Phil 237: Contemporary Moral Issues
Instructor: Andrew Reisner
Office: 933 Leacock
Office Hours: Monday & Tuesday 1:00-2:00 and by appointment
Phone: x3392
Email: andrew.reisner@mcgill.ca
PLEASE READ THE ENTIRE SYLLABUS CAREFULLY. INFORMATION
WILL BE CONVEYED IN LECTURES THAT IS NOT IN THE READING.
THERE IS A VERY STRICT ATTENDENCE POLICY REGARDING
CONFERENCES. IT IS EXPLAINED ON THE SECOND PAGE OF THE
SYLLABUS. BE SURE TO READ IT. YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR
ADHERING TO IT. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE EMAIL ME
BEFORE ISSUES ARISE.
Course Description: This course is a survey of topics of philosophical concern is contemporary applied ethics. In addition to the study of applied ethics, a fair amount of time will be spent on basic issues in theoretical ethics. Acquiring some basic background in ethical theory is absolutely essential for doing good work in applied ethics. Ethical theory will be introduced both at the beginning of the course and in lectures interspersed throughout the semester. In addition, material in the lectures will supplement the reading, not just explain it. Because of this, it is ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL that you attend lectures and conferences regularly, as it will be very difficult to do well on the essays and the final examination otherwise. And, lecture notes may not always be available for missed lectures.
We will be covering a range of topics (see the class schedule for a comprehensive list), including: abortion, euthanasia, human cloning, the death penalty, social justice, environmental ethics, and animal rights. It is not uncommon for people to have strong personal or religious views about many of these topics. This course looks at what philosophical resources are available for providing a careful analysis of the issues involved. It is not a theology class, and as such substantive theological debate, while important and interesting, will not be part of the course. Philosophical work in applied ethics is a matter of formulating and analyzing careful, non-dogmatic arguments about the issues involved. To do this, it is imperative that discussion can occur in a civil, respectful atmosphere.
Format and Schedule: Schedule: In general there will be two lectures and one conference per week. Please take note of two exceptions: The first lecture is on
Wednesday, January 4. There will be no lecture or conference on Friday, January 6.
There will be lectures on January 9 and January 13, but there will be no lecture or conference on January 20. After that, the standard format of two lectures and one conference will be in effect for the rest of the semester. Lectures meet Mondays and

Wednesdays from 1:35-2:25 in Leacock 132. Conference days, times, and locations will be announced as soon as they are set. Sign-up sheets will be available outside of my office.
Assessment: There will be two essays, the second longer than the first, comprising 30% and 35% of the final mark respectively. The first essay is due on Friday of week 7 and the second essay is due on Friday of week 12. The final examination will comprise 35% of the final mark and will occur on the date set by the University. Late papers will be downgraded at a rate of 1/3 of a letter grade per day (e.g. from A- to B +, C to C-), including weekend days. All assignments (including the final) must be completed in order for students to receive credit for the course.
Students missing more than 2 conferences without medical excuses will receive a reduction of 1/3 of a letter grade ON THEIR GRADE FOR THE COURSE.
There will be no opportunity given for improvement of grades in the case of DFJ grades.
Except for certified medical reasons (including disability office issues), extensions will not be granted. Please speak to me in advance about extensions when there are foreseeable circumstances.
Texts: The text for this course is: Applying Ethics (8 th
edition) by Jeffrey Olen, Julie C.
Van Camp, and Vincent Barry. It is available in bundled with a useful citation guide at
Paragraphe booksellers. The bundle is less expensive than buying the book on its own.
As the book is somewhat expensive, you may want to see if you can find used copies. In addition, some readings will be put on reserve at the library reserve desk and in the philosophy department office.
Schedule of Topics
N.B. Readings given under a particular week are the readings that apply to that week of classes. Please note dates given are for lectures only.
Week 1 (4/1): Course Introduction N.B. No conferences
Week 2 (9/1 & 11/1): Introduction to ethics and philosophy N.B. No conferences
Readings: Applying Ethics (AE) pp. 3-23, 47-68.
Week 3 (16/1 & 18/1): Ethical Theories N.B. Conferences begin
Readings: AE pp. 24-46
Week 4 (23/1 & 25/1): Abortion 1: Personhood and the status of embryos and foetuses
Readings: AE pp. 117-127, 166-167, 128-143.
Week 5 (30/1 & 1/2): Abortion 2: Arguments for and against the moral permissibility of abortion.

Readings: AE pp. 125-153. On reserve: Michael Tooley ‘Abortion and
Infanticide’ in
Philosophy and Public Affairs , Vol. 2, No. 1, pp. 37-65.
Week 6 (6/2 & 8/2): Euthanasia
Readings: AE pp. 165-166, 169-207.
Week 7 (13/2 & 15/2) Punishment and responsibility [essay 1 due on Friday 18/2)
Readings: On reserve: Persons and Punishment, The Monist v. 52, pp. 475-501
(1968). ‘Moral Luck’ in Moral Luck by Bernard Williams.
Week 8 (27/2 & 1/3) Capital Punishment: Why and when?
Readings: AE pp. 263-297
Week 9 (8/3 & 10/3): Welfare and Social Justice: Equality, total benefit, and priority
Readings: AE pp. 357-398
Week 10 (15/3 & 17/3): Discrimination: Do we owe anything to those who have been wronged?
Readings: AE pp. 404-439
Week 11 (22/3 & 24/3): Goodness and Wellbeing
Readings: (on reserve) James Griffin Wellbeing , Chs.1 & 2.
Week 12 (29/3 & 31/3): Animal Rights: What is the moral status of animals?
Readings: AE pp. 445-487.
Week 13 (4/4 & 6/4): Environmental Ethics: Why should we preserve the environment?
[Essay 2 due on Friday]
Week 14 (11/4 & 13/4): Summary and Review