Heartland Community College
Division: Humanities and Fine Arts
Course Syllabus for Students
Fall Semester 2013
COURSE PREFIX & NUMBER: PHIL 114-02
COURSE TITLE: Ethics
CREDIT HOURS: 3 LECTURE HOURS: 3 LABORATORY HOURS: 0
Class Meetings: Mondays and Wednesdays, 12:30-1:45pm, ICB 1705.
CATALOG DESCRIPTION:
An introduction to the study of moral philosophy. This course will provide an introductory
historical survey of the major ethical systems and will consider their application to contemporary
moral problems.
INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION:
Name: Joy Bradley
Phone: (309) 268-8620 (Humanities Office)
Email: joy.simmons@heartland.edu
Office: 2000 ICB Adjunct Office
Office Hours: Wednesdays by appointment
REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS:
Judith A. Boss. Analyzing Moral Issues. 6th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2013.
RELATIONSHIP TO ACADEMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS AND
TRANSFERABILITY:
PHIL 114 fulfills 3 of the 9 semester hours of credit in Humanities/Fine Arts required for the
A.A. or A.S. degree. It satisfies the Humanities component of this requirement. PHIL 114
should transfer to other Illinois colleges and universities as the equivalent of the General
Education Core Curriculum course H4 904, described in the Illinois Articulation Initiative.
However, students should consult an academic advisor for transfer information regarding
particular institutions
BELIEFS:
Ethics is a particularly exciting branch of philosophy because it makes clear how philosophy can
transform our lives. A basic assumption of this course is that abstract philosophical concepts
affect our lives in deep and critical ways. Determining precisely how ethical theories affect us
every day on a concrete level is an indispensable part of our engagement with ethical texts. We
will also work to connect concepts in ethical theory, both ancient and contemporary, with current
events that are shaping our culture and our world right now. This course will have deep culture
and personal relevance. As such, we will not simply be observers of the philosophical ethical
tradition. We will engage with canonical and contemporary ethical texts verbally, aurally and
kinesthetically as well as through reading and writing. The study of ethics is not a study of
stagnant, outdated concepts. Rather, it provides us with a toolbox full of powerful instruments
with which to evaluate ourselves and the world around us. The study of philosophy is not simply
something done inside a classroom. It is a life practice. The study of ethics is also a
transformative life practice and we will treat it as such in this course. To that end, we will spend
the majority of the course applying both canonical and contemporary ethical theories to
culturally relevant moral problems. We will analyze contemporary ethical dilemmas through the
lens of moral theories as well as assess the degree to which moral theories are capable of
adequately addressing current problems.
COURSE OBJECTIVES (Learning Outcomes):
After completing this course you should be able to:
1.
Distinguish various ethical theories and recognize the ethical theory embodied in
any particular work of moral philosophy.
2.
Identify and appraise some of the most important problems and concepts from the
history of ethical theory (P1).
3.
Outline the historical development of moral philosophy, matching important
works with the philosophers who wrote them and important beliefs with the
philosophers who held them (D5).
4.
Analyze critically the extent that a philosopher's identity and assumptions
influence his or her perspective or beliefs (D4).
5.
Improve your ability to aptly interpret difficult texts in moral philosophy and
support those interpretations with reasoned arguments (C7).
7.
Explore the effectiveness with which various ethical theories can be utilized to
design solutions to contemporary problems in applied ethics (P3,P4,P5,P6).
8.
Demonstrate awareness of the effects of various social practices on diverse
populations in our society (D1).
9.
Appreciate the importance of cultural values, assumptions, and practical
considerations that may weigh in favor of various perspectives on a moral
problem--not just the perspective the student prefers (D2,D4).
10.
Exhibit responsibility for your learning by participating in critical and creative
dialogues about ethical theory and social issues, synthesizing diverse sources and
arguments (D6,C7).
11.
Demonstrate the ability to write critically and analytically about ethical theory
and social issues, supporting opinions with arguments, evidence, and reasoning
(C3).
COURSE/LAB OUTLINE:
1. Moral Theory
a. Virtue Ethics
b. Utilitarianism
c. Deontology
d. Justice as Fairness
e. Care Ethics
f. Eastern Perspectives
2. Abortion
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
The Death Penalty
Drug and Alcohol Use
Sexual Intimacy and Marriage
Freedom of Speech: Pornography
Racial Discrimination and Global Justice
Animal Rights and Environmental Ethics
METHOD OF EVALUATION (Tests/Exams, Grading System):
There will be two essay exams: a midterm and a final. These exams will assess your ability to
explain both canonical and contemporary ethical theories and apply them to moral problems.
GRADING SYSTEM:
A=90%
B=80%
C=70%
D=60%
F=less than 60%
REQUIRED READING AND WRITING:
Required reading will be from the textbook, although occasional handouts may be distributed.
You will write two papers. One paper will be 3-5 pages, comparing and contrasting two major
ethical theories. The second will be a 5-7 page argumentative papers in which you will be asked
to take a stand on a contemporary moral problem, employing one or more of the ethical theories
we studied this semester. You are encouraged to discuss the outline and content of both papers
with me beforehand. You may do this over email or in a face-to-face meeting during office
hours. This will contribute to a better paper.
The Final Grade Will Be Calculated As Follows:
Midterm Exam = 20%
Final Exam = 20%
Comparative Paper = 20%
Argumentative Paper = 25%
Class Participation = 15%
Extra Credit = 2-4%
Attendance:
Since this class will be largely discussion oriented, consistent attendance is of the utmost
importance. I will take attendance at the beginning of the class. If you are late, it is your
responsibility to inform me of your attendance after class so I can mark you present. Each
student is allowed three unexcused absences. After three absences, your final grade will drop
three percentage points. After six unexcused absences, a student may be failed. Excused
absences must be reported to me in advance, except in the case of unforeseen emergencies
Students may be excused to attend university sanctioned events, but I do ask that you notify me
at least two weeks in advance if you intend to miss class for such an event.
Unsubstantiated/undocumented claims to illness (i.e. no doctor’s note) cannot qualify as
“excused absences.” For an absence to be excused, documentation must be provided.
You are strongly encouraged to show up to class on time and to stay for the entire class meeting.
In addition to your two unexcused absences, you may be up to 30 minutes late for class two
times, with no questions asked. However, after two instances of tardiness, each additional
instance will bring your final grade down by one percentage point. If you must leave class early,
please inform me in advance with a valid excuse. You may leave class early one time with no
questions asked. However, each additional instance in which you leave class early without
notifying me (preferably in advance), will result in the loss of one percent of your final grade. To
avoid this penalty, you must provide a valid excuse (i.e. baby-sitter emergency, school
sanctioned event, etc.) I will endeavor to be as consistent as possible in enforcing this attendance
policy.
If you intend to miss multiple class meetings, I encourage you to take this course at a later date
when you are able to commit more time to it.
Withdrawal PolicyIn accordance with Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) guidelines, a
student must currently be enrolled in, and actively pursuing completion of, a course at midterm
in order to qualify as “in attendance.” If you have accumulated six unexcused absences by
midterm (October 16), you will be withdrawn from this course.
Participation:
Verbal engagement with philosophical theories is of the utmost importance. The class
participation grade will be assessed based upon each student’s contribution to in-class
discussions. The class participation grade is not an attendance grade. One must, of course, show
up to class in order to participate. You are expected to go a step beyond merely showing up,
however, and actively engage in in-class discussions, writing assignments, and group discussion
projects. If you bring in any media artifact (newspaper/magazine article, etc.) and relate it to our
reading material or a previous in-class discussion, you will receive extra credit for your class
participation grade. You may check with me at any time during the semester to find out what
their participation grade currently is and how it may be improved.
Students who are not comfortable talking in class are strongly encouraged to come to office
hours and discuss the philosophical theories under consideration one-on-one with the instructor.
Doing so will contribute to their participation grade.
Extra Credit:
Students have the option of earning extra credit, up to five percentage points. Students are
reminded that their participation in extra credit assignments may mean the difference between
one letter grade and another. For example, if a student has an 86% (B), extra credit may bump
him/her up to a 90% (A). Opportunities for extra credit will be made available throughout the
semester. Students are also encouraged to present their own ideas for extra credit to the instructor.
Deadlines:
You are required to turn in their papers and other assignments by the specified deadline. Failure
to do so will result in a loss of points and may result in a zero on the assignment. Missed exams
may not be made up, unless the student makes arrangements with the instructor beforehand (i.e.
for university sanctioned events, etc.). Illness or unforeseen emergencies are the only exception
to this policy. I will schedule a new time for you to take the missed exam after I have been
provided with the proper documentation for the absence (i.e. a doctor’s note). Documentation
must be provided. If I don’t receive documentation proving that you missed an exam for a
legitimate reason, I may not be able to make accommodations for you.
If you consistently display the habits of a good student throughout this course and demonstrate
the passion and effort needed to succeed, you will find that I am very understanding and
accommodating. If you put very little effort into this course (you miss class, are consistently late
or leave early, are inattentive, disruptive and/or sleep during class), you will find that I will not
be very inclined to accommodate you when your printer breaks down or your dog eats your
homework.
Incompletes:
This is the official college policy, as found in the College Catalog: “An incomplete grade may
be given to a student who, by the withdrawal date, can reasonably be expected to pass the course.
Incompletes may be granted only when justified by extreme circumstances (e.g. serious illness,
accident, death or serious illness in the immediate family).”
Notice of Cancelled Class Sessions:
Go to http://www.heartland.edu/classCancellations/ to learn what classes have been cancelled for
that day and the upcoming week.
Student Conduct:
Students are encouraged to devote all of their attention and energy to profound ideas during the
class period. To facilitate this, the instructor wishes to minimize distractions as much as possible.
Please turn all cell phones to the “silent” or “off” positions. Cell phone usage is not permitted
while class is in session. This includes text messaging. Students who text message in class or fail
to silence their phones may be asked to leave or to surrender their electronic devices to the
instructor until the end of class. Usage of other electronics in the classroom, such as laptops,
iPads and iPods, is strictly prohibited without my express permission. You are also not permitted
to use class time to complete assignments for other classes or assignments for this class. Students
not adhering to these guidelines will lose class participation points, which are essential to a
successful grade in this course. Please use our scheduled class time to actively listen to the
lecture and the comments/questions of your fellow students. You may also use class time to
present your own questions about, and evaluations of, the material.
As the instructor, I commit to listen attentively to students’ questions and ideas and to respond
respectfully and thoughtfully. You are asked to listen and respond respectfully to me and to each
other. Please do not have side conversations while I or fellow students are talking. This is
extremely distracting. You should be focused, attentive and engaged during class periods.
Disability Statement:
Reasonable accommodations will be made for students with documented disabilities. Please visit
the Disability Support Service website for details: http://www.heartland.edu/disability/. Please do
this as soon as possible. Accommodations cannot be granted retrospectively.
Academic Integrity:
Academic integrity is a fundamental principle of collegial life at Heartland Community College
and is essential to the credibility of the College’s educational programs. Moreover, because
grading may be competitive, students who misrepresent their academic work violate the right of
their fellow students. The College, therefore, views any act of academic dishonest as a serious
offense requiring disciplinary measures, including course failure, suspension, and even expulsion
from the College. In addition, an act of academic dishonesty may have unforeseen effects far
beyond any officially imposed penalties.
Violations of academic integrity include, but are not limited to cheating, aiding or suborning
cheating or other acts of academic dishonesty, plagiarism, misrepresentation of data, falsification
of academic records or documents and unauthorized access to computerized academic or
administrative records or systems. Definitions of these violations may be found in the college
catalog.
Plagiarism:
Plagiarism is the presenting of others’ ideas as if they were your own. When you write a paper,
create a project, do a presentation or create anything original, it is assumed that all the work,
except for that which is attributed to another author or creator, is your own. Plagiarism is
considered a serious academic offense and may take the following forms:
1. Copying word-for-word from another source and not giving that source credit.
2. Paraphrasing the work of another and not giving that source credit.
3. Adopting a particularly apt phrase as your own.
4. Using an image or a copy of an image without crediting its source.
5. Paraphrasing someone else’s line of thinking in the development of a topic as if it were your
own.
6. Receiving excessive help from a friend or elsewhere, or using another project as if it were
your own.
Note that word-for-word copying is not the only form of plagiarism.
The penalties for plagiarism may be severe, ranging from failure on the particular piece of work,
failure in the course or expulsion from school in extreme cases.
[Adapted from the Modern Language Association’s MLA Handbook for Writers of Research
Papers. New York: MLA, 1995: 26]
SUPPORT SERVICES
Support Services:
Heartland Library Information
www.hcc.cc.il.us/library
The Library, located within the Academic Support Center (ASC) on the Bloomington campus,
provides Heartland students with a variety of on-campus resources that support both class work
and personal inquiry. These include: reference tools (print and non-print), periodicals, audiovisual materials and equipment, reserves, a general circulating collection, and a fiction
collection. Computer terminals provide access to various electronic resources, including InfoTrac
SearchBank, FirstSearch, and NewsBank databases; CD-ROMs, ILLINET Online (includes
Milner’s collection), and Internet access. Several electronic resources are accessible from
computers off campus. Students may borrow books from the fiction and general collections and
may renew materials, in person or by phone, if requests have not been placed on them. Heartland
students also have full borrowing privileges at ISU’s Milner Library; a student Heartland ID card
serves as a library card.
The Library maintains a quiet study environment. Assistance is available for all library and
information needs. Heartland Library is open Monday-Thursday 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday 8 a.m.
to 4 p.m., Sat.12 p.m. to 5 p.m. and Sun. 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. when the college is in session, but is
closed on holidays that Heartland observes. Intercession and summer hours are reduced.
For more information about Library services please call the Library at (309) 268-8200.
Tutoring and Academic Support
Heartland Community College offers learning assistance in various forms at no cost to Heartland
students at the Academic Support Center (ASC) in Normal and at the Pontiac and Lincoln
Centers. Tutors are available at convenient times throughout the week. Study groups, group
tutoring facilitated by a specially-trained tutor, are also available by request. Help is also
provided through instructional materials, study skills workshops, open computing, and the
Library. For more information about services available at each location, please call the ASC in
Normal at (309) 268-8235, the Pontiac Center (815) 842-6777; or the Lincoln Center (217) 7351731.
Syllabi disclaimer:
The instructor reserves the right to make changes to the course calendar, assignments and
requirements for this class at any time, without prior notice. Students will be notified of any
changes as early as possible.