INTRODUCTION TO ETHICS: MORAL PROBLEMS

PHI 2600 SPRING 2017
Instructor: Dr. Elizabeth Scarbrough
Email: escarbro@fiu.edu

 

Course Description:

            This class is a brief introduction to moral theory and applied ethics. We will pair historical readings with contemporary insights into those reading. The first part of the course will focus on three big moral theories: Utilitarianism, Kantianism, and Virtue Ethics. These theories present accounts of what makes an action right or wrong, what makes a person virtuous or vicious, and what role an ethical theory should play in a good life. Some of the applied ethical topics discussed will include: whether we have an obligation to follow the law, our obligations to global famine relief, abortion, animal rights, and pornography.

Important info at a glance:

Required Text:

Cahn, Steven M., ed. Exploring Ethics: An Introductory Anthology, 4th Ed (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2017). (Online resources including flashcards and practice quizzes can be found here.)

Assignments:
Attendance and Participation:15%

Writing Assignments: 50% (Practice paper 15%, Project plan 15%, Final paper 20%)

Quizzes: 15% (6 scheduled quizzes, 2 pop quizzes)

Final Exam: 15% (cumulative, during finals week)

Draft Revisions: 5% (in-class: Feb 28th, April 18th)

 


Tentative Lesson Plan

Date / Topic Assignment Due
Tues, Jan 10

 

Introduction

No assignment: personal introductions and syllabus overview
Thurs, Jan 12

 

Introduction

Tom Regan, “How Not To Answer Moral Questions” (Cahn)
Tues, Jan 17

Obligation to Follow the Law?

William Frankena, “Morality and Moral Philosophy” (Cahn)

Plato, Crito (Cahn)

*Practice quiz

Thurs, Jan 19

 

Obligation to Follow the Law?

Martin Luther King, Jr. “Letter from Birmingham Jail” (Cahn)
Tues, Jan 24

 

Obligation to Follow the Law?

Stokely Carmichael / Kwame Ture, “Black Power”

(listen to some of it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFFWTsUqEaY)

 

We will watch some of his other speeches in class

Thurs, Jan 27*

 

Cultural Relativism

James Rachels, “The Challenge of Cultural Relativism” (Cahn)

 

*First quiz

 

Tues, Jan 31

 

Utilitarianism

 

John Stuart Mill, “Utilitarianism” (Cahn)

Thurs, Feb 2

 

Utilitarianism

Louis P. Pojman “Strengths and Weaknesses of Utilitarianism” (Cahn)
Tues, Feb 7*

 

Utilitarianism – Applied

Peter Singer, “Famine, Affluence, and Morality” (Cahn)

 

*Second quiz

Thurs, Feb 9

 

Deontology

Immanuel Kant, “The Categorical Imperative” (Cahn)
Tues ,Feb 14

 

Deontology Nature

Onora O’Neill “A Simplified Account of Kant’s Ethics” (Cahn)
Thurs, Feb 16*

 

Deontology – Applied

 Onora O’Neill “Kantian Approaches to Some Famine Problems” (PDF)

 

*Third quiz

Tues, Feb 21

 

Papers/

Aristotle

 Working on Papers / Aristotle
Thurs, Feb 23

 

Aristotle

 

Aristotle, “The Nature of Virtue” (Cahn)

Julia Driver, “Virtue Ethics (Cahn)

 

Tues, Feb 28*

 

PRACTICE PAPER DUE

 

PAPERS DUE ON “TURN-IT-IN” and IN CLASS.

YOU MUST BRING A COPY TO CLASS FOR OUR DRAFT REVIEW

Thurs, March 2

 

Abortion

 

Rosalind Hursthouse, “Virtue Theory and Abortion” (Cahn)

Tues, March 7

 

Abortion

 

Don Marquis, “Why Abortion is Immoral” (Cahn)

Thurs, March 9*

 

Abortion

 

Judith Jarvis Thomson, “A Defense of Abortion” (Cahn)

 

*Fourth quiz

Date Assignment Due
Tues, March 14

 

 

SPRING BREAK: NO CLASS

Thurs, March 16

 

SPRING BREAK: NO CLASS
Tues, March 21*

Animal Rights

 

David Foster Wallace, “Consider The Lobster” (PDF)

 

 

Thurs, March 23

 

Animal Rights

 Peter Singer, “On Animals” (PDF)
Tues ,March 28

Animal Rights

Tom Regan, “The Case for Animal Rights” (Cahn)
Thurs, March 30*

 

Animal Rights


Animal Rights catch up.

*Fifth quiz (on the past two animal rights articles)

Tues, April 4

 

Pornography

 

Helen E. Longino, “Pornography, Oppression, and Freedom” (Cahn)

*Project plan due

Thurs, April 6

 

Pornography

 

Joel Feinberg, “The Case Against Pornography” (Cahn)

 

Tues, April 11

 

Pornography

 

Nicholas Power, “Cheap Thrills: A Call for More Pornography” (PDF)

Thurs, April 13*
ESSAY DRAFT
Nancy Bauer “Pornutopia” PDF

*Sixth quiz

Tues, April 18

Pornography

 BRING ESSAYS DRAFTS TO CLASS FOR PRACTICE

 

Thurs, April 20

 

Final Day

 

Susan Wolf, “Moral Saints” (Cahn)

Monday, April 24 FINAL PAPERS DUE @ 6:00 pm
FINAL EXAM U13: Tuesday 4/25: 12-2pm Graham Center 287A

U11: Tuesday 4/25: 2:15-4:15 DM 193

U12: Thursday 4/27: 9:45-11:45 Graham Center 278B

[2] Documented illnesses/emergencies do not include car trouble, work schedules, or family trips/vacations.