Course Syllabus for PHL 1002-75: Honors Ethics
Spring 2011
MW 2:00-3:15 A331
Instructor: Jason A. Beyer
E-mail: jason_beyer@ivcc.edu
Webpage: www2.ivcc.edu/jbeyer/
Office: A309
phone number: 224-0583
Office hours: MWF 10-11 am, 1-2 pm; TR 11 am-12:30 pm; R 6-6:30 pm
Texts
Anthony Weston; A 21st Century Ethical Toolbox, 2nd ed.
Iris Marion Young; Justice and the Politics of Difference
Peg O’Connor and Lisa Heldke, eds.; Oppression, Privilege, and Resistance
Course Description
This course examines moral principles and moral issues. The course focuses on the nature and ground or
moral obligation. It introduces major ethical systems and tests those against selected contemporary moral
problems.
Course Objectives
The main goal of the course is to improve our moral decisions by (1) learning better reasoning techniques,
(2) applying moral theory, and (3) learning more about alternative perspectives and evidence. By the end of
the course you should be able to comprehend several major moral theories, be able to identify some of their
strengths and weaknesses, and be able to apply them to practical decision-making. You will also have
learned methods for making more careful moral decisions, and have a fuller recognition of the complexities
of moral problems.
Course Requirements
Your grade will be equally based on five course requirements: class participation, the reading reflections,
the take-home assignments, the term paper, and the Capstone Project.
For each set of readings (starting with Topic VII) you will be asked to write up a 1-2 page
reflection on the reading. The exact content is up to you, but it should not be a mere summary of the
reading material, but rather a reflection on it: you could relate the material to something in your own life,
discuss the questions or challenges the material raises for you, critically evaluate the material, relate the
material to other work from either this or other courses, etc. The key to this assignment is to engage the
reading material in dialogue. These will be due when we begin each new set of readings, and will be
announced in advance. All reading reflections will be due one week from when they are assigned. Late
work will be penalized one grade for each class period it is late, and will not be accepted more than 2 weeks
beyond the due date without my prior approval.
There will be about 5-6 take-home assignments (depending on how much of the material we get
through) that will ask you to explain, critically evaluate, and/or apply the course material. These will be
assigned at the completion of the topic. All assignments will be due one week from when they are assigned.
Late work will be penalized one grade for each class period it is late., and will not be accepted more than 2
weeks beyond the due date without my prior approval.
There will be a term paper, of about 5 pages in length, which is due on the last day of scheduled
class (May 4th). In this paper, you will be defending a position on an applied ethical issue of your choice.
See the attached guideline sheet for more specific requirements and suggestions.
Class participation is expected for honors students, and is factored in as part of the grade. This
grade will be based primarily on considerations of general class discussion, such as asking or answering
questions, or providing elaboration, critique or application of the ideas we’ll be examining.
The last requirement of the course is the Ethics Capstone Project. The Capstone Project will
involve developing and implementing a college and/or community activity that serves to promote ethical
living. The exact nature of the Capstone Project will be determined by the students; though some
possibilities include community volunteer work that displays ethical commitment, college or community
activities that focus on raising awareness of or furthering debate on ethical issues, or campus programs
relating to course material. Students may work together on a single Capstone Project, either in pairs, small
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groups, or as an entire class. See the attached Capstone Project Guidelines for fuller details. The entire
Capstone Project, including self-evaluation, must be completed no later than the last day of class (May 4 th).
Attendance is required. More than 5 absences may result in one grade docked off one’s final
grade. More than 10 absences may result in withdrawal from the course.
Anyone who has not attended since the first week or has less than half of the assigned coursework
completed by the time I need to do the mid-term verification form may be withdrawn from the course. If
you need to withdraw for any other reason, please see me. Please keep in mind that withdrawing from the
course may affect both your standing in the Honors Program as well any financial aid you receive.
Grading
Each grade will be treated as its numerical equivalent (A=4.0, A-=3.67, B+=3.33, B=3.0, etc.). Your final
grade will be given on the following scale (note that IVCC does not allow + or – on final grades): 3.514.0=A; 2.67 - 3.50=B; 1.67 - 2.66=C; below 1.67=D. I will give an F for a final grade only for failing to
meet course requirements. Thus, F grades will be given under three conditions: (1) if you fail to turn in the
term paper or complete the capstone project, (2) if you engage in plagiarism or other academic dishonesty,
or (3) absence penalties dock your grade below a D. So long as you fulfill the course requirements you will
not fail this course.
Extra Credit
Extra credit can be earned by attending certain IVCC events. I will notify you of these as they come up.
Attendance can earn 1 extra credit point; one additional extra credit point can be earned by writing up a
reflection paper of at least 1 page about that event. Each extra credit point adds .05 onto the final
calculated average. So if your final grade point average is 3.35, which is a B, 4 extra credit points would
raise this to 3.55, which is an A.
Classroom Rules
I am exercising my right to ban cell phones and like technology from my classroom. Texting, cell phones
ringing and iPods playing in class are distracting and disrespectful to me and to your classmates. If you
have some special need that requires you to make use of some piece of technology, please see me about it
right away. I am fine with recording class sessions. You may also bring a laptop for taking notes if you
wish. However, it is expected that laptops will be used in class for course purposes only. We are in
college, and I and your classmates expect all of us to act like it by adhering to IVCC’s core values of
responsibility, caring, honesty, fairness and respect. If I need to ask you to leave because you are disrupting
class, you will be counted as absent for that day. Continued disruption will be handed over to the V.P. of
Student Services for further action.
If you have any special needs, please feel free to contact me. If these involve assistance due to disability,
please also see the Special Populations office in B204. You can also call Tina at 224-0284 or Jim at 2240350.
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
VI.
VII.
VIII.
Tentative Course Outline
Introduction to Course
Preparing for Ethical Reasoning
Readings: Weston, Chs. 1, 2, 4
Critical Thinking in Ethics
Readings: Weston, Chs. 3, 11-13
Assessing Values
Readings: Weston, Chs. 6, 14
Creating Better Problems and Solutions
Readings: Weston, Chs. 15, 16
Ethics and Character
Readings: Weston, Chs. 5, 9, 17, 19
Justice and Injustice
Readings: Young, Ch. 1
Oppression and Privilege
Readings: Young, Chs. 2, 4
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IX.
X.
XI.
XII.
XIII.
Heldke & O’Connor, pp.24-36, 183-92, 301-16
Racial Oppression and Privilege
Readings: Heldke & O’Connor, pp. 64-88, 115-41, 317-27, 333-48, 422-39
Gender Oppression and Privilege
Readings: Heldke & O’Connor; pp. 143-82, 193-216
Sexual Identity Oppression and Privilege
Readings: Heldke & O’Connor; pp. 223-48, 259-74, 368-94, 466-75, 756-66
Intersections of Oppression and Privilige
Readings: Heldke & O’Connor; pp. 217-22, 483-514, 544-60
Identity Politics as Resistance
Readings: Heldke & O’Connor; pp. 605-10, 626-43, 653-83
Young; Ch. 6
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