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VALUES AND ETHICS SPRING 2002 “But so long as virtue is not rewarded here on earth, ethics will, I fancy, preach in vain.”-Sigmund Freud, Civilization and its Discontents"A study of ethics and values from a comparative and structural basis to include origin and base of formulation" (From the RSU Bulletin, 2000-01). The course is divided into three sections. In the first, we study several classic theories of ethics and morality, focusing on select works from Plato, Aristotle, Kant, and Mill. In the second, we look at some more recent treatments of ethics, focusing on such challenges as relativism and nihilism. In the third and longest section, we discuss the best arguments relating to significant contemporary ethical problems, including such issues as capital punishment, euthanasia, abortion, violence, and religious belief. Beginning Fall 2001.
All texts are available at the RSU Bookstore in Claremore
This course will emphasize discussion and writing. I will regularly suggest questions pertaining to the material we will be discussing in the following class. Students should come to class prepared to address these questions. Always bring to class the book we are discussing. There will be three three-page critical essays, an in-class midterm exam, a group presentation, and a final exam. Students will be assigned to a group by the professor during the second week of the semester. All essays must be typed and double-spaced, with margins of 1.25 inches. Unexcused late work will be penalized 10% per day. All essays are due at the beginning of the class period. In general, each essay is due the first class period after we finish discussing the work or philosopher in question (see below). Further details on the nature of these essays, as well as of the midterm and final exams, will be given in class. This may seem like a great deal of writing, particularly for an introductory course. The readings, while generally short, are often challenging. Understand, though, that philosophy is something that you as the student must engage in, an activity to be embraced rather than a list of facts to be digested. This requires a good deal of work on your part, but it is well worth it. STANDARDS OF ACHIEVEMENTEvery student’s final grade will be earned via
the following: Essays
30% (each essay=10%) Exams
30% (each exam=15%) Presentation
20% Participation 20% Course Schedule
UNIT I: A SHORT HISTORY OF
ETHICS?
Jan
15 T
Introduction Jan
17 Th
The Call of Ethics: Plato, Apology
(Defense of Socrates) (p. 16-33); Jan
22 T
Religion and Ethics: Plato, Euthyphro
(p. 5-16) Jan
24 Th
Plato, Republic, Books 1
& 7 (p. 44-65, 102-7) Jan 29 T
First Essay Due (Plato) Jan
31 Th
Aristotle, Nichomachean Ethics,
(p. 130-146) Feb 5 T
Augustine, Enchiridion... (p. 176-184)
Feb 7
Th
Aquinas [hand-out] Feb
12 T
Kant, Fundamental Principles...,
Section One (p. 290-6) Feb
14 Th
Kant, Fundamental Principles...,
Section Two (p. 296-304) Feb
19 T
Mill, Utilitarianism,
(selections)
Feb
21 Th
Mill, Utilitarianism,
(selections) UNIT II: PHILOSOPHICAL
CHALLENGES
Feb
26 T
No reading-- review three main
moralities
Feb
28 Th
Second Essay Due Mar 5 T Kierkegaard Mar
7 Th
Nietzsche, various works, (p. 399-407) Mar
12 T
Midterm Review Mar 14
Th
MIDTERM EXAM
Mar
18-22 NO CLASS—SPRING BREAK Mar
26 T
Rachels, The Challenge of
Cultural Relativism (p. 645-62) Film
and Discussion: Woody Allen’s Crimes
and Misdemeanors Mar
28 Th Crimes and Misdemeanors
(continued) Apr 2 T Camus, Sisyphus and Sartre, Existentialism is a Humanism (p. 434-450)
Third Essay Due UNIT III: MODERN MORAL PROBLEMS
Apr
4 Th How Not to Answer Moral
Questions [hand-out]; Drugs
Jimmy, Christina, Blake; Bobbi, Marshall, Jenn Apr
9 T Abortion (p. 739-81)
Cheryl, Mike, Tyson; Andrea, Bob, Lydia
Apr
11 Th Death Penalty (p. 840-59)
Heather, Luke, Lisa; Jenn, Greg, Josh H. Apr
16 T Go to Meyer Lecture in the Auditorium at 10:30 am Apr 18 Th Sex & Violence, Television & Movies
Katie, Marshall, J, Josh W.;
Sara, Christina, Mike, Stephanie Apr
23 T Euthanasia (p. 782-804)
Rebecca, Lydia, Bobbi; Bob,
Josh H., Shawnda Apr
25 Th Marriage and Divorce
Heather, Katie, Sara; Tyson,
Luke, Sean Apr
30 T Affirmative Action (p. 860-83)
Josh W., Jimmy, Greg;
Stephanie, Cheryl, Blake May
2 Th Cloning
Rebecca, Lisa, Andrea; Sean, J,
Shawnda May 6-10 FINAL EXAM Exact day and time to be announced.
For
the third critical essay, you will be an ethnographer, someone who
systematically records human cultures. I want you to study the particular
values and ethics of a sub-culture, a group of people of a particular type
who seem to share a certain perspective on life. To find such a sub-culture,
choose one of the following movies. Your assignment in the third essay is
two-fold: first, describe in detail the values, the ethic, the perspective
on life of the group in question; and second, evaluate those values (judge
their morality) from the perspective of one of our philosophers thus far
(Aristotle, Kant, Mill, or Nietzsche). All essays should be 3-4 full pages,
due at the beginning of class Tuesday, April 2nd. This will take
a good deal of time and effort, so do not leave it for the last minute. Godfather Platoon Saving
Private Ryan Fight
Club Point
Break Reservoir
Dogs Cruel
Intentions, Dangerous Liaisons Shawshank
Redemption Lord
of the Flies Outsiders Animal
House Sense
and Sensibility Clueless Kids
(?) Unforgiven A
Clockwork Orange American
Pie House
Party
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