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Ethics (Philosophy 206)
Dr. Michael Pakaluk
Ave Maria University, Spring 2012
Section 04, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8:20-10:00 am
Office hours:
M, W, 11am-12 noon and by appointment.
Summary:
A close reading of the Nicomachean Ethics (NE) of Aristotle and of the treatment of law in the Summa Theologiae (ST) of St.
Thomas Aquinas, with a view to our actually acquiring the virtues and achieving happiness, and being able to help others
to do likewise. The course has an eminently practical goal, although much thought is necessary for understanding how
to achieve that goal.
Objectives:
 to understand and to appreciate the Aristotelian “virtue centered” approach to ethics;
 to understand and to grasp the significance of four major, alternative approaches (Kantianism; utilitarianism;
libertarianism; Nietzcheanism)
 to understand and to appreciate how a theory of so-called “natural law” complements a virtue-centered approach to
ethics.
Readings:
Read through the entire Nicomachean Ethics within the first two weeks of class, to get an overview. Readings for
particular class meetings are listed below.
Texts:
 There are four texts to purchase for the class (see list at the end of this syllabus).
 Any version of the Ross translation of the Nicomachean Ethics which has the Berlin Academy (“Bekker”) numbers in
the margin is acceptable. The recommended version is that which was revised by Ackrill and Urmson and is
reprinted in the second volume of Jonathan Barnes’ edition of the collected works of Aristotle, published by the
Bollingen Press of Princeton University Press. The unrevised Ross translation is good enough.
 Readings from the Summa Theologiae of St. Thomas Aquinas are available in an excellent translation at
newadvent.org.
Plan of topics and readings:
Do the readings before class. You should aim to read the selections from the Nicomachean Ethics at least twice.
ETHICS
Jan. 10 Aristotle’s philosophy and ethics in general
recommended: Pakaluk, chapter 1
Jan 12
Toward a definition of happiness
required: NE I.1-5
recommended: NE I.6; Pakaluk, chapter 2
Jan 17
The definition of happiness
required: NE I.7-8
Jan 19
Virtue in general
required: NE I.13, II (all)
recommended: Pakaluk, chapter 3
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Jan 24
extra session on Bk II and the virtues
Jan 26
Freedom and responsibility
required: NE III.1-5
recommended: Pakaluk, chapter 4
Jan 31
Courage and Moderation
required: NE III.6-12
recommended: Pakaluk, chapter 5
Feb 2
Magnificence and Magnanimity
required: NE IV.1-4
recommended: (none)
Feb 7
Justice in general
required: NE V.1-6
recommended: Pakaluk, chapter 6
Feb 9
Natural justice and equity
required: NE V.7-11
Feb 14 Intellectual virtue in general
required: NE VI.1-2
recommended: Pakaluk, chapter 7
Feb 16 Particular intellectual virtues
required: NE VI.4-13
Feb 21 Weakness of will
required: NE VII.1-10
recommended: Pakaluk, chapter 8
Feb 23 Pleasure
required: NE VII.11-14; X.1-5
recommended: Pakaluk, chapter 10
Feb 28 Friendship in general
required: NE VIII.1-3
recommended: NE VIII.4-8; Pakaluk, chapter 9
Mar 1
Midterm Exam
Mar 6
Spring Break
Mar 8
Spring Break
Mar 13 Political friendship; friendship and self-love
required: NE VIII.9-12; IX.4-9
recommended: Pakaluk, chapter 9
Mar 15 Happiness
required: NE X.1-8
recommended: NE X.9; Pakaluk, chapter 11
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NATURAL LAW
Mar 20 Law in general
required: ST IaIIae qq. 90-92
recommended: ST IaIIae q. 93
Mar 22 Natural law
required: ST IaIIae q. 94
recommended: ST IaIIae qq. 95-97
Mar 27 The moral law
required: ST IaIIae q. 100
recommended: ST IaIIae qq. 98-99
INFLUENTIAL RECENT APPROACHES
Mar 29 Kantianism
required: Kant, Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals, Preface and Chapters/Sections 1 and 2
recommended: “Kant’s Moral Philosophy” in the online Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (SEP)
Apr 3
Problems in Kantianism
required: Kant, Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals, Preface and Chapter/Section 3
Apr 5
EASTER BREAK
Apr 10 No Class – Dr. Pakaluk at Natural Law Seminar in Washington DC
Apr 12 Utilitarianism
required: Mill, Utilitarianism, chapters 1 and 2
recommended: “Mill’s Moral and Political Philosophy” in SEP
Apr 17 Libertarianism
required: Mill, On Liberty, chapters 1-3
Apr 19 Nietzscheanism
required: Nietzsche, Genealogy of Morals and Beyond Good and Evil, selections (to be announced)
Apr 24 Political Philosophy: Aristotle, Politics, book I
Political Philosophy: Locke, Second Treatise on Government, ch. 2, “Of the State of Nature”
Apr 26 Guest lecture, Michael Novak: Niebuhr
Apr 28
“Notes” and Final Paper Due
Requirements:
 class participation (5%)
 class notes written up and commented upon (45%) (see below)
 midterm exam (15%)
 final exam, April 28th (15%)
 final paper, 4-6 pages (20%)
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Note: although this is an introductory course, and a core course, it does not follow that it is an easy course, any more
than one should presume that an introduction to calculus or an introduction to organic chemistry would be an easy
course. The readings for the course are generally short, yet they are difficult.
Grading:
 A is for excellence;
 B is for good work;
 C represents the satisfactory bare minimum.
Expect the mean and average grades of the course to be slightly below B.
The “class notes” component of your grade:
At the end of the semester, I will ask that you turn in your annotated notes for the course. I want you to take good
notes when reading, make a good record of the lecture and class discussion, comment upon that record, and put it all in
order for final submission. In brief, you final submission should contain, in an appealing and organized form:
a) Your notes on all the readings of the course.
b) Your notes on the class lectures and discussions. (All handouts distributed in class should be included in your
final submission, together with your own annotations or commentary, if any, neatly added.)
c) Your commentary on your notes on the class lectures and discussions.
To do well in this component of the course, you need to be dedicated (careful to take good notes, consistent in writing
them up and revising them) and contemplative (thinking over the material of the course often, with attention and
concentration). Dimensions on which this assignment will be graded:
1. Thoroughness: How much of what went on in class is captured by your notes? How thoroughly did you take
notes of the readings?
2. Accuracy: Are there any mistakes in your notes?
3. Consistency of commentary: Do you comment frequently on the content of your notes?
4. Depth of commentary: Are your comments thorough, serious, and thoughtful?
5. Insightfulness of commentary: Are there valuable insights in your comments?
6. Neatness and organization: Are both your notes and the commentary neat and well organized?
You will probably want to submit your complete “notes” in a ring binder, or something similar, as they could amount to
many dozens of pages.
Attendance:
 each excused absence (athletic, medical, or serious family reason) must be made up for
 more than two unexcused absences constitute grounds for a failing grade
Integrity:
 plagiarism and cheating are completely forbidden and will be dealt with severely.
Internet:
 no online activity or texting during class
 you may consult the internet only if invited to do so by the instructor
Workload:
 plan on 6-8 hours preparation per week outside of class
Instructional method:
 special attention in each class will be given to close reading and seminar-type discussion of select passages
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Course description from the catalogue
ETHICS – This course introduces the student to the nature of morality, and its meaning in human life. Fundamental
ethical data pertaining to the moral life will be covered, including the nature of moral values, freedom, the moral law and
obligation, autonomy, the structure of the moral act, moral evil, and virtue. Students will study representative accounts
of theistic ethics, natural law ethics, virtue ethics, utilitarianism, Kantian duty ethics, and moral subjectivism. Authors
studied include thinkers such as Plato, Aristotle, Aquinas, Hume, Kant, and Mill.
Prerequisites: PHIL 205:
Special Needs:
Any student who needs an accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact me privately at the
beginning of the semester to discuss your specific needs. Please also contact the AMU Counseling Services Office to
coordinate reasonable accommodations for students with documented disabilities.
Disclaimer:
The instructor reserves the right to change or modify this course and the syllabus for justifiable reasons, subject to
appropriate and timely notice to the students enrolled in this class.
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Books:
Aristotle, Basic Works
Paperback: 1520 pages
Publisher: Modern Library (September 11, 2001)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0375757996
ISBN-13: 978-0375757990
Kant, Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals
Paperback: 128 pages
Publisher: Prentice Hall; 2 edition (October 15, 1989)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0023078251
ISBN-13: 978-0023078255
Mill, Utilitarianism and On Liberty
Paperback: 272 pages
Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell; 2 edition (March 14, 2003)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0631233520
ISBN-13: 978-0631233527
Pakaluk, Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics: An Introduction
Paperback: 358 pages
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (September 19, 2005)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0521520681
ISBN-13: 978-0521520683