Sample Syllabus: Contemporary Moral Issues

Sample Syllabus: Contemporary Moral Issues 1. Method & Course Description -----------------------------To be in a position to determine the moral status of specific actions or persons, one must understand ethical theories: general explanations of why, and guidelines for, what sorts of actions are morally permissible, morally required or morally impermissible. Is an action morally required because the outcome of that action is the greatest good for the greatest number? Or is an action morally permissible because it has a certain form common to all morally tolerable actions? Should we, on the other hand, use as our model for morally permissible actions the behavior of those we take to be paragons of virtue? Only after we have understood the fundamental ethical theories can we begin to approach the contemporary moral issues which might be decided as consequences of these theories. Even though the issues of pressing importance often rouse the passions of proponents of particular views (and the critics of those views), thought and discussion are most productive when passions and excitements have cooled. We can keep clear and cool heads in matters of contemporary issues by letting the ancient philosophical method of dialectic and argument set the parameters for our investigation. When someone holds a particular view they take to be the correct one (perhaps in terms of a specific issue of morality) and that person wishes to convince someone else of the correctness of that view, the best method is not an appeal to emotion, but rather an appeal to reason. An argument (philosophically speaking) is the clear and concise presentation of one of more starting points (or premises) from which, by the process of sound and careful reasoning, one can come to a conclusion. The process of reasoning represented by an argument should be such that if the premises from which one logically infers the conclusion are good ones, a rational person will accept that conclusion. We test the strengths of premises and arguments by engaging in dialectic or Socratic dialogue – the process of careful, dispassionate examination of premises and the steps by which we reason to a conclusion. Dialectic is most productive when the participants take each other seriously, listen to one another carefully, think carefully about what is being said, think carefully before speaking in response, try to criticize constructively every aspect of any position that is put forward, yet refrain from personal attacks or criticism of a person rather than a position. We shall engage in dialogues of this sort in this class. 2. Instructor Information ------------------------Dr. Jesse Butler <dept. info> Appointments: Please set up an appointment if you're confused about something, need help getting started on an assignment or would like to receive feedback for what you've written.

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Sample Syllabus: Contemporary Moral Issues

3. Course Information --------------------A. Meeting Places & Times ------------------------<MTWRF>



B. Texts -------Required -------Daniel Bonevac Today’s Moral Issues: Classic and Contemporary Perspectives (TMI) Farhad Manjoo True Enough: Learning to Live in a Post-Fact Society (TE) [These books are on reserve at the library -- visit the circulation desk.] Recommended ----------Edward C. Banfield The Moral Basis of a Backward Society (MBBS) Bill McKibben Deep Economy: The Wealth of Communities and the Durable Future (DE) Walter Benn Michaels The Trouble With Diversity (TD) [These books are on reserve at the library -- visit the circulation desk.] C. Grades --------Grades are assigned based on the number and length of written assignments successfully completed, performance on five surprise quizzes during the semester and class attendance. Letter grades are assigned based on the number of “points” a student earns during the semester. i. Written Work --------------To receive credit for a written assignment a student must respond to a specific prompt <more info>, and the response must (a) be written in clear, cohesive and grammatical English. (b) address, in a straightforward way, the issue raised by the prompt. (c) contain a bare minimum of quoted material (* AT MOST 10% * of the total number of words of the assignment can be quotation).

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Sample Syllabus: Contemporary Moral Issues

(d) be original work (not plagiarized). (e) <submission particulars stub> If a submitted assignment fails to satisfy all of (a)-(e) then no credit will be given for that assignment. The submission will be marked ‘0’. ii. Points ---------a. Points are awarded for each satisfactorily completed written assignment (hereafter 'response') according to the following scheme: If the response is + + + + + + + + + + +

less than 100 words, zero (0) points are awarded. between 100 words and 199 words, 1 point is awarded. between 200 words and 299 words, 2 points are awarded. between 300 words and 399 words, 3 points are awarded. between 400 words and 499 words, 4 points are awarded. between 500 words and 599 words, 5 points are awarded. between 600 words and 699 words, 6 points are awarded. between 700 words and 799 words, 7 points are awarded. between 800 words and 899 words, 8 points are awarded. between 900 words and 999 words, 9 points are awarded. greater than 1000 words, 10 points are awarded.

b. Points and attendance & punctuality. + For each period a student attends, 1 point is awarded. + For each period for which a student is late, no points are awarded or subtracted. + For each period during which a student is absent, 1 point is subtracted. c. Points and the five surprise quizzes. + For each of the quizzes successfully completed, one 1 point is awarded. iii. Final Grade Calculation ---------------------------Points are then tallied and letter grades are assigned based on the number of total points in accord with the following table: 90+ 85 80 75 70 60 Less

Points........A 89 Points........B+ 84 Points........B 79 Points........C+ 74 Points........C 69 Points........D that 60 Points...E

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Sample Syllabus: Contemporary Moral Issues

D. Determining Grades --------------------Navigate to "My Grades" on E-Learning for your scores. Grades will be updated every Friday. A submission which is plagiarized will be scored -1.* An instance of a submission which doesn't otherwise meet criteria 3.c.i.(a)-(e) will be scored 0. If you notice that you've received a -1 or 0 on an assignment, and you wish to challenge this evaluation, it's your responsibility to set up a meeting with me and present your case. Examples of a Grade calculation -----------------------------(1) Andrew Sample attends 33 (out of a total of 45) periods of class meetings, is never late when he shows up, completes three (out of a total of five) surprise quizzes, completes 9 assignments (each of which meets criteria 3.c.i.(1)-(4) above) of the following lengths: 555 words, 401 words, 1001 words, 1003 words, 400 words, 612 words, 478 words, 1120 words and 1098 words, and turns in one assignment of length 1556 words which is copied straight from en.wikipedia.org - a 75% match according to turnitin. Ouch! Andrew Sample's final grade is: 33 points -12 points +3 points +5 points +4 points +10 points +10 points +4 points +6 points +4 points +10 points +10 points +0 points ---87 Points

(for (for (for (for (for (for (for (for (for (for (for (for (for

attendances) absences) surprise quizzes) satisfactory assignment of 555 words) satisfactory assignment of 401 words) satisfactory assignment of 1001 words) satisfactory assignment of 1003 words) satisfactory assignment of 400 words) satisfactory assignment of 612 words) satisfactory assignment of 478 words) satisfactory assignment of 1120 words) satisfactory assignment of 1098 words) an unsatisfactory assignment)

= B+.**

(2) Ferit Ontime attends all 45 class periods, is never late, successfully completes all five surprise quizzes and completes just four assignments (each of which meets criteria 3.c.i.(1)-(4) above) of the following lengths: 1001 words, 1023 words, 1011 words and 1200 words. Ferit's final grades is: 45 points +5 points +10 points +10 points +10 points +10 points ---90 points

(for (for (for (for (for (for

attendance surprise quizzes) satisfactory assignment satisfactory assignment satisfactory assignment satisfactory assignment

= A

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of of of of

1001 1023 1011 1200

words) words) words) words)

Sample Syllabus: Contemporary Moral Issues

E. Feedback and Comments on Written Work ---------------------------------------If you'd like to discuss what you've written, please set up an appointment to talk about your work. This feedback is especially helpful for philosophy majors or students considering majoring in philosophy. F. Classroom Conduct -------------------(1) We'll engage in discussion for much of our class time. In order to have a productive discussion, only one person may speak at a time. (2) Please be on time to class. (3) Please silence your cell phones before class. If your phone rings, don't answer it. (4) Anyone disrupting will be asked to leave. G. E-Learning Message Policy ------------------------Only e-Learning messages that are concise and relevant will receive a response. Don't expect an immediate answer. H. Academic Assistance ------------------Free tutoring is available on campus. Individual instruction to help improve reading and writing skills is available from the Reading and Writing Center. I. Special Needs ------------Students requesting special accommodations must first register with the Dean of Students Office. J. Tentative Schedule --------------------(Week 1)

Subject Relativism, Cultural Relativism (TMI pp. 1-14) M: TMI pp. 1-14 W: TE: pp. 1-26 F: TE: pp. 27-58

(Week 2)

(Bonevac’s introduction) (chapter 1) (chapter 2)

Relativism Continued M: TE: pp. 59-96 (chapter 3) W: TE: pp. 97-142 (chapter 4) F: TE: pp. 143-182 (chapter 5)

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Sample Syllabus: Contemporary Moral Issues

(Week 3)

Relativism Continued M: TE: pp. 183-220 (chapter 6) W: TE: pp. 221-242 (epilogue) F: The Thuggees (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thuggees)

(Week 4)

Theory: Consequentialism / Utilitarianism (TMI pp. 38-45) M: TMI: pp. 38-45 (J.S. Mill from Utilitarianism) W: TMI: pp. 77-84 (Peter Singer from Animal Liberation) F: TMI: pp. 100-118 (sundry readings on environment)

(Week 5)

Consequentialism / Utilitarianism continued M: “The Oil We Eat” from Harper’s Feb. 2004 (on e-reserve) W: TMI: 119-128 (more on environment) F: TBA

(Week 6) Consequentialism / Utilitarianism continued M: TBA: Freedom & Liberty & the difference W: TBA: Rights F: TBA: Drug Use & Sexual Practices (Week 7)

Theory: Deontology M: Explication W: Difference between Deontology & Consequentialism F: Theory and Intentions – Do they matter?

(Week 8)

Deontology Continues M: The Philanthropic Misanthrope example W: Modifications to Deontology from a Conseq. perspec. F: Deontology and a Current Moral Issue

(Week 9)

Theory: Virtue Ethics M: Explication W: Differences in V.E., Consequentialism And Deontology F: Virtue Ethics and some current moral issues

(Week 10) Virtue Ethics Continued M: What distinguishes Virtue Theory? W: Virtue Ethics and some current political issues F: TBA (Week 11) Divine Command Theory M: Explication W: Problems; the Euthyphro Objection F: Divine Command Theory and current moral issues (Week 12) A Current Moral Issue: The Power of Corporations M: The Corporation (film)

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Sample Syllabus: Contemporary Moral Issues W: The Corporation cont’d F: Discussion (Week 13) A Current Moral Issue: The Role of Gov’t in our lives M: TD selection W: TD selection F: Discussion of TD (Week 14) A Current Moral Issue: Globalization and the Local Economy M: DE selection W: DE selection F: Discussion of DE (Week 15) (Class chooses a contemporary moral issue to discuss) M: TBA W: TBA F: TBA --------------------------* Assignments will be submitted to e-Learning but will be evaluated with turnitin software which rates the originality of the work by comparing it with Internet sources, databases of student papers and assignments submitted by members of the this class. A turnitin "score" that indicates a too high degree of similarity of will not count as successful. In assignment of such short length, there is no need for any sort of quotation. ** Andrew also has to live with the eternal shame and disgrace of trying to pass off wikipedia's work as his own. His GPA might recover, but he'll never forget what he tried to do...

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