 24 hours before the due date.
An excellent set of tips on how to write good philosophy texts is provided by Prof. Jim Pryor’s on this webpage:
http://www.jimpryor.net/teaching/guidelines/writing.html
Further tips are offered in this text by Prof. Shelly Kagan:
http://oyc.yale.edu/sites/default/files/philosophy-paper.pdf
See also the very helpful suggestions on this site:
http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/philosophy.html
Class discussion: Debate on the topics and theories addressed in the course will be an integral part of it. We will
start each Lecture by breaking up in groups to discuss questions about the readings, and further discussion will be
invited during the Lecture. Discussion will continue during the Conferences. They will involve smaller classes with
plenty of room for participation. Philosophy is learnt best (and enjoyed the most) through lively debate. Class
participation in the conferences is thus an integral part of the course and will count towards the final grade.
Grades
The final grade for the seminar will be based on class presentations and participation (20%), and the paper (80%).
Philosophy Department Statement Regarding Grades and Grade Distribution
1) The Undergraduate Calendar 16.3 specifies that As, Bs, and Cs are for “outstanding,” “very good” and
“satisfactory” work, respectively. The Philosophy Department interprets this to mean that: Cs are awarded for work
that is adequate, yet in some way fails to completely meet all expectations and requirements; Bs are awarded for
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work that fully meets all expectations and requirements; As are reserved for outstanding work that exceeds
expectations and requirements by, e.g., demonstrating outstanding rigour, clarity, or insight.
2) In 200 & 300 level courses with over 30 students, it is normally expected that: the grade average will be in the C+
to B- range; there will be no more than 25% As.
Numerical Equivalents
A80-84%
3.7 GP
B70-72%
2.7 GP
C60-62%
1.7 GP
D50-52%
0.7 GP
A
85-89%
4.0 GP
B
73-76%
3.0 GP
C
63-66%
2.0 GP
D
53-56%
1.0 GP
A+
90-100%
4.3 GP
B+
77-79%
3.3 GP
C+
67-69%
2.3 GP
D+
57-59%
1.3 GP
PLEASE NOTE THAT WHEN I MARK PAPERS I GIVE YOU A LETTER GRADE. MY FINAL CALCULATIONS OF GRADES ARE
THUS BASED ON GP EQUIVALENTS.
My grading will interpret the criteria as follows
Relevant aspects of written work
Reconstruction: clarity, accuracy
Original proposals: clarity, originality, well-constructed arguments.
Is the writing clear (are concepts well defined, sentences well-structured, etc.)?
Does it refer to a well formulated and important problem? Does it have a well formulated and original thesis?
Does it provide a well-constructed argument defending the thesis?
Formal aspects: appropriate length and format.
Specific grades:
A work receiving an ‘A’ fully meets all the expectations and requirements but goes beyond them (i.e. it
advances exceptionally clear and accurate reconstructions or well-constructed original proposals).
A work receiving a ‘B’ fully meets all the expectations and requirements (i.e. the work has the appropriate
length and format, the reconstructions are clear and accurate, the proposals are original and well-formulated
and arguments defending them are well-constructed).
A work receiving a ‘C’ meets the expectations and requirements but not fully (i.e. the reconstructions and
proposals are there, but not clearly formulated or sufficiently defended, or the exam does not fully have the
length and format required).
A work receiving a ‘D’ does not meet the expectations and requirements, even though it appears that an attempt
has been made to do so.
An ‘F’ will be given to those works that show no attempt to meet the requirements, or when no work has been
handed in.
Further details regarding the expectations and requirements mentioned above will be made explicit in class.
Academic Integrity
The academic Code of Conduct makes it clear that plagiarism (“the presentation of the work of another person [an
author of a book, a journal, a fellow student, etc.] as one’s own or without proper acknowledgment”) is not
acceptable. There are severe penalties against plagiarism. (See statement at the end of this syllabus.)
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Class Sessions Schedule (tentative)
Day
January 12
Topics and Readings assigned
Due Dates
General Introduction. Theories of the good life
The Fundamentals of Ethics, Introduction. Chapters 1-2.
The Ethical Life, Chapters 1-2.
January 19
Theories of the good life (cont.)
The Fundamentals of Ethics, Chapters 3-4.
The Ethical Life, Chapters 3-5.
January 26
Morality and religion. Natural law theories.
The Fundamentals of Ethics, Chapters, 5-6.
The Ethical Life, Chapters 6-7
February 2
Psychological and ethical egoism.
The Fundamentals of Ethics, Chapters, 7-8.
February 9
Consequentialism.
The Fundamentals of Ethics, Chapters, 9-10.
The Ethical Life, chapter 8.
February 16
The Kantian perspective.
The Fundamentals of Ethics, Chapters, 11-12.
The Ethical Life, Chapter 9.
March 9
The social contract tradition.
First take-home
exam due
The Fundamentals of Ethics, Chapters, 13-14.
The Ethical Life, Chapter 10.
March 16
Ethical pluralism and absolute moral rules.
Ethical pluralism: prima facie duties and ethical particularism
The Fundamentals of Ethics, Chapters 15-16.
The Ethical Life. Chapter 11.
March 23
Virtue Ethics.
Feminist Ethics.
The Fundamentals of Ethics, Chapters 17-18.
The Ethical Life, Chapters 12.
March 30
Feminist ethics (cont.)
Ethical relativism.
The Fundamentals of Ethics, Chapters 18-19.
The Ethical Life, Chapters 13, 17.
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April 6
Moral nihilism. Moral objectivity.
The Fundamentals of Ethics, Chapters 20-21.
The Ethical Life, Chapters 15, 18.
April 13
Moral objectivity (cont.)
Moral knowledge.
The Fundamentals of Ethics, Chapters 21-22.
The Ethical Life, Chapter 19. (Secondary reading: Chapters 14, 16.)
April 20
Second takehome exam due
(between 1 and 2
pm in Gilabert’s
office)
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PLAGIARISM
The most common offense under the Academic Code of Conduct is plagiarism, which the Code defines as
“the presentation of the work of another person as one’s own or without proper acknowledgement.”
This includes material copied word for word from books, journals, Internet sites, professor’s course
notes, etc. It refers to material that is paraphrased but closely resembles the original source. It also
includes for example the work of a fellow student, an answer on a quiz, data for a lab report, a paper or
assignment completed by another student. It might be a paper purchased from any source. Plagiarism does
not refer to words alone –it can refer to copying images, graphs, tables and ideas. “Presentation” is not
limited to written work. It includes oral presentations, computer assignment and artistic works. Finally, if
you translate the work of another person into any other language and do not cite the source, this is also
plagiarism.
In Simple Words:
Do not copy, paraphrase or translate anything from anywhere without saying where you obtained it!
(Source: The Academic Integrity Website: concordia.ca/students/academic-integrity
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LIST OF STUDENT SERVICES
Contacts in the Philosophy Department:



Undergraduate Program Assistant: Candace Mooers.
Undergraduate Program Director: Pablo Gilabert.
Graduate Program Director: Matthew Barker.
Other resources:
1. Name of the Department’s Academic Advisor
2. Counselling and Psychological Services:
concordia.ca/students/counselling-life-skills
3. Concordia Library Citation and Style Guides:
library.concordia.ca/help/howto/citations
4. Student Success Centre: concordia.ca/students/success
5. Health Services: concordia.ca/students/health
6. Financial Aid and Awards: concordia.ca/offices/faao
7. HOJO (Off Campus Housing and Job Bank):
csu.qc.ca/hojo
8. Academic Integrity:
concordia.ca/students/academic-integrity
9. Access Centre for Students with Disabilities:
concordia.ca/offices/acsd
10. CSU Advocacy Centre: csu.qc.ca/advocacy
11. Dean of Students Office:
concordia.ca/offices/dean-students
12. International Students Office:
concordia.ca/students/international
13. Student Hub: concordia.ca/students
SEXUAL VIOLENCE
Sexual Violence: Concordia’s Policy Regarding Sexual Violence defines sexual violence as
“any violence or misconduct, physical or psychological, carried out through sexual means or by
targeting sexuality. This includes, but is not limited to, sexual assault; sexual harassment;
stalking; coercion; sexist, homophobic and/or transphobic jokes; indecent exposure; stealthing;
voyeurism; degrading sexual imagery; recording and distribution of sexual images or video of a
member of the University without their consent; cyber harassment or cyber stalking of a sexual
nature or related to a person’s sexual orientation and gender identity and/or presentation.”
The Policy further defines sexual assault and harassment.
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The Philosophy Department condemns sexual violence. The Department
encourages all students to report sexual violence to the Department Chair, the Dean, or to
the Office of Rights and Responsibilities.
•
Concordia’s Sexual Assault Resource Centre (SARC) is an important resource on
campus for students needing support, accompaniment, resources or information about
sexual violence. SARC may convene a Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) to
support a survivor/victim reporting sexual violence. See the Policy for further details.
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Other resources include the Centre for Gender Advocacy and the CSU Advocacy
Centre.
The Philosophy Department welcomes Concordia’s Consensual Romantic Or
Sexual Relationships Guidelines, which “strongly discourage[] all instructors from
commencing or continuing any consensual romantic or sexual relationship with a
student.”
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