PHIL 340: Ethics (Spring 2015)
VKC 211, Tue./Thu. 11:00am-12:15am
Instructor: Alex Sarch (sarcha@usc.edu)
Office Hours: Tue. 3pm-4pm, Stonier 115a
Final Exam: Tue., May 12 (11am-1pm)
Course Objectives:
This course is intended as an introduction to some of the main themes of contemporary
moral philosophy, with a particular emphasis on Utilitarianism, Kantianism, virtue ethics,
blameworthiness and rights. Partly, the course aims to demonstrate the wide range of
concepts that are investigated by the moral philosopher, and partly to engage in detailed and
critical discussion of the main philosophical arguments in the relevant literature. By the end
of this course, you should be able to:
 write an argumentative paper
 extract and evaluate a philosophical argument from a text, and
 critically evaluate moral theories, discourse and traditions.
Course Readings:
The following books are stocked at the local textbook stores:
 REQUIRED: James Rachels & Stuart Rachels, The Elements of Moral Philosophy
 REQUIRED: Stephen Darwall, The Second-Person Standpoint : Morality, Respect, and
Accountability
 OPTIONAL: The Classical Utilitarians: Bentham and Mill
 OPTIONAL: Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics
 OPTIONAL: Kant, Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals
 Additional readings on the Blackboard site for the course
Grades:
The grading of this course will be based on four pieces of written work:
1) A short homework assignment (ca. 2 pages) (10%)
2) An in-class mid-term (30%),
3) A medium length paper (7-10 pages) due toward the end of the semester (30%), and
4) A final exam (30%).
More detailed instructions for the assignments will be provided in class.
Grading Policies:
 All assignments will be graded by me.
 This class will be graded by a set of absolute standards, not on a curve. Your overall
grade will be equal to the weighted average of your four pieces of written work.
 Receipt of a passing grade requires completion of all course assignments and regular
attendance. (Not handing in an assignment means you fail the class.)




No extra credit will be given in this class.
All papers and exams for this course must be your own individual work. No
collaboration.
Take-home assignments must be submitted on time, except in an emergency with my
express permission. Late assignments face a stiff penalty.
Grades will be based mainly on the extent to which you (1) answer the questions
asked in the assignment, (2) back up your opinions with sound arguments, evidence,
and sound reasoning (3) pursue and respond to objections to your position and (4)
write clearly.
Complaints
 In the unlikely event that you disagree with your grade, you must make your case in
writing to me within one week of getting your assignment back. I will then decide if
the complaint is justified and settle on an appropriate response.
Other Policies:


Make-up exams: If you are late for an exam or miss it entirely, I will only schedule a
make-up if you can provide a valid doctor’s note that excuses your absence.
Disability Services: Students who need accommodations based on a disability are
required to register each semester with the Disability Services and Programs. In
addition, a letter of verification to the instructors from the Disability Services and
Programs is needed for the semester you are enrolled in this course. If you have any
questions concerning this procedure, please contact the course instructor and
Disability Services and Programs at (213) 740-0776, STU 301.
Schedule & Readings—SUBEJCT TO CHANGE
Rachels = James Rachels & Stuart Rachels, The Elements of Moral Philosophy
Darwall = Stephen Darwall, The Second-Person Standpoint : Morality, Respect, and Accountability
Blackboard = Reading available as a link on the Blackboard website for the course
I. Permissibility 1: Utilitarianism
Week 1:
Tue. Jan. 13—Overview of course; introduce normative ethics of behavior
Thu. Jan. 15—Introduction to Utilitarianism
 Rachels, ch. 7
Week 2:
Tue. Jan. 20—Objections to Utilitarianism
 Rachels, ch. 8
Thu. Jan. 22—Objections to Utilitarianism (Cont.)
 Feldman, Adjusting Utility for Desert (Blackboard)
Supplemental Reading (Optional): Selections from Bentham/Mill
Week 3:
Tue. Jan. 27— Axiological Qs about Utilitarianism
Thu. Jan. 29— Expected Utility
 Feldman, Actual Utility, the Objection from Impracticality, and the Move to Expected Utility
(Blackboard)
Supplemental Reading (Optional): Selections from Bentham/Mill
 Mill, Utilitarianism, ch. II, pp. 98-104; ch. V, pp. 134-145
II. Permissibility 2: Kantianism
Week 4: Universal Law Formulation of the CI
Tue. Feb. 3
 Rachels ch. 9
Thu. Feb. 5
Supplemental Reading: Selections from Kant
Week 5: Ends Formulation of the CI
Tue. Feb. 10
 Rachels ch. 10
Tue. Feb. 12
Supplemental Reading: Selections from Kant, Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals, p. 7-15
[393-404], 24-27 [413-418], 29-37 [420-431]
III. Permissibility 3: Social Contract Theory
Week 6:
Tue. Feb. 17: HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT DUE (on TurnItIn before class)
 Rachels ch. 6
Thu. Feb. 19
IV. Permissibility 4: Virtue Ethics; Character Evaluation
Week 7: Virtue Ethical Theories of Right Action
Tue. Feb. 24
 Rachels, ch. 12
Thu. Feb. 26
Week 8: Character Evaluation
Tue. Mar. 3:
 Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, Book II
Thu. Mar. 5:
Week 9:
Tue. Mar. 10: MIDTERM
Tue. Mar. 12: NO CLASS
Week 10:
NO CLASS—SPRING BREAK
V. Blameworthiness (Culpability)
Week 11: Reactive Attitudes Theories
Tue. Mar. 24:
 Pete Graham, A Sketch of a Theory of Moral Blameworthiness (Blackboard)
Tue. Mar. 26:
Week 12: Expressed Will Theories (Responsiveness to Reasons)
Tue. Mar. 31:
 Excerpts from Arpaly & Schroeder, In Praise of Desire, ch. 7 (Blackboard)
Tue. Apr. 2:
VI. Directional Morality—Darwall (Rights, duties, demands and related concepts)
Week 13:
Excerpts from Darwall, The Second Personal Standpoint [TBA]
Tue. Apr. 7:
Tue. Apr. 9:
Week 14:
Tue. Apr. 14: PAPER DUE (on TurnItIn before class)
Tue. Apr. 16:
Week 15:
Tue. Apr. 21:
Tue. Apr. 23:
Week 16:
Tue. Apr. 28:
Tue. Apr. 30:
Final Exam: Tue. May 12 (11am-1pm)