Stanfield, John T

English

University of Montana

University of Montana ScholarWorks at University of Montana Syllabi Course Syllabi Spring 2-1-2017 PHL 110E.02: Introduction to Ethics John T. Stanfield University of Montana, Missoula, john.stanfield@umontana.edu Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umt.edu/syllabi Let us know how access to this document benefits you. Recommended Citation Stanfield, John T., "PHL 110E.02: Introduction to Ethics" (2017). Syllabi. 4808. https://scholarworks.umt.edu/syllabi/4808 This Syllabus is brought to you for free and open access by the Course Syllabi at ScholarWorks at University of Montana. It has been accepted for inclusion in Syllabi by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at University of Montana. For more information, please contact scholarworks@mso.umt.edu. Introduction to Ethics Philosophy 110E-02, Spring 2017- John Stanfield   Class and Teacher Information: • Course Meeting: M/W/F 9:00-9:50 AM • Course Location: University Hall #210 • Instructor: John Stanfield • Office: LA 155 • Office Hours: Monday 10:10-11:10 AM, Wednesday 11:00 AM -12:00 PM or by Appt.  • John’s Email: john.stanfield@umontana.edu • Telephone: 814-880-5075  Teaching Assistant:  • Valan Anthos • Office: Mansfield Library, Main Floor Study Area • Office Hours: Friday, 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. • Valan’s Email: valan.anthos@umontana.edu   Course Description: Ethics is the attempt to answer some of the most fundamental questions of human existence: “What is the right thing to do? What does it mean to live a good life? How can we be enduringly happy?” In this class we will examine three of the most influential attempts to answer these questions in the western tradition by looking at the writings of Aristotle, Immanuel Kant, and J.S. Mill. We will critically examine the strengths and weaknesses of these philosophers, and see how they apply to concrete contemporary ethical questions in areas such as business, bio-medical fields, and environmental issues. The ultimate goal of this ethical investigation is to enable students to understand the ethical arguments underlying controversial dilemmas, and to examine, articulate, and defend their own ethical positions in their personal and professional lives.  Required Texts: • John Stuart Mill, Utilitarianism, (1979 Hackett Publishing), 63 pp.  • Immanuel Kant, Foundations of the Metaphysics of Morals, Translated by Lewis White Beck, Macmillan/ Library of Liberal Arts, 128 pp.  • Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, Translated by Martin Ostwald, (1962 Macmillan/Library of Liberal Arts), 316 pp.  • Additional required readings are designated by a *M and are available on the class Moodle site.  Requirements: There will be Eleven 20-minute Quizzes on Fridays. The first quiz will be on Friday, February 3rd. Each quiz will cover the prior 1-2 weeks of lecture and reading material and consist of: A. three questions that test your basic understanding of the course content and are to be answered with brief responses of approximately 30 words each B.  a quotation from the readings which you are to carefully read and then identify the philosophical point that is being made in the quotation. Your answer should again be about 30 words in length C. An essay question that asks for your thoughtful response of 150-200 words to an ethical issue.   The answers to the three questions in (A) will together be given a single letter grade. The answer to (B) will be graded either “P” (passing) or “U” (unsatisfactory). The answer to (C) will be graded “P”, “U”, or “E” (excellent). A “P” will raise the grade for part (A) by one step (e.g. B to B+); a “U” will lower it by one step (e.g. B to B-); an “E” will raise it by two steps (e.g. B to A-). The tests will be returned on the following Wednesday and you will be expected to pick them up on that day. Your lowest quiz grade will be dropped and not be counted toward your final grade.  Reading Reflections: Periodically, you will be asked to reflect in various ways on the assigned readings. These will be no more than a paragraph. These will be announced in class.  Paper: • A four (4) page paper on an ethical issue will be due on Friday, April 14th. • A detailed assignment for this paper will be passed out on Friday, March 17th.  Final Exam: Will be on Friday, May 12th 10:10-12:10. The final exam will include 9 course content questions drawn from previous weekly quizzes and 3 course content questions from the final two weeks of classes.  Class Grade: The weekly quizzes, final exam and attendance will be weighted as follows: (A) 10 weekly quizzes = 50% (B) paper = 20% (C) final exam = 20% (D) reading reflections = 10%. There will be no make-ups for missed quizzes or reading reflections without (1) a written excuse from your physician/health center; (2) documented official university business, or (3) real hardship.  Electronic Devices: You may use laptops, tablets, etc. to take notes and avoid the expense of printing moodle readings. You are not allowed to do anything else. Please, no Facebook or texting during class time. I will ask you to put your device away if it is distracting you.  Plagiarism: Plagiarism is representing another’s work as one’s own and is a serious violation of academic integrity. Please review the University’s plagiarism definition and policy in the catalog; “Students who plagiarize may fail the course and may be remanded to Academic Court for possible suspension or expulsion.” If you have any doubts about plagiarism and attribution of others’ work, please consult your Instructor. Please don't plagiarize in an ethics class.  Students with Disabilities: The University of Montana assures equal access to instruction through collaboration between students with disabilities, instructors, and Disability Services for Students [DSS]. If you think you may have a disability adversely affecting your academic performance, and you have not already registered with DSS, please contact DSS in Lommasson 154. (406) 243-2243.   Course Schedule and Readings: DATES ASSIGNMENTS DUE DATES Week 1  (January 23, 25, 27): 1. Introduction  2. *M Rachels, “The Challenge of Cultural Relativism”  Week 2  (January 30, Feb 1, 3): 1. *M Rachels, “Ethical Subjectivism”;  2. Mill: Chapter 1 &2  Week 3  (February 6, 8, 10): 1. Mill: Chapter 3, 4, 5  Week 4  (February 13, 15, 17): 1. *M Singer “Famine, Affluence, and Morality”;  2. *M Parfit, “Reasons and Persons” Chapter 16  Week 5  (February 20–Presidents' Day, 22, 24): Kant: pages 3-22  Week 6  (February 27, March 1, 3): Kant: pages 23-40  Week 7  (March 6, 8, 10): Kant: pages 41-63  Week 8  (March 13, 15, 17): Aristotle: Books I, II  Week 9  (March 20, 22, 24): SPRING BREAK  Week 10  (March 27, 29, 31): Aristotle: Books, III, IV  Week 11  (April 3, 5, 7): 1. Aristotle, Book V  2. *M Borgmann, “The Moral Character of Consumption”  Week 12  (April 10, 12, 14): 1. Business Ethics: *M Goodpaster “Business Ethics and Stakeholder Analysis” 2. *M Hussain “Corporations, Profit Maximization, and the Personal Sphere” Paper due Friday Week 13  (April 17, 19, 21): Bioethics: To Be Announced  Week 14  (April 24, 26, 28): 1. Environmental Ethics: *M “An Eco-Modernist Manifesto” 2. *M “The Dark Mountain Manifesto” 3. *M Aplet and Cole “The trouble with naturalness: Rethinking park and wilderness goals”  Week 15  (May 1, 3, 5): 1. Environmental Ethics:  2. *M Gardiner, “The Perfect Moral Storm” 3. *M Borgmann, “The Setting of the Scene”  Thursday May 12th Final Exam will be on Thursday, May 12th 10:00-12:00    

PHL 110E.02: Introduction to Ethics

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PHL 110E.02: Introduction to Ethics

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