Objectives: to develop skill in reasoning and to consider some contemporary moral problems. A crucial skill will be the ability to evaluate arguments and positions (such that criticism is not taken as a personal attack!). Subsidiary goals are to present material well, think on your feet, and the willingness to critically evaluate your own positions on moral issues and those of others.

Texts:
James R. Rachels, The Elements of Moral Philosophy (EMP)
Julie McDonald, Contemporary Moral Issues In a Diverse Society (CIDS)
Anthony Weston, A Practical Companion to Ethics (PCE)
Andrea Lunsford, The Everyday Writer (EW) (you should already own this)
*copies on reserve
e: emailed items

Requirements:
Midterm 20%
Class participation 20%
Papers & reports 30%
Final 30% (Dec. 18, 7-10pm)

Attendence: Expected! Both you and other class members will benefit from attendence as our time will be taken up with critical discussion of readings and issues; ethics is something you learn to do, not just something you learn about. More than 2 unexcused absences will begin to impinge on your grade.

Grading: Emphasis is on understanding issues and quality of argumentation. It is expected that assignments will be ready and handed in on time. The final is comprehensive. Unless you have an extraordinarily good reason, points will be deducted for late work.

Tentative Plan of Course:
8/30    Introduction
09/ 4          Doing Ethics EMP, 1; PCE, 1,2;
09/ 6          Disagreement in ethics EMP, 2-3; PCE, 3,4
09/11         Multiple Perspectives CIDS, 4-29
09/13         CIDS, 29-51
09/18         Reason & argument EW, 62-88; Weis & Pace; PCE, 5
09/20         Religion & ethics EMP 4
09/25         Egoism EMP 5,6
09/27         Utilitarianism EMP, chap. 7,8; *Donner
10/ 2          Kant EMP, chap. 9,10
10/ 4          Contractarianism EMP, chap. 11, *Held
10/ 9          Oct. Break
10/11         Kant; begin contractarianism EMP, 11
10/16         Contractarianism *Held
10/18         Contractarianism; review for exam
10/23         Exam
10/25         Animals *Kant, *Singer, *Walker,
10/30         Vegetarianism debate *Adams,*Narveson, *Pace/Weis, e:slaughterhouses
11/ 1          Contraception *Pope Paul, *Cohen
11/ 6          No class
11/ 8          Bodily control and feminism EMP, 12, *Purdy
11/13         Euthanasia/PAS debate CIDS ch. Intro.,12-14; 16
11/15         Euthanasia/PAS
11/20         Abortion debate CIDS, ch. Intro, 7-10; 11
11/22         Thanksgiving
11/27         Abortion
11/29         Terrorism/War debate e:Falk, e:Responses, e:Ryan, e:Eqbal Ahmed
12/ 4          T/W discussion e:Defending Civilization
12/ 6          FGM/Intersex Surgery *Accad, e:Dreger FGM & ISNA websites
12/11         Cloning websites; e-mailed articles

I=ll divide the class into groups to work on presenting the issues, and you=ll do a short (c. 5-8pp) paper on your topic (due the week after the discussion). Debates:

I’m using the word "debate" for lack of another—what I really mean is a thorough mutual exploration of the topic. Not envisioned is the kind of "win-at-all-costs" approach that rewards rhetoric at the expense of thoughtful examination.
 
 
 
 

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