Argumentation and Ethics
Rebecca Kuhn (email: kuhnrebecca2@gmail.com)
Course Offered: 2012 (full year)
This course offered to all returning students.
Overview
This course is a year-long inquiry into the construction and evaluation of arguments as well
as an introduction to applied ethics, or the philosophy of morality. While other fields, like
science and religion, address some of the same issues that we will in class, philosophy
explores these questions through reason. Philosophers attempt to justify their views with
arguments, laying out the strongest reasons in favor of their positions and responding to the
strongest objections against them. In order to critically consider key issues and challenges
that societies face, we will develop the skills to analyze arguments by examining the
component parts of arguments as well as the history and development of argumentation and
rhetoric as academic disciplines. We will also discuss and understand three different types of
ethical theories that will aid us in developing arguments and opinions on ethical matters: right
action, right virtue and religious ethics. Finally, we will look at several areas of ethical
inquiry such as feminism, abortion, animal rights, and meaningful work. Areas of inquiry
may be guided by current events as well as teacher and student interest. Concurrent with
discussions of ethical issues will be the development of strong argument skills such as
constructing cases, identifying the main focal point of a dispute, and reasoning through
comparisons and correlations.
Curricular Goals
Through taking this course, students will:
 Develop critical reading skills and the ability to identify the elements of an argument
 Evaluate philosophical literature
 Learn to express their own ethical positions
 Apply the elements of argument to critical writing assignments
 Analyze and think critically about ethical issues
 Cultivate knowledge opinions and stances on classical and contemporary moral dilemmas
 Identify areas of current controversy
 Examine underlying assumptions in arguments
 Diagram the structure of sample arguments
 Analyze and evaluate evidence
 Organize argumentative cases around the key issues of a controversy
 Deliver oral arguments extemporaneously from key-phrase outlines
 Employ methods for establishing and enhancing credibility in argumentation.
 Identify and summarize opposing arguments
Textbooks
Martin, Mike W. Everyday Morality: An Introduction to Applied Ethics. 4th Edition. (United
States: Wadsworth/Thomson Learning, 2007).
White, James E. Contemporary Moral Problems. 9th Edition. (United States:
Wadsworth/Thomson Learning, 2009). International Student Edition.
Wiesenthal, Simon. The Sunflower.
Class Regulations
Behavior & Class Decorum
As this class is small, participation in discussion and activities is vital to the success of the
class. Therefore, you are expected to come to class having completed all required reading
and actively respond to the questions and comments posed by me and your classmates about
the reading. I believe that laptop use in this kind of class prohibits the free stream of thought
and discussion needed to effectively understand many of the works we will explore. Failure
to participate in class discussions will negatively affect your daily grade. Conversely, if I
believe that you dominating class discussions, I may limit the amount of comments you can
make per day. You are expected to treat your classmates and teacher with respect at all
times.
Supplies
Please bring a highlighter and a pencil or pen to class each day. As part of taking notes, I
expect you to annotate your texts by highlighting passages and writing comments in the
margins. Be sure to bring the particular text we are studying every day.
Absences/Tardiness
Any anticipated absences from class should be reported to Dr. Kuhn and should be granted by
the GLP Director, Mr. Choi. If you are late (tardy) to class three times you will be given a
detention. All unexcused class absences will be reported to the GLP Director and are
considered behavioral issues.
Assessments, Assignments, Units and Estimated Time for Completion:
Assessments
Grades in this class will be based on student performance on the following assignments:
 Contributions to class discussion 20%
 Essay Tests and Exams 30%
 Position/Argument Analysis Papers 30%
 Presentations and debates 20%
Assignments
Please consult the class’s Wikispaces page for a listing of daily reading and longer-term
assignments. Please check for the most updated class information. All assignments are due
at the beginning of class. If an assignment is turned in late, that assignment will receive a
10% penalty (10 % of assignment grade) for each day late.
Plagiarism and Other Forms of Academic Dishonesty
Please consult the student handbook for the school’s policy on plagiarism and academic
dishonesty.
Semester 1
Unit Title
Time for
1. An Introduction to Ethics, Argumentation and Rhetoric
2. Building an Ethical Framework: Theories of Right Action,
Theories of Right Virtue, Religious Ethics
3. Devising a Procedure and Justifying Ethical Claims
4. Ethical Argument in Action: Multicultural Ethics
5. Ethical Argument in Action: Life and Death
Completion
3 weeks
6 weeks
2 weeks
6 weeks
4 weeks
Semester 2
Unit Title
7. Ethical Argument in Action: Moral Autonomy and Mental
Health
8. Ethical Argument in Action: Sexual Morality
9. Ethical Argument in Action: Community and Wealth
Time for
Completion
5 weeks
5 weeks
5 weeks