PHI 246: Ethical Theory
Gustavus Adolphus College
MWF 9-9:50
Fall 2005
Instructor: Christine Metzo
e-mail: cmetzo@gac.edu
web: homepages.gac.edu/~cmetzo/phi246.htm
listserve: f-phi-246-001
office: 302 Library
office hours: T 2:30-4:00, F 8-8:45
office phone: 933-7652
This course examines several traditions in ethical theory – both Western and non-Western – and their
approaches to topics of central importance to ethical theory, such as freedom, responsibility, good and
bad, right and wrong, duty, obligation, virtue, and happiness. The latter part of the course will deal with
specific contemporary issues as a means of assessing the strengths and weaknesses of the traditions
studied. Students will be required to formulate their own personal ethics statement as an ongoing project
in the course. N.B. This course will be writing intensive. This course satisfies the following new
graduation requirements: HIPHI, WRITI
Readings will come primarily from the following two texts, with supplemental readings on e-reserve as
indicated in the course schedule:
Brannigan Ethics across Cultures: An introductory text with readings. McGraw-Hill (2005).
Hinman Contemporary Moral Issues: Diversity and Consensus, 3rd ed. Pearson (2006).
The Hinman text is available for approximately half the price in an on-line version. If you are interested in taking
advantage of this cost-saving option, please access the link from the course homepage.
Marking:
Daily writing (10%): Most class sessions will begin with a writing prompt. Though not all will be
collected, I will on occasion take these up in order to shape future conversations and questions or to assess
the class’s understanding of certain readings. Students will receive credit for doing the daily writing on
these occasions, as well as feedback in the form of comments and questions for further thought. So
though there will be no attendance grade for the course, your regular attendance will ensure that you
receive full credit for this portion of your grade.
Theory Exams (15% each): There will be two take-home theory exams to test your basic knowledge of
the theories we are discussing. Each exam will consist of two questions: one 2 page essay (where the page
length will be strictly enforced) and one 4-5 page essay (where the page length is a rule of thumb and thus
flexible). The first essay demands precision and clarity of expression, while the second will demand some
speculation and/or comparison and can be more creative in style. Thus, each of these two exams will
address different levels of comprehension and require different writing skills to be drawn upon. Exams
are due October 21 and November 11 by 4:30 pm.
Moral Issues Presentation and Discussion Facilitation (15%): We will be using Hinman’s text to
assess the strengths and weaknesses of the ethical theories discussed by applying the principles of the
theories to contemporary moral dilemmas. Two to three students will work together and be responsible
for guiding two (2) class sessions – the first will be a group presentation in which the strengths and
weaknesses of the theories are revisited in addressing different aspects of the issues. The second class
session will be a debate in which the previous day’s presenters will serve as discussion facilitators, allowing
the rest of the class to weigh-in on the issue. Each of these sessions will end with some guided writing
time. Students should consult with the instructor in preparation of their presentations.
Case Study Reports (15% each): These reports draw on two writing skills: the ability to succinctly
convey the relevant facts and moral considerations of a case as well as the ability to persuasively argue for
a position. Students will select two (2) topics from the Hinman text that we discuss in the last six weeks
of class. One of those topics may be the one on which the student presents. A detailed assignment sheet
describing the format will be distributed after the midterm, when presentation groups are assigned. The
case study reports are due one week from the date of the topic’s discussion in class (i.e., the second class
day on that topic) OR by 3 p.m. on Friday, December 16, whichever is earlier.
Personal Ethics Statement (15%): In this writing assignment, you will be given the opportunity to make
your own justification of a personal ethical belief structure. Grades will be based on timely and thorough
completion of all tasks set as well as the care in providing a justification of moral beliefs. We will work on
this throughout the semester as a progressive form of essay. Details will follow at various stages, but note
especially the writing workshops of November 21 and 23 on the syllabus. Personal Ethics statements are
due Friday, December 16 by 3 p.m. (the end of the scheduled exam time for this course).
Miscellany:
It is the student’s responsibility to contact me regarding any absences. Make-up work is not always a
possibility, but I will work with students who have excused absences to cover any and all material missed.
I am also happy to help students who may have various physical and/or learning challenges to succeed in
this class, but this will require your prompt notification and consistent cooperation as well.
It is crucial to the success of the course that everyone do all the readings assigned. This course is premised
on your active, informed participation. I recognize that some of the material we will cover is highly
sensitive and can be deeply moving and difficult to deal with at times. If, for any reason, you are
uncomfortable with something covered in the course, please stop by to discuss the situation and let me
know what I might do to accommodate your concerns. Though I may not always be able to accommodate
individuals in precisely the ways they might request, I will do whatever I can.
I strive to foster an open environment for learning in my classroom. Such an environment demands
mutual respect. We will have a discussion early on about how we can cultivate such an environment, but a
couple gentle reminders, which may seem like statements of the obvious: Cell phones, pagers, and so on,
should be turned off during our class sessions. You should not be on call or scheduled to work during
class hours. And so on… Thank you!
Schedule of Topics/Readings (subject to change – please update based on class announcements and/or consult course website):
W Sep 7 Introducing the course; What is morality?
F Sep 9 Moral dilemmas
Hinman, introduction
M Sep 12 Moral reasoning
(e-reserves)
“My statement of ethical beliefs” due
W Sep 14 What is philosophy? What is an argument? And what does this have to do with morality?
Brannigan, ch. 2
F Sep 16 Quiz Show
M Sep 19 Egoism
W Sep 21 Relativism
F Sep 23 Religion and Morality
Egoism readings (e-reserves)
Brannigan, ch. 1
Rachels, “Does Morality depend on religion?”
(e-reserves)
M Sep 26 Virtue Ethics
W Sep 28: NO CLASS Nobel Conference
F Sep 30 Virtue Ethics
Brannigan, ch. 3 pp. 59-66
M Oct 3 Deontology
W Oct 5 Deontology
F Oct 7 Deontology
Brannigan, ch. 4 pp. 99-116
Brannigan, ch. 4 pp 118-131
M Oct 10 Hindu ethics
W Oct 12 Hindu ethics
F Oct 14 Hindu ethics
Brannigan, ch. 7 pp. 217-240
con’t. with Monday’s reading
Brannigan, ch. 7 pp. 242-253
M Oct 17 Buddhist ethics
W Oct 19 Buddhist ethics
F Oct 21 Buddhist ethics
Brannigan, ch. 8 pp. 254-272
Dalai Lama reading (e-reserves)
no new reading assignment
Brannigan, ch. 3 pp. 79-90
Theory exam #1 due
M Oct 24 NO CLASSES Reading Day
W Oct 26 Utilitarianism
F Oct 28 Utilitarianism
Brannigan, ch. 5 pp. 141-161
Brannigan, ch. 5 pp. 162-175
M Oct 31 Feminist Ethics
W Nov 2 Feminist Ethics
F Nov 4 Feminist Ethics
Brannigan, ch. 6 pp. 176-195
Brannigan, ch. 6 pp.
Ethics of Care reading (e-reserves)
M Nov 7 Hinman topic #1
W Nov 9 Hinman topic #1
F Nov 11 Hinman topic #2
Theory exam #2 due
During the final weeks of class, we will be using Hinman’s Contemporary
Moral Issues, 3rd edition. We will cover 7 of the 12 chapters, in an
accelerated format, as a means of revisiting and evaluating the various
theories put forth during the preceding weeks of class. As a class, you
M Nov 21 Writing workshop: the personal ethics statement * have the power to select topics that you would most like to discuss.
W Nov 23 Writing workshop: the personal ethics statement * Attached to this syllabus is a sheet on which I would like you to rank the
12 topics of the text in descending order, with 1 indicating the topic you
F Nov 25 NO CLASSES Thanksgiving Recess
most want to discuss. Please return these to me by class on September 16.
M Nov 28 Hinman topic #4
In addition to ranking the topics, please put an asterisk next to 2-3 topics
W Nov 30 Hinman topic #4
for which you’d be interested and willing to serve as a guide for the class.
F Dec 2 Hinman topic #5
Two to three students will work together and be responsible for guiding
two (2) class sessions – the first will be a group presentation in which the
M Dec 5 Hinman topic #5
strengths and weaknesses of the theories are revisited in addressing
W Dec 7 Hinman topic #6
different aspects of the issues. The second class session will be a debate
F Dec 9 Hinman topic #6
in which the previous day’s presenters will serve as discussion facilitators,
allowing the rest of the class to weigh-in on the issue. Each of these
M Dec 12 Hinman topic #7
sessions will end with some guided writing time.
W Dec 14 Hinman topic #7
M Nov 14 Hinman topic #2
W Nov 16 Hinman topic #3
F Nov 18 Hinman topic #3
* reading for Nov. 21-23: “Writing a personal ethics statement” (e-reserves) and “What would a satisfactory moral theory look like?” (e-reserves)
Personal Ethics statements are due Friday, December 16 by 3 p.m.