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Philosophy 101: Contemporary Moral Problems: The Art of Living Ethically- Fall 2015
Dr. Jackie Ann K. Kegley
jkegley@csub.edu
-Section I
Office: Faculty Towers 103D- 664-2249 Philosophy Office-664-2291 Fax: 665-6904
Office Hours: Mon.: 9-11 a.m.; Tues.: 4-6 and by appointment.
Class materials and grades will be posted on Blackboard 9. This includes any lecture materials. They
may also be important messages posted, so please check Blackboard regularly. You will also be receiving
texts from me about reminders, announcements, etc.
Required Texts:
Russ Shafer-Landau, The Fundamental of Ethics, 3 rd Edition, New York: Oxford University Press,
2015, ISBN: 978-0-19-999723-7.
Russ Shafer-Landau, The Ethical Life, 3rd Edition, New York: Oxford University Press, 2015,
ISBN: 978-0-19-999727-5.
Course Description: This course provides an overview of historical and recent ethics theory and concepts,
and an examination of contemporary moral issues and dilemmas, such as abortion, euthanasia, capital
punishment, affirmative action, animal rights, and gender relationships. This course seeks to give you the tools
to construct and live your own life in an ethical manner.
Goals and Objectives- When you finish this course, you should be able to demonstrate your abilities to do the
following.
Goal 1: Understand the Experiences and ideas of others
Objective: Discuss the similarities and differences of theories and ideas presented by various ethicists on a
variety of topics.
Goal 2: Understand one’s own culture and community
Objective 1: Discuss the assumptions underlying the theories and their applications on contemporary moral
issues.
Objective 2: Discuss the assumptions underlying your own moral system and principles as you apply them to
contemporary moral issues.
Goal 3: Appreciate and critically evaluate diverse value systems
Objective 1: Distinguish between normative and descriptive claims.
Objective 2: Critically evaluate the assumptions and principles of specific ethical systems.
Objective 3: Use the various ethical theories in evaluating moral issues.
Goal 4: Critically analyze original and secondary texts.
Objective 1: Engage in critical reading of various types of texts.
Objective 2: Critically evaluate the various theories and proposals on moral issues.
Goal 5: Understands changes in viewpoints and human conditions over term.
Objective 1: View the ethical issues and proposed solutions in light of their historical and cultural
context.
Objective 2: Evaluate the notion of moral development.
Requirements: Your progress in this course will be assessed through the following requirements. Required
work is always due on the day of class when the work is listed.
Summary: See below for specifics.
Responding to Study Questions
Written Reflections
Policy Team Presentations
Group Discussion Participation
Research term paper
10%
30%
15%
15%
30%
2
30% Class Participation: This includes the following elements:
Participating in class discussions and completing class activities.
15%- Structured Discussions- There will be small group discussions of the topics and readings and
will be graded by you and the instructor. Here you will be able to discuss the theories and issues in
more depth and to apply the moral systems and principles. You will also be able to engage with your
peers in confronting ethical problems and thus should be able to clarify your own ethical thinking,
15%- Team project and presentation on an issue- In teams of 4-5 you will research an issue and
some specific cases, decide on a position on the issue and make a presentation to the class.
Attendance is a counted in your grade calculation. You are allowed three absences- all other absences
must be documented (for illness, family difficulties, required university travel). If you must miss class for
a truly legitimate reason, please contact me ahead of time. Each unexcused absence warrants a five-percent
reduction in the final grade.
Justification: attendance and participation is vital. This is a class is an opportunity to explore together the
fundamental moral issues by means of a variety of ethical approaches and principles. Sharing our ideas,
arguments, and experiences will lead us to greater understanding of very complex, but highly significant
questions. Our classroom should become a “community of intellectual inquiry and sharing” and thus, your
attendance and participation is vital. It is crucial that we share our observations, ideas, and critical
reflections. In this process, we should gain a wider understanding of the philosophical texts and hopefully will
learn much from each other. (Students are expected to spend two hours outside of class on class work for
every hour of class.)
Other Requirements
10%- Study Reading questions –Generally due each class period. You may drop 5 of these or I will drop
the five lowest grades at the end of the quarter.
15%- Reflection Paper I: See specific instructions on Blackboard. - Due October 19th.
15%- Reflection Paper 2: See specific instructions on Blackboard. - November 4th.
30%
Final Paper -November 23rdth- 2-4:30
Final Paper (30%) – Write a paper on an issue raised in the class as viewed by one or more of the
thinkers covered in the course. This paper will give you an opportunity to explore a topic or idea or in
greater depth than we are able to do in class. You will need to take a position on an issue, e.g. state a thesis“ I believe that doctors should/should not be able to refuse demands futile treatment” and a present an
argument for that position, drawing on the material in the text and any other material you wish to bring into
the paper. A sample paper is provided. –
This paper should be a minimum of 8 printed pages not including bibliography. It should be a critical
reflection on what you learned in your research and present an argument for a thesis or stand on that issue,
including considering arguments against your position. A sample paper will be provided.
Late papers are lowered by one full grade for each day late.
Evaluation of the paper- This paper will be evaluated on the following criteria:
Logical organization of paper
20%
3
Clear presentation of argument and sub arguments 40%
Depth and sophistication of analysis and use of supporting material
Grammar, spelling, style 15%
25%
Letter grades and their percentage equivalents:
93-100 =A
90-92= A-
87-89= B+
83-86=B
80-82=B-
77-79=C+
73-76=C
70-72=C-
67-69=D+
63-66=D
60-62=D-
Below 60= F
COURSE POLICIES
Make-Ups: Make-ups will not be allowed. However, if you miss a deadline for reasons that are beyond your
control (illness, car accident) you must contact me either before class or as soon as possible afterwards. The makeup may be granted upon proper documentation, i.e. a doctor’s note, receipt from the mechanic. Failure to do so will
result in a zero grade for the missed assignment.
Office Hours- I am available to discuss with you any aspects of this class as well as other matters if you wish.
My announced office hours are an indication of when I can usually be found in my office. Occasionally other
commitments will take me away from the office during these times, so for important matters it is best to set up an
appointment in advance. Also, you should not feel restricted to seeing me only during scheduled office hours. I can
meet with you by appointment other than my scheduled office hours at a time convenient for both of us. You should
contact me in advance to cancel the appointment if you cannot honor the scheduled appointment. You may leave a
message on my voice mail or with our department secretary, or you can email me.
Academic dishonesty (Cheating) is a broad category of actions that involve fraud and deception to improve a grade
or obtain course credit. Academic dishonesty (cheating) is not limited to examination situations alone, but arises
whenever a student attempts to gain an unearned academic advantage. Plagiarism is a specific form of academic
dishonesty which consists of the misuse of published or unpublished works of another by claiming them as one’s
own. Plagiarism may consist of handing in someone else’s work as one’s own, copying or purchasing a pre-written
composition and claiming it as one’s own, using paragraphs, sentences, phrases, words, or ideas by another without
giving appropriate citation or using data and/or statistics compiled by another, without giving appropriate citation.
Another example of academic dishonesty is the submission of the same, or essentially the same paper or other
assignment for credit in two different courses without receiving prior approval from the instructors of the affected
courses.
If academic dishonesty in any form occurs, I am required to notify the CSUB Student Conduct Coordinator. A
course grade of ‘F’ may be assigned or another grade penalty may be applied. Additional academic sanctions
such a disciplinary probation, suspension or permanent expulsion may be determined by the student conduct
coordinator. I take this matter of betrayal of trust very seriously. If you have questions about this, please ask.
Special Needs: To request academic accommodations due to a disability, please contact the Office of Services
for Students with Disabilities (SSD) as soon as possible. Their office is located in SA 140, and they may be
reached at 661-654-3360 (voice), or 661-654-6288 (TDD). If you have an accommodations letter from the SSD
Office documenting that you have a disability, please present the letter to me during class or during my office
hours as soon as possible so we can discuss the specific accommodations that you might need in this class.
Please do let me know of any special needs that you might have.
Class Etiquette
Out of self-respect and respect for others I expect that during lectures or class activities you refrain from (1) private
conversations, (2) texting, (3) receiving cell phone calls, (4) leaving the classroom during the lecture-class session,
and (5) starting to pack up your belongings before class is over. Such behavior is very disruptive and
discourteous to your instructor and classmates. If you need to leave the classroom during the class session for a
serious reason, let me know before the class starts and be seated close to the door.
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Please turn off your cell phones while in class- texting while the class is engaged in
lecture and discussion is discourteous to all. - If you are expecting some emergency
call please inform instructor in advance and keep phone on vibrate mode.
Harassment Policy
Written or spoken statements that can be construed as harassment will not be tolerated and will be reported to the
appropriate university office for proper legal investigation and action. This includes, but is not limited to, comments
based on race, ethnic origin, gender, disability, or sexual orientation.
SECTION I: ETHICAL SYSTEMS
Monday, September 14
Introduction to the Class- “Mores and Morality”
Wednesday, September 16
Ethical principles
Reading assignment: Introduction,” The Fundamentals of Ethics, 1-19.
Reading questions # 1: Answer question 4, p. 19, The Fundamentals of Ethics.
Video, “Old Person’s Friend”
Structured Discussion # 1
Monday, September 21
Egoism & Hedonism
Reading Assignment: Chapters 1 &2, The Fundamentals of Ethics, 23-43; and Chapter 8, 106-118; Robert Nozick,
“The Experience Machine,” pp.27-30 in The Ethical Life.
Reading questions # 2: Answer Questions 1, 2, 5, & 6, p. 31; Answer Questions 3 & 5, p. 118.
Structured Discussion # 2.
Video: “The Family Tree.”
Wednesday, September 23
Consequentialism (Utilitarianism)
Reading Assignment: Chapters 9 & 10, The Fundamentals of Ethics, 119-158.and
.Reading Questions # 3: Answer questions 2, 4, & 7, p. 137; Questions 4 & 6, p-. 158, The
Fundamentals of Ethics,
Structured Discussion # 3;
Video: “The Critical Choice.”
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Monday, September 28th:
Kantian Ethics
Reading assignment: Chapter 11, 159- 172, The Fundamentals of Ethics and Chapter 9, 87-99, The Ethical Life.
Reading questions # 4 Answer questions 1&2 p. 172; and Answer question 2, p. 99, The Ethical Life.
Structured Discussion 4: Bernard Williams, “Utilitarianism and Integrity,’ posted on Blackboard # 9.- Please
read and write a brief summary of what you take to be the main point of the article to class. Read especially
p. 170 on “Integrity”Video: “The Courage of One’s Convictions.”
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Wednesday, September 30th
Kantian Ethics
Reading assignment: Chapter12, 173-191, The Fundamentals of Ethics.
Reading questions # 5: Answer questions 2, 4, & 7, 185-6 in The Fundamentals.
Structured Discussion # 5:
Video: “The Chronic Problem.
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Monday, October 5th
Virtue Ethics
Reading Assignment: Chapter 17, The Fundamentals of Ethics, 254-269. Chapter 123-134, The Ethical Life.
Reading Questions # 6: Question 4, p. 273, Fundamentals, Question 4 & 5, p. 134, The Ethical Life.
Structured Discussion # 6:
Video: “Happy Birthday.”
Section II: Rights
Wednesday, October 7th
Race
Video: “The Power of an Illusion”-The House We Live In”
Discussion Questions- Answer and hand in on Tuesday, October 13th.Will be handed out in class.
Thursday, October 8th
11th Annual Kegley Institute Lecture- James Barrat, author, Our Final Invention. – “Can Humanity Survive
Artificial Intelligence?- extra credit assignment- 7 p.m.- Dore Theater- Write up 2 page summary of the
lecture and relate it to our class issues.
Monday, October 12th
Structured Discussion # 7 -Race
Reading assignment: Martin Luther King, “Letter from the Birmingham City Jail,” The Ethical Life, 405-415.420; Peter Singer, “Is Racial Discrimination Arbitrary?” Posted on blackboard. Also read “The Tuskegee
Affair- posted on blackboard. - see questions.
Reading Questions # 7: Questions on King, 1-5, 415, The Ethical Life. Questions on Singer- posted on
Blackboard in section Extra Reading Questions.
Wednesday, October 14th
Animal Rights
Reading Assignment: “Peter Singer, “Equality for Animals,” posted on Blackboard; and R.G. Frey, “Moral
Standing, The Value of Live and Speciesism, 301-318; and The Ethical Life.
Reading Questions # 8: - Questions for Singer posted on Blackboard. Questions 2, 3, 4 & 5, in The Ethical
Life.
– Class Discussion of Readings
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Monday, October 19thAnimal Rights- continuedStructured Discussion: # 8
Video: “The Witness”
Reflection Paper # 1 Due.
Section III: Issues of Life, Autonomy, and Responsibilities to Others
Wednesday, October 21th:
Abortion
Reading assignment: Judith Jarvis Thompson, “A Defense of Abortion,” 348-360; Don Marquis, “Why Abortion is
Immoral,” 361-371; and Philippa Foot, “Abortion and the Doctrine of Double Effect,” 372-384, in The Ethical Life.
Reading Questions # 9: - Answer questions 1 & 3, p. 360; questions 3 & 4, pp. 370; and questions 1 & 2, p. 384, in
The Ethical Life.
Structured Discussion # 9
Video: “Who Should Decide?”
Monday, October 26th:
Personhood, Humanity, Life and Rights
Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide
Reading Assignment: James Rachels, “The Morality of Euthanasia,” The Ethical Life; 245-250.
Reading Questions # 10: Answer questions 1, 2 & 5, 249-50.
“If You Want a Girl Like Me?”
Structured Discussion # 10
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Wednesday October 28th:
Poverty
Reading assignment: Peter Singer, “The Singer Solution to World Poverty,” 223-230; The Ethical Life; Jan
Narveson, “Feeding the Hungry,” 231-244, The Ethical Life.
Reading Questions #11: Answer questions 1, 2 & 4, 230 and questions 1, 4 & 5, 243-44, The Ethical Life.
Video: “Effective Altruism”
Structured Discussion # 11
Monday, November 2nd
The Death Penalty
Reading assignment: Igor Primoratz, “Justifying Legal Punishment,” The Ethical Life, 385-394; and Stephen
Nathanson, “An Eye for an Eye,” 395-404.
Reading Questions # 12- Answer questions 2, 3, 4 & 5, p. 33-4; questions 1, 2, 3 & 4, p. 403-4, in the Ethical Life
.Structured Discussion #12
Video: “Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge”
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Wednesday, November 4
Ethics in Engineering and the Workplace
Reading assignment: Richard T. De George, “Ethics & Automobile Technology,” and Roland Schinzinger,
“Engineering as Social Experimentation,” and Rachelle Hollander, “The Social Construction of Safety.” -All
posted on Blackboard with Questions.
Class discussion
Reflection Paper # 2 Due.
Monday, November 9th
Team Project Presentations 1 & 2.
Wednesday, November 11th- VETERANS DAY- NO CLASS
Monday, November 16th
Team Project Presentations 3 & 4
Wednesday, November 18th
Tuesday, November 24
Team Project Presentations 5 & 6.
- Paper -due- Due- 2-4:30p.m.