SEATTLE UNIVERSITY
DEPARTMENT OF THEOLOGY AND RELIGIOUS STUDIES
SPRING QUARTER 2011
COURSE
COMPARATIVE ISLAMIC ETHICS
(THRS-391-03)
Time: M/W 6:00PM-8:05PM
Venue: ADMN 203
PROFESSOR
DR. KÔLÁ ABÍMBÔLÁ
Office Hours: M/W 10-11 (and by appointment)
Office: Casey 428
Email: abimbolk@seattleu.edu
Course Description
This course is a comparative examination of the ethical foundations of Islam as a way of life in
contemporary society. It will explore facets of Islam in world history, culture and society, paying
particular attention to Islamic institutions and organizations, and to the interrelationships between
Islam, Western ethical theories, and Africana Religions (namely, Orisa Religions). We will focus on
topics such as: Islam and politics, women and gender, abortion, euthanasia, Islamic banking, and
Islamic ethics of war and peace. The primary objectives of the course are: (i) to examine the major
principles of Islamic theological ethics within the context of contemporary United States; (ii) an
understanding of the key theories of classical and contemporary Muslim ethics; and (iii) the analysis of
Islam as a practice-based religion in contemporary society.
Key Questions
1. How should we appraise Islam after September 11?
2. Is Islamic ethics radically different from other ethical frameworks (i.e., Western and Africana
frameworks) that are prevalent in contemporary United States?
3. What concrete strategies and practices are Muslim peace activists adopting in pursuit of a more
just and humane world?
4. Why is there not one, but many, ethical theories based on Islam?
5. Should different ethical frameworks (be they secular or religious) lead to different ethical
choices? (I.e., is ethical relativism valid?)
Course Objectives
To understand the basic elements of Islam within the context of contemporary American
society.
To understand the sources and nature of Islamic ethics.
To understand the major ethical theories and their applications in the Western philosophic
tradition.
To compare and contrast Islamic ethics with other philosophical and religious ethical theories—
i.e., the dominant Western framework in the United States, and the Africana/Orisa framework
(which is one of the largest indigenous religions in contemporary United States).
To discuss current world events in terms of Islamic ethics.
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Topic 1: Religion and Ethics
Readings:
Mackinnon, Chapters 1 and 2
Brockopp, Chapter 1
Sachedina, Chapters 1 and 2
Kola Abimbola (2007), "Medicine and Culture: Transcultural Needs in Modern Western
Societies." Clinical Risk, Volume 13(3):112-116.
Kola Abimbola (2001), "Spirituality and Applied Ethics: An African Perspective." West Africa
Review, 3(1): 1-29.
Topic 2: The Islamic Worldview
Readings:
Elias, Chapters 3, 5, 9, 15 and 16
Topic 3: The Nature of Ethics
Readings:
Mackinnon, Chapters 3, 4, 5 and 8
Olufemi Taiwo, (1984). "On Some So-called Refutations of Ethical Egoism", Cogito 2(4):103-121.
Topic 4: Abortion
Readings:
Mackinnon, Chapter 11
Brockopp, Chapters 2, 3, and 5
Sachedina, Chapter 4
Topic 5: War
Readings:
Mackinnon, Chapter 19
Brockopp, Chapters 5, 6, and 7
Topic 6: Euthanasia
Readings:
Mackinnon, Chapter 11
Brockopp, Chapters 2, 3, and 5
Elias, Chapter 18
Sachedina, Chapter 5
Topic 7: Law and Ethics in Islam.
Readings:
Mackinnon, Chapter 15
Elias, Chapters 11 and 12
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Topic 8: Western Theories and Islamic Ethics.
Readings:
Mackinnon, Chapters 6, 7, 9 and 13
Brockopp, Chapter 13
Topic 9: Women and Gender in Islam.
Readings:
Mackinnon, Chapter 9
Elias, Chapter 8
Topic 10: The Future of Islamic Ethics.
Readings:
Brockopp, Afterword
Mackinnon, Chapter 20
Sachedina, Chapter 8
Wande Abimbola (1975). "Iwapele: The Concept of Good Character in Ifá Literary Corpus. " In,
W. Abimbola (ed.) Yorùbá Oral Tradition, (University of Ibadan Press)
Kola Abimbola (Forthcoming, 2011), "Religion and Legal Cosmopolitanism: The Diffusion of
Legal Methods", in R. Abiodun and Olupona, J. (eds.) Sacred Knowledge, Sacred Power and
Performance, (Cambridge: Harvard University Press).
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Class Attendance
Your presence and participation in classes are essential. Missed classes are a matter of serious concern
in a course of this nature, and for any missed class, you will need to write a make-up essay of 2-3 pages
on the topic of the missed class. The must be submitted at the next class. Missing more than three
classes may have an adverse effect on your final grade.
1st and 2nd Paper
You will be required to write two five-page, double-spaced essays on a topic to be assigned by the
instructor.
1st paper is due by noon on April 15, 2011. This will make up 20% of your final grade.
2nd paper is due by noon on May 13, 2011. This will make up 30% of your final grade.
Final Paper
You will be required to write one research paper essay on a topic to be assigned by the instructor. This
paper is due by noon on June 7, 2011. This will make up 50% of your final grade.
Notes on Essays
1. All essays must be typed, double-spaced, and with a font size no larger than 12.
2. You may use either the humanities style (footnotes and endnotes which include shortened references)
or the social sciences style (with shortened references in the text, e.g., Willett 1999:44). Similarly, you
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must reference your sources for all visual materials (e.g., photos, maps, etc.) that may accompany your
essay.
3. Your work will be graded on its clarity, coherence, and cogency.
IMPORTANT NOTE
You must complete all course requirements to obtain a passing grade in this course. An extension
may be granted on your essays only if you have a note from the Dean of Students.
Required Textbooks
Jonathan E Brockopp, Islamic Ethics of Life: Abortion, War, and Euthanasia. (University of South
Carolina Press, 2004)
Barbara MacKinnon, Ethics: Theory and Contemporary Issues. (Wadsworth Publishing, 2011)
Jamal J. Elias and Ninian Smart, Islam. (Prentice Hall, 1998)
Abdulaziz Sachedina, Islamic Biomedical Ethics: Principles and Application. (Oxford University
Press, 2009.)
Optional Books / Further Reading
Kola Abimbola, Yoruba Culture: A Philosophical Account. (IAP, 2006)
Jonathan Glover, Causing Death and Saving Lives: The Moral Problems of Abortion, Infanticide,
Suicide, Euthanasia, Capital Punishment, War, and Other Life-or-Death Choices. (Penguin, 1991).
B. F. Musallam, Sex and Society in Islam: Birth Control Before the Nineteenth Century.
(Cambridge University Press, 1986)
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