Philosophy 112: Moral Issues
Western Washington University, Winter 2015
MWF 2:00-2:50pm or 3:00-3:50pm
Bond Hall 106
Professor
Office
Email
Phone
Neal Tognazzini
Bond Hall 310, WR 10-11am or by appt.
neal.tognazzini@wwu.edu
360.650.3863
Required Text
Contemporary Debates in Applied Ethics, 2nd edition, ed. Cohen & Wellman, Wiley, 2014.
(A custom version of this book, which is shorter and cheaper, is in the WWU bookstore.)
Course Description
The subject matter of philosophy is vast and varied. Accordingly, there are three different
intro to philosophy courses here at Western, each covering a different set of topics: Phil
113 focuses on the nature and existence of God; Phil 114 focuses on questions about who
we are and what sort of world we live in; and here in Phil 112 we will try to think through
some of the complexities involved in various contemporary ethical problems.
Through our readings and through class discussion, we’ll attempt to clarify what’s at stake
in these debates, and to examine considerations both for and against, with the goal of
understanding the nature of the disagreement, which is the first step toward arriving at an
informed and reflective ethical viewpoint. Our custom textbook includes readings on
abortion, animal rights, capital punishment, same-sex marriage, immigration, and famine
relief, but we’ll take our time with each and so might not manage to cover them all.
Course Goals
We’ll be reading and discussing what other people have said about these ethical problems,
but the primary goal of this course is not to learn who said what. Rather, the primary goal
is to use these readings as the basis for reflection and discussion, both written and verbal.
You will be expected to read critically, think carefully, listen honestly, respectfully share
your views, and demonstrate your understanding through analytical writing. These are
skills that can be honed by practice, and the goal of this course (indeed, any philosophy
course) is to give you lots of this sort of practice.
This is also a GUR course, and in the philosophy department GUR courses are meant to
help students learn how to: (1) identify and analyze complex problems, and (2) understand
and evaluate assumptions, values, and beliefs in the context of diverse local, national, and
global communities.
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Course Requirements
30%
Midterm Exam
This will be an in-class, closed-note, short-essay, blue-book exam covering the
material from the start of class until the day of the midterm. Before the exam I will
distribute a list of several possible exam questions, from which I will select two for
you to answer on the day of the exam. Each question will be worth 15 points.
40%
Final Exam
This will be a closed-note, short-essay, blue-book exam covering the material from
the first day after the midterm until the last day of class. The exam will take place in
our usual classroom during your scheduled final exam period. It will be the same
format and length as the midterm, with slightly more complex questions. Each
question will be worth 20 points.
10%
Op-Ed Writing Assignment
This assignment has two parts: (1) Find an op-ed in a reputable newspaper or
magazine (print or digital) that contains an argument for a particular position on a
contemporary moral issue with which you disagree (doesn’t have to be one we cover
in class), and (2) Write a one-page, single-spaced response to the op-ed, in which
you (a) reconstruct the argument in standard form, (b) explain why the author thinks
(or why someone might think) that the premises are plausible, and then (c) explain
why you think that the argument is unsound. Hard copies of both the op-ed and your
response are due no later than March 13th at the start of class.
10%
BLPR Lecture Attendance
On Feb. 26 and Feb. 27, Professor Christian Miller (Wake Forest University) will
give two evening lectures (4:15pm-5:45pm) on the topics of moral character and
cultivating moral virtue. In exchange for cancelling this class on Feb. 25 and Feb. 27,
you will be required to attend both lectures (each lecture counts as 5% of your grade).
In order to get credit: when you arrive at the lecture, find me and pick up a colored
index card. Write your name on it, then write a 2-sentence summary of the lecture
once it’s over, and hand it back to me no later than Monday March 2. If you cannot
attend the lectures due to a documented scheduling conflict, see me ASAP.
10%
Participation
At the beginning of the quarter you will receive a pink card and a green card. Write
your name on the cards, and bring them to class every day. The first time you want to
make a substantive contribution to class discussion, raise the pink card. If I call on
you, I’ll take your card. The second time you want to make a contribution, raise the
green card. Again, if I call on you, I’ll take your card. If you want to make a
contribution but you are out of cards, simply raise your hand. Pink cards have priority
over green cards, and green cards have priority over hands. (Caveat: raising one finger
means ‘I have a brief question of clarification’, and that will always take priority.) In
order to receive your participation points, you must use both of your cards by the last
day of class on March 13th. (But please participate more than twice.)
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Other Policies & Information
Makeups.
No make-up exams will be given, except in case of documented illness or
emergency. Even then, makeups will be need to be arranged in consultation
with the WWU testing center (http://www.wwu.edu/assess/makeup.shtml),
which charges $15 per makeup exam. Note, however, that if you have a
documented disAbility, you may receive testing services through the disAbility
Resource Office (http://www.wwu.edu/drs/).
Missed Classes.
Note that attendance is not an official part of your grade. This means that you
do not need to email me if you will be missing class. However, if you do miss
class, it is your responsibility to get notes from one of your colleagues. It is not
possible for me to meet with you to “go over what you missed”, though of
course once you do get notes, you are welcome to come chat with me about any
residual questions you have.
Email.
Email is the most efficient way to contact me (either directly or via the Canvas
interface). It is an appropriate venue for brief questions and comments; it is not
an appropriate venue for asking about missed classes or for detailed discussions
about your grade. Note that your emails should always have my name at the
top and your name at the bottom, as if you were writing me a letter.
Canvas.
There is a Canvas page (http://canvas.wwu.edu) for our course where you can
access this syllabus, and your grades throughout the quarter.
Honesty.
Academic integrity is demanded, and academic dishonesty at Western
Washington University is a serious infraction dealt with severely. Although
instructors should make every effort to ensure that students are aware of the
policies for academic dishonesty, it is the responsibility of students to read,
understand, and uphold the standards of academic honesty. See Appendix D of
the catalog: http://catalog.wwu.edu/content.php?catoid=5&navoid=463.
Grades.
92.5-100
90-92.4
87.5-89.9
82.5-87.4
80-82.4
77.5-79.9
72.5-77.4
70-72.4
67.5-69.9
62.5-67.4
60-62.4
0-59.9
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
CD+
D
DF
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Tentative Schedule
1.7
1.9
Intro
Arguments
1.12
1.14
1.16
Ch. 2
Ch. 2
Ch. 3
1.19
1.21
1.23
MLK Jr. Day, No Class
Ch. 3
Ch. 4
1.26
1.28
1.30
Ch. 4
Ch. 5
Exam Prep
2.2
2.4
2.6
Ch. 5
Review
Midterm
2.9
2.11
2.13
Ch. 6
Ch. 6/7
Ch. 7
2.16
2.18
2.20
Presidents’ Day, No Class
Ch. 10
Ch. 10/11
2.23
2.25
2.27
Ch. 11
No Class – See Below
No Class – See Below
3.2
3.4
3.6
Ch. 12
Ch. 12/13
Ch. 13
3.9
3.11
3.13
Spillover
Spillover
Review
Op-Ed Assignments Due
3.17
Final Exam for 2pm section
3:30pm-5:30pm
3.18
Final Exam for 3pm section
3:30pm-5:30pm
Note: In lieu of class on February 25 and 27, you are required to attend two lectures by
Professor Christian Miller (Wake Forest University) on ethics and moral character, given
on Feb. 26 and Feb. 27, from 4:15pm-5:45pm. He is giving these lectures as part of the
Bellingham Lectures in Philosophy of Religion (http://www.wwu.edu/blpr/). See course
requirements above for information about how to earn credit for attending these lectures.
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