ETHICAL DILEMMAS Phi 105 SPRING Term, 2017 Justin Amoroso, Instructor jamoroso@smccme.edu Course Description: Philosophy 105 surveys different schools of ethical thought. Sometimes they contradict each other. The aim is to lay them all out, so you can reach your own judgment about them through careful thinking. We ll examine one school of thought per week. And I ll assign you quizzes, journals, and discussion topics to help you grapple with them. Text: We ll use: Consider Ethics: Theory, Readings, and Contemporary Issues, Third Edition, by Bruce N. Waller. Waller lays out fourteen ethical perspectives in the first fourteen chapters of his book. In the last six, he raises practical ethical questions such as capital punishment, abortion, and homosexuality. We ll spend most of our time looking at the ethical perspectives. In fact, we ll spend one week on each chapter for the first thirteen weeks, and we ll consider some of the practical issues for the last three weeks. Course Objectives: The objective is three-fold: First, to step outside of any preexisting ethical beliefs you might have, and to try on others. Nietzsche once observed the more perspectives we can look at the world through, the closer we get to reality. Of course some perspectives ultimately might work better than others. That s our job to find out. Second, and it s related to the first: Rather than dismiss a perspective out of hand, to first understand it, then evaluate it critically. Third, to practice moral reasoning. This comes in very handy out in the real world. Evaluation & Grading: The structure of the class is pretty simple. Each Sunday I ll release content and assignments, and your assignments will be due the following Saturday. These are the assignments you ll be doing each week. It s just four things:
2 1. Read the text and lecture notes 2. Take a quiz on the reading 3. Post an original thought to the Discussion Board on a question I ll ask you. Include a thesis statement. Meaning, in one sentence answer the question and give one to three reasons why you think so. Your paragraph will then develop your reason(s). Also, you must reply to at least two of your classmates s posts. You won t be able to see their replies until you post an original thought. Oh, and speaking of replies, please make them in full sentences that shows thought. Saying Yeah, what he said won t count. 4. Write a response to a journal question that also includes a thesis statement, and that adds up to about a paragraph or two. Your final grade will be based on five factors: 1. Weekly Quizzes. (10%) This is that short quiz based on the text and lecture notes. When I say short, I mean between four to six questions, usually multiple choice. Word to the wise: the questions don t just cover the lecture notes but the reading, too. So, make sure to glance at the text. The purpose of these quizzes isn t to see who gets the highest grade by giving you trick questions. No way. The purpose is just to reinforce the readings. In fact, I ll give you three attempts to get 100%. The only catch is, you ve got to complete the quiz by that Saturday, otherwise you get a 0. 2. Philosophy Journal. (25%) This refers to the journal I mentioned above. I ll also assign you one question (or a few as short answers ) to answer in a journal. Once again, include a thesis statement in your responses. Make each entry at least one paragraph long, and no longer than two. By paragraph I mean five complete sentences. Make sure to spell-check it, too. I d suggest writing your entry out in your word processor first before posting it online. The purpose of the journal: writing helps us get us clearer on our ideas. 3. Discussion Board. (25%) I ll give you a question based on the text. Answer with, yet again, a thesis statement in one paragraph. I know I m repeating myself here, but you ll also be required to respond to at least two other students s posts, too. And yes, I d recommend writing your posts on your word processor before posting it online, as well. 4. Midterm. (20%) In week eight, you ll have a week to complete a midterm on chapters one through seven. 5. Final Exam. (20%) In the final week, you ll have a week to complete a final on chapters eight through seventeen, and chapter twenty.
3 Attendance. If I see you haven t been on BlackBoard for two weeks, you may be in danger of getting an AF. Here s a suggestion of how to avoid that from happening: Log onto Blackboard at least three times a week. For example, Sunday to get your assignments. Wednesday to post on the Discussion Board. Friday or Saturday to reply to your classmates, complete the reading quiz, and submit your journal entry. Budget at least three hours each week on this class. And you ll be golden. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to me. I m here to help. You can reach me through BlackBoard or through email, jamoroso@smccme.edu. I look forward to exploring these exciting ideas with you. Now let s have some fun!
4 Week 1 - Orientation and Logical Fallacies 1. Go through the Student Orientation (optional but highly suggested) 2. Review Syllabus 3. Read Chapter 1 and Lecture Notes 4. Take Reading Quiz Chapter 1 5. Post on Discussion Board: Logical Fallacies Week 2 - Ego and Relativism 1. Read Chapter 2 and Lecture Notes 2. Take Reading Quiz Chapter 2 3. Discussion Board: Prime Directive 4. Journal: Egoism Week 3 - Ethics, Emotions, and Intuitions 1. Read Chapter 3 and Lecture Notes 2. Take Reading Quiz Chapter 3 3. Discussion Board: Dukakis 4. Journal: Sentimentalism and Intuitionism Week 4 - Ethics and Reason 1. Read Chapter 4 and Lecture Notes 2. Take Reading Quiz Chapter 4 3. Discussion Board: Saving Private Ryan 4. Journal: Kant short answers Week 5 - Utilitarian Ethics 1. Read Chapter 5 and Lecture Notes 2. Take Reading Quiz Chapter 5 3. Discussion Board: Fail Safe 4. Journal: Chart comparing Utilitarianism and Kant Week 6 - Pluralism and Pragmatism 1. Read Chapter 6 and Lecture Notes 2. Take Reading Quiz Chapter 6 3. Discussion Board, Part 1: Brainstorm values pertaining to Pluralism 4. Discussion Board, Part 2 (no Journal): order the values
5 Week 7 - Social Contract Ethics 1. Read Chapter 7 and Lecture Notes 2. Take Reading Quiz Chapter 7 3. Discussion Board: The Constitution 4. Journal: Note-taking on Chapter 7 5. Start Preparing for Midterm on Chapters 1-7 next week Week 8 - Midterm and Virtue Ethics 1. Read Chapter 8 and Lecture Notes 2. Take Reading Quiz Chapter 8 3. Midterm (No Discussion Board, No Journal) NO CLASS - Monday 3/13 - Sunday 3/19 - SPRING BREAK Week 9 - Care Ethics 1. Read Chapter 9 and Lecture Notes 2. Take Reading Quiz Chapter 9 3. Discussion Board: Care Ethic vs. Feminine Ethic 4. Journal, Part 1 (Chapter 8): Doctor vs. CEO 5. Journal, Part 2 (Chapter 9): 4 short answers about Care Ethic Week 10 - Ethical Non-Objectivism 1. Read Chapter 10 and Lecture Notes 2. Take Reading Quiz Chapter 10 3. Discussion Board: Criminal Court 4. Journal: Ockham s Razor and Non-Objectivist Ethics Week 11 - Moral Realism and The Scope of Morality 1. Read Chapter 11 and Lecture Notes 2. Read Chapter 12 and Lecture Notes 3. Take Reading Quiz Chapter 11 4. Take Reading Quiz Chapter 12 5. Discussion Board: Female Genital Mutilation 6. Journal, Part 1 (Chapter 11): 4 short answers on Chapter 11 7. Journal, Part 2 (Chapter 12): Compare two views on Moral Agency Week 12 - Free Will and Determinism 1. Read Chapter 13 and Lecture Notes 2. Take Reading Quiz Chapter 13 3. Discussion Board: Religion and Women 4. Journal: 4 Short answers on Free Will and Determinism
6 Week 13 - Freedom, Moral Responsibility, and Ethics 1. Read Chapter 14 and Lecture Notes 2. Take Reading Quiz Chapter 14 3. Discussion Board: Mother Teresa and Gandhi 4. Journal: Note-taking on Chapter 14 Week 14 - The Death Penalty 1. Read Chapter 15 and Lecture Notes 2. Take Reading Quiz Chapter 15 3. Discussion Board: Death Penalty (No Journal) Week 15 - Abortion and Police Deceit 1. Read Chapter 16 and Lecture Notes 2. Read Chapter 17 and Lecture Notes 3. Take Reading Quiz Chapter 16 4. Take Reading Quiz Chapter 17 (No Discussion Board) 5. Journal, Part 1 (Chapter 16): 4 Short answers on Abortion 6. Journal, Part 2 (Chapter 17): False Confessions Week 16 - Terrorism and The Final Exam 1. Read Chapter 20 and Lecture Notes 2. Take Reading Quiz Chapter 20 3. Final Exam (No Discussion Board, No Journal) ADA Syllabus Statement: Southern Maine Community College is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution and employer. For more information, please call 207-741-5798 If you have a disabling condition and wish to request accommodations in order to have reasonable access to the programs and services offered by SMCC, you must register with the disability services coordinator, Mark Krogman, who can be reached at 741-5629 (TTD 207-741-5667). Further information about services for students with disabilities and the accommodation process is available upon request at this number.