SYLLABUS
PHIL 112, SECTION 01 – HISTORY OF ETHICS
FALL 2013
INSTRUCTOR: Clifford Anderson
MY OFFICE: Mendocino 3018
PHONE: 278-7289
PHILOSOPHY DEPARTMENT OFFICE: MND 3000 PHONE: 278-6424
EMAIL: andersonce@csus.edu WEB SITE: www.csus.edu/indiv/a/andersonc
OFFICE HOURS: TTH 9-10 AM and by appointment
TIME AND LOCATION OF CLASS: TTH 10:30-11:45 AM. Amador Hall 240
CATALOG COURSE DESCRIPTION: Investigation of the main approaches to ethics in Western moral
philosophy. Emphasis on Plato, Aristotle, Hume, Kant and Mill.
Prerequisite: Passing score on the WPE or passing Eng 109M/W. This course satisfies the writing
intensive graduation requirement. It also satisfies 3 units of the GE requirement for area C3.
COURSE OBJECTIVES: Studying the great ethical philosophers should result in a deeper level of selfunderstanding as well as a better understanding of others. The student’s ability to engage in rational
and productive debate about controversial moral issues should also improve. The popular dogma that
when it comes to moral disagreements “it’s all just a matter of opinion” will be seen to be utter
nonsense. Throughout the course we will be preoccupied with the question of whether moral
judgments can be proven to be true or false and if so, how. For those interested in continuing the study
of the subject, including recent work in ethical theory, this course is an excellent way to begin.
A general education course is supposed to help develop an understanding and appreciation of the
diversity of the human community. This course looks at the matter of human diversity from the
opposite direction: Ethical theory asks not what makes us all different but what makes us all human.
What common values and principles can we live by despite our diversity?
COURSE REQUIREMENTS: This is a GE intensive writing course with a 5000-word minimum writing
requirement. Hence, four papers are required, typed, double-spaced, with a minimum length of 5 pages
each. Papers will normally be due 1 week after being assigned. Late papers without a valid excuse will
suffer a grade reduction proportional to the lateness of the paper. Papers will be evaluated on the basis
of accuracy (i.e. careful reading), clarity or readability, quality of reasoning and grammatical correctness.
Clarity is essential to good philosophical writing, for without it, it is easy to find oneself writing
nonsense. A good test of a well-written paper is whether it is understandable to someone who is not
taking this course. Guidelines for writing a good philosophy paper are available on the Philosophy
Department’s website at: http://www.csus.edu/phil/req/writing.htm.
GRADING SYSTEM: Writing assignments: 20% each. Short in-class quizzes on the readings: 20%. There
will be a quiz approximately every two weeks.
TEXT: Classics of Moral and Political Theory, 5th edition. Michael Morgan, ed.
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES: If you have a documented disability and require accommodation or
assistance with assignments, tests, note taking, etc., see the instructor early in the semester so that
appropriate arrangements can be made to ensure your full participation in class. Also, you are
encouraged to contact the Services for Students with Disabilities Office (Lassen Hall) for additional
information regarding services that might be available to you.
CHEATING: Plagiarism is obviously a no-no. To see what can happen to you if you plagiarize or
otherwise cheat, check out the university’s Academic Honest Policy at:
http://www.csus.edu/umanual/student/UMA0050.htm
ORDER OF READINGS:
Week 1 Plato, Euthyphro (35-45)
Weeks 2-3 Aristotle (255-284)
Week4 Augustine (445-457) First paper assigned
Weeks 5-6 Hobbes (578-708)
Weeks 7-9 Hume (803-825) Second paper assigned
Weeks 10-12 Kant (944-984) Third paper assigned
Weeks 13-15 Mill (1069-1102) Fourth paper assigned
Note: This reading schedule is open to modification, depending on class interest and progress.
OPTIONAL REFERENCE WORKS: The following reference works have very good articles on many of the
topics we will be discussing, a few of which may become required reading.
The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Online at http://plato.stanford.edu
The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Online at www.iep.utm.edu
The Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy. In the library at Ref. B 52.R68