Jennifer Bayne Lemma
Rm. 111
(509) 527-1866
jennifer.baynelemma@wwcc.edu
Office Hours: Monday 10:30-11:30 and by appointment
Philosophy 131
Ethics
Spring 2012
“Knowledge is not a guarantee of good behavior, but ignorance is a virtual
guarantee of bad behavior.”
Philosopher, Ethicist and Law Professor, Martha Nussbaum
The Course
Ethics is the philosophical exploration of right and wrong. We will explore theoretical ideas
about goodness, happiness, moral law, compassion and choice. Through our discussions, we
will identify the ways in which these theoretical ideas are applicable in our daily lives. We will
analyze the consequences and ramifications of particular ethical beliefs as well as our
participation in developing, challenging and approving personal and community ethics. The
focus of the course, however, will remain on the academic study and understanding of ethical
theory.
Primarily, we will use the required text; however, we will also discuss articles, internet postings,
videos and other media not listed in the syllabus. Current events and developing stories, as
applicable to the material we are studying, become part of our discussion, too.
The first part of the course begins by exploring the ancient, ethical philosophies of Plato,
Aristotle, Epictetus, and the Stoics. We then move to Augustine, Aquinas, Kant, Kierkegaard
and the Existentialists. It is from this substantial base of ethical theory that we begin discussing
what we could term “the moderns.” The second half of the course focuses on a diverse
collection of essays from a varying set of philosophical viewpoints.
The study of ethical theory, contrary to what you may have heard, is fun. It is an exciting area
of academic inquiry. We will have a fast-paced, dynamic, tolerant and inclusive classroom
setting. Civil behavior is required, not suggested. We are sure to dive into topics that at one
point or another, you and your fellow students will have strong opinions about and it is
essential that we approach these topics with civility.
How it Works
The course has five components: lectures, study questions (in class and take-home), papers
(two), a final exam and participation. The class is built around a 325-point scale.
Lectures focus on the philosopher or philosophical concept we are currently studying. It is your
responsibility to take notes and relate the lectures to the readings. At the conclusion of most
lectures, you will be given a question on that day’s lecture/reading and you will respond in
writing before you leave the classroom. These questions are worth 5 points each and there are
20 questions throughout the course, resulting in 100 available points. The take home questions
must be typed, double-spaced and returned on time. Take home question assignments are
worth 10 points each, resulting in 100 available points. If you turn in your assignment in a day
late, at least one point will be deducted from your work. You may miss 20 points total (the
equivalent of 4 in class questions or two take home questions or any combination thereof
totally in 20 points) without penalty. This 20-point gift is applicable ONLY to the question
assignments.
The two short papers will be on a specific topic or philosopher that we have recently studied. A
paper is worth 25 points. The two papers together total 50 possible points. Each paper has
three parts, roughly equivalent to one page each. On the first page, you should explain the
specific topic; this explanation requires at least two quotations from the reading assignment.
The second page should go into more detail about the idea. The third page is the area where
you explain your thoughts and feelings about the topic. You may explain why you agree or
disagree with the idea, how it might be applied to your own life, or how the idea compares or
contrasts with another philosophical idea we studied in class. The goal of the papers is to
demonstrate that you understand a topic well enough to explain it in general, to go into some
detail about it and to discuss it from your perspective in a rational, well thought out manner.
Papers handed in a day late will be deducted, at minimum, one-half of a grade.
The Final exam will be worth 50 points. It is a combination of multiple choice, true and false
and essay questions. It is a cumulative exam, covering the entire course.
Participation is a key element of this course. 25 points are available for participation. This
translates into 25 available points for respectfully participating in discussion, listening civilly,
attending class and completing assignments.
All standard rules apply: No cell phones in class, no texting, no whispering/talking, etc.; any and
all distracting behavior will result in a reduction in your grade. Repeated offenses will result in
failing or dropping the course at the instructor’s discretion. Turning in work that is not your
own will obviously result in failing or dropping the project and/or the course.
Extra Credit will be offered for attending and writing about pre-approved lectures, art events
and concerts.
This is a specific outline of what I am hoping we are able to cover in class. However, it is subject
to change based on student interest, discussion direction and availability of guest lecturers.
Date
Topic/Philosopher Readings/Questions/Assignments
3/26
Introduction: Ethics,
Cultural Relativism,
Absolutes
Introduction/Plato
Plato
Plato/Social Contract
Theory/ Hobbes
Plato/Social Contract
Theory/Hobbes
Syllabus Review; Assign. p. 3-5; 38-42
4/2
4/3
4/4
4/5
4/6
Aristotle/Virtue Theory
Aristotle/Virtue Theory
Aristotle/Virtue Theory
Epictetus; The Stoics
The Stoics; Col. John
Stockdale
Assign. p. 80-84 (Aristotle)
Question #3
Assign. p. 85-106 (Epictetus)
Question #4
Take Home Question #2
4/9
Epicurus
4/10
4/11
4/12
4/13
Augustine
Aquinas
Kant
Kant
Question #5; Assign. p. 107-109; p. 116-118
(Augustine)
Assign. p. 119-124 (Aquinas)
Assign. p. 188-190 (Kant)
Question #6; Assign. p. 201-213 (Kant)
Take Home Question #3 Assign. p. 213-224
(Kant)
4/16
4/17
4/18
4/19
4/20
Kant
Kierkegaard
Kierkegaard
Kierkegaard
Sartre/Existentialism;
The Self and Other;
DeBeauvoir
3/27
3/28
3/29
3/30
Question #1
Question #2
Take Home Question #1; Assign. p. 134-143
(Hobbes)
Assign. p. 43-45; p. 66-72 (Aristotle);
Question #7
Assign. p. 299-305
Question #8 Assign. 328-332 (Sartre)
Take Home Question #4; Assign. p. 333-349
(Hallie)
4/23
4/24
4/25
4/26
4/27
4/30
5/1
5/2
5/3
5/4
5/7
5/8
5/9
5/10
5/11
5/14
5/15
5/16
5/17
5/18
5/21
5/22
5/23
5/24
5/25
Hallie
Hallie/Buber
Guest Lecturer
Discussion on
Lecture/King
King
Question #9
King
Coles/Integrity of the
individual
General
Lecture/Discussion
General
Lecture/Discussion
General
Lecture/Discussion
Paper Due
Assign. p. 350-355 (Coles)
Rawls
Lecture on
Culture/Custom
MacIntyre
General
Lecture/Discussion
General
Lecture/Discussion
Question #11
Assign. p. 396-423 (MacIntyre)
Noddings
Noddings and Feminist
Ethics; Motherhood
Levinas, Nussbaum, and
Reciprocity
Advising Day
Leopold
Question #13
Question #14
Leopold/Environmental
Ethics
Economic Ethics
Singer
General
Lecture/Discussion (Tom
Woods, Jr.)
General
Lecture/Discussion
Paper Due
Take Home Question #5; Assign. p. 356-377
Assign. Paper #1 Due 4/30
Question #10; Assign. p. 322-327 (Midgely)
Take Home Question #6; Assign. p. 378-395
Take Home Question #7
Question #12
Assign. p. 424-444 (Noddings)
Take Home Question #8; Assign. p. 486-305
(Leopold)
No Class
Paper #2 Due on Monday
Question #15; Assign. p. 506-529 (Singer)
Question #16
Take Home Question #9
Question #17; Assign. p. 530-544 (Regan)
5/28
5/29
Memorial Day
Regan
5/30
5/31
5/31
6/1
Walzer
General
Lecture/Discussion
Review for Final
Review for Final
6/4
6/5
6/6
Review for Final
Exams begin
Final Exam
In Class Questions: 20 at 5 points each
College Closed—No class
Take Home Question #10; Assign. p. 545-566
(Walzer)
Question #18
Question #19
Question #20
No class
9:30-11:30
= 100 points
Take Home Questions: 10 at 10 points each = 100 points
3 Page Paper: 2 at 25 points each
= 50 points
Final Exam: 50 points
= 50 points
Participation: 25 points
= 25 points
------------------
Total Points Available
325 points
Grading Scale:
94 + = A
73 = C
90 = A-
70 = C-
87 = B+
67 = D+
83 = B
60 = D
80 = B-
59 = F
77 = C+