Instructor: Email: Introduction to Ethics Auburn University Department of Philosophy PHIL 1020 Fall Quarter, 2014 Syllabus Version 1.9. The schedule of readings is subject to revisions. Students are responsible for checking for updates on Canvas. Silver Bronzo szb0087@auburn.edu. The instructor will reply to emails within 24 hours. Substantial questions about the material should be asked in person during office hours. In other words, no philosophy via email. Office: HC 6002 Phone: 334-844-3725 Class meets: Section 1: MWF, 8.00-8:50, HC 3353 Section 2: MWF, 9.00-9:50, HC 2352 Section 3: MWF, 11:00-11:50, HC 2442 Section 4 MWF, 12.00-12:50, HC 1435 Office hours: M/W 1:30-3.00, or by appointment Course description How should we live? Why should we live a just and virtuous life, rather than pursuing our own interests with no consideration for other people? What is the relationship between morality, happiness, and pleasure? How do we determine what is the morally right thing to do? These are some of questions that we will address in this course through the study of some of the most important works of the Western philosophical tradition. We will begin with the opening of Plato s Republic, which raises a fundamental challenge to the very institution of morality: Why be just rather than unjust if one can be unjust and get away with it? We will study next three works that are the source of the most influential paradigms in contemporary moral philosophy: 1) Aristotle s Nicomachean Ethics, which is the main point of reference for virtue ethics ; 2) John Stuart Mill s Utilitarianism, which is the main point of reference for utilitarian ethics ; and 3) Immanuel Kant s Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Moral, which is the main point of reference for Kantian ethics. Aristotle construes morality as part of human flourishing and puts at the center of his ethical system the concepts of virtue and character. Mill bases his ethical system on the idea that the good that we should pursue is the greatest happiness of the greatest number of people. Kant, finally, seeks to ground morality on rationality and emphasizes the concept of duty, the role of moral principles, the importance of the agent s motivations, and the connection between morality and freedom. We will focus especially on the manner in which each of these works addresses the fundamental question raised by Plato. 1
Course objectives 1) Acquire the capacity to read and actively engage with different genres of philosophical texts, including the dialogue, the treatise, and the short essay. 2) Acquire the capacity to recognize a philosophical argument, reconstruct its structure, and identify what would count as an objection to it. 3) Acquire some familiarity with the moral theories of Aristotle, Mill, and Kant. Texts 1) Plato, Republic. Translated by C. D. C. Reeve. 3rd edition. Indianapolis: Hackett, 2004. 2) Aristotle, The Nicomachean Ethics. Oxford World s Classics. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2009. 3) J. S. Mill. Utilitarianism and On Liberty. 2nd edition. Edited by M. Warnock. Oxford: Blackwell, 2003. 4) I. Kant, Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals. Revised edition. Edited by M. Gregor and J. Timmermann. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2012. These texts are available at the University Bookstore. There will be additional Supplementary Readings, both required and recommended, which will be made available on Canvas. Canvas This course has a canvas website. The website will be used for posting readings, short assignments, study questions, readings suggestions, slides or handouts of past lectures, updated versions of the syllabus, etc. Students are required to check the Canvas website and email on a daily basis. Requirements and grade distribution Requirements Percentage of final grade 1) At least 6 unannounced quizzes. The 3 25% quizzes with the lowest grades will be dropped. 2) First midterm (take-home exam) 25% 3) Second midterm (take-home exam) 25% 4) Final exam (in-class exam on a selection of 25% short essay questions disclosed in advance) 5) Attendance is mandatory. --- 6) Preparation. Before each meeting of the --- class, students must carefully study the readings that have been assigned for that meeting. Student must bring the assigned readings to class. Satisfaction of all requirements is necessary for passing the course. 2
Dropping the class In accordance with Auburn University policies, students may withdraw without grade penalty until the 15th class day, and until Mid-Semester (although a W will appear on the student s transcript if the student withdraws between the 16th and the 36th class day). Students who withdraw from the course between the 6th class day and the 15th class day will pay a course drop fee of $100. Excused absences In accordance with Auburn University policies, students will be granted excused absences from class for the following reasons: a) Illness of the student or serious illness of the student s immediate family. b) The death of a member of the student s immediate family. c) Trips for members of the student organizations sponsored by an academic unit, trips for university classes, and trips for participation in intercollegiate athletic events. d) Religious holidays. e) Subpoena for court appearance. f) Students who wish to have an excused absence from this class for any other reason must contact the instructor. The instructor will weigh the merits of the request and render a decision. When feasible, the student must notify the instructor prior to the occurrence of any excused absence, but in no case shall such notification occur more than one week after the absence. Appropriate documentation for all excused absences is required. Acceptable excuses for late submissions Students may be granted to submit assignments after the relevant deadlines with no penalty (see below for details). However, late submissions will be granted only for reasons (a)-(e) listed above, or for reasons that will be evaluated by the instructor. Appropriate documentation is required. Policy on extensions and make-up exams 1) Unannounced quizzes and short assignments. When you miss a quiz, you get an F on that quiz. Your three lowest grades on the quizzes will be dropped. (This means you can miss up to 3 quizzes without penalty. On the other hand, it is in your interest to take as many quizzes as possible, because this gives you more opportunities to improve your overall grade.) If you have admissible excuses for more than 3 missed quizzes, you can take some make-up quizzes during 16 th week (December 1-5). More precisely, for n excused missed quizzes, you can take (n 3) make-up quizzes during 16 th week. So, for example, if you have excuses for 4 missed quizzes, you can take 1 make-up quiz during 16 th week. 3
2) Midterms. Late submissions with no penalty will be granted only to students who have an acceptable excuse (as defined above). If you don t have such an excuse, your grade will be reduced at a rate of 1 letter grade per day. 3) Final exam. There will be make-up exams during exam week only for students who meet the aforementioned conditions for excused absences. Americans with Disabilities Act Students who need accommodation are asked to electronically submit their approved accommodations through AU Access and to make an appointment with the instructor during the first week of classes. If you have not established accommodations through the Office of Accessibility, but need accommodations, make an appointment with the Office of Accessibility, 1228 Haley Center, 84402096 (V/TT). Academic Honesty All portions of the Auburn University Student Academic Honesty Code (Title XII) found in the Student Policy ehandbook at http://www.auburn.edu/student_info/student_policies will apply to this class. All academic honesty violations or alleged violations of the Student Government Association Code of Laws will be reported to the office of the Provost, which will then refer the case to the Academic Honesty Committee. In particular, in order to avoid plagiarism, use proper citation methods. When in doubt, please cite. A violation of the Student Academic Honesty Code will be reported to the Auburn Academic Honesty Committee. Upon recommendation of this committee, the provost may impose sanctions such as a zero grade for a specific assignment, a grade of F for the course, a suspension from Auburn University for a stated period of time, or an expulsion from the University. Classroom behavior The Auburn University Classroom Behavior Policy is strictly followed in the course; please refer to the Student Policy ehandbook at http://www.auburn.edu/student_info/student_policies for details of this policy. Emergency Contingency If normal class activities are disrupted due to illness, emergency, or crisis situation (such as an H1N1 flue outbreak), the syllabus and other course plans and assignments may be modified to allow completion of the course. If this occurs, an addendum to your syllabus and/or course assignments will replace the original materials. 4
SCHEDULE OF READINGS and CALENDAR OF ASSIGNMENTS ***Version 1.9. The schedule of readings is subject to revisions.*** ***Students are responsible for checking on Canvas for updates.*** Week 1 8/18 Description of the Course --- PART I: THE OPENING OF PLATO S REPUBLIC. THE AMORALIST CHALLENGE. 8/20 Introduction to Plato s Republic 8/22 Socrates, Cephalus, and Polemarchus. The traditional Greek conception of justice Week 2 8/25 Socrates and Thrasymachus. The amoralist challenge Plato, Republic, editor s Introduction, pp. ix-xv Plato, Republic, Book I, pp. 1-2 Plato, Republic, pp. 2-12. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (online resource), Callicles and Thrasymachus, Introduction and 1 Plato, Republic, Book I, pp. 12-20 8/27 Continued Plato, Republic, Book I, pp. 20-25 8/29 Continued Plato, Republic, Book I, pp. 25-35 Week 3 9/1 Labor Day No class 9/3 Socrates, Glaucon, and Plato, Republic, Book II, pp. 36-46 Adeimantus. Another formulation of the amoralist challenge 9/5 Critical essay Bernard Williams, Morality, chap. 1, The amoralist PART II: ARISTOTLE S NICOMACHEAN ETHICS. VIRTUE, REASON, AND HAPPINESS Week 4 9/8 Introduction to Aristotle s Nicomachean Ethics Aristotle, The Nicomachean Ethics, editor s Introduction, pp. vii-x and xxviiixxix The Nicomachean Ethics, editor s Note on the Text and Translation, pp. xxx-xxxi 5
9/10 The human good and happiness 9/12 Defining happiness: function, virtue, and reason Week 5 9/15 Relation between Happiness, Virtue, Pleasure, and Luck 9/17 The acquisition of virtue The Nicomachean Ethics, Book I, chaps. 1-5, pp. 3-7 The Nicomachean Ethics, Book I, chap. 7, pp. 10-12 The Nicomachean Ethics, Book I, chaps. 8-11, pp. 13-18 The Nicomachean Ethics, Book II, chaps. 1-4, pp. 23-28 The Nicomachean Ethics, Book III, chap. 5, pp. 46-49 1 st midterm assigned 9/19 Virtue as the Mean The Nicomachean Ethics, Book II, chaps. 5-9, pp. 28-37 Week 6 9/22 The nature and value of friendship 9/24 Continued 1 st midterm due in class The Nicomachean Ethics, Book VIII, chaps. 1-6, pp. 142-150 The Nicomachean Ethics, Book IX, chaps. 4 and 8, pp. 168-170, 173-176 9/26 Pleasure The Nicomachean Ethics, Book X, chaps. 1-5, pp. 183-192 Week 7 9/29 The Problem of Free Will Early alert grade 9/30 10/1 The Justification of Punishment 10/3 Aristotle on choice and responsibility. Thomas Nagel, Free Will (in What Does It All Mean?, chap. 6) M. Lessnoff, Two Justifications of Punishment The Nicomachean Ethics, Book III, chaps. 1-5 PART III: MILL S UTILITARIANISM. MAXIMAZING THE HAPPINESS OF THE GREATEST NUMBER OF PEOPLE Week 8 10/6 Introduction to J. S. Mill s Utilitarianism 10/8 Mill s background: Jeremy Bentham on the principle of utility and the calculus of happiness 10/10 Class cancelled Week 9 10/13 Mill s version of utilitarianism. Pleasures can be Editor s Introduction to J. S. Mill, Utilitarianism and On Liberty, pp. 1-4 Jeremy Bentham, Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation, chaps. 1 and 4 (in J. S. Mill, Utilitarianism and On Liberty, pp. 17-22 and 41-43) John Stuart Mill, Utilitarianism, chap. 1, pp. 181-184, and chap. 2, 1-18, pp. 185-195 6
qualitatively different 10/15 Right action vs. admirable character; intentions vs. motives 10/17 Fall break No class Mill, Utilitarianism, chap. 2, 19-21, pp. 195-198 (including footnote) Week 10 10/20 Act-utilitarianism vs. Rule-utilitarianism J.S. Mill, Utilitarianism, chap. 2, 22-25, pp. 198-202 10/22 On the proof of the principle of utility J.S. Mill, Utilitarianism, chap. 4, pp. 210-215, especially 3. 10/24 Utility, morality, and justice J.S. Mill, Utilitarianism, chap. 5, especially 14-15, 25, 32-33. Week 11 10/27 Utilitarianism, duty, and beneficence P. Singer, Famine, Affluence, and Morality 2 nd Midterm assigned. 10/29 Utilitarianism and the Doctrine of Double Effect 10/31 Class cancelled Ph. Foot, The Problem of Abortion and the Doctrine of Double Effect, pp. 1-7 Week 12 11/03 Utilitarianism and the distinction between positive and negative duties Ph. Foot, The Problem of Abortion and the Doctrine of Double Effect, pp. 8-14 PART IV: KANT GROUNDWORK OF THE MEAPHYSICS OF MORALS MORALITY AND PRACTICAL REASON 11/5 The project of Kant s Groundwork 2 nd Midterm due in class. 11/7 The unconditional value of the good will Korsgaard, Introduction, pp. ix-xiii Kant, Groundwork, Preface, pp. 3-8 Korsgaard, Introduction, pp. xiii-xvii Kant, Groundwork, Section I, pp. 9-12 Week 13 11/10 Acting from duty vs. acting in conformity with duty. Kant, Groundwork, Section I, pp. 12-20 11/12 Extreme and moderate interpretation of acting from duty. 11/14 Differences between Kant, Aristotle, and Mill Reread Kant, Groundwork, Section I. Preparation for classroom activity. Reread Kant, Groundwork, Section I. Preparation for classroom activity. 7
Week 14 11/17 Hypothetical and categorical imperatives Korsgaard, Introduction, pp. xvii-xix Kant, Groundwork, Section II, pp. 21-32 11/19 The Formula of Universal Law Korsgaard, Introduction, pp. xix-xxiii Kant, Groundwork, Section II, pp. 32-40 11/21 Continued Reread pages assigned for last class. Preparation for classroom activity. Week 15 11/24 Thanksgiving break No class 11/26 --- No class 11/28 --- No class Week 16 12/1 The Formula of Humanity Korsgaard, Introduction, pp. xxiii-xvi Kant, Groundwork, Section II, pp. 40-45 12/3 Continued Reread pages assigned for last class. Final exam questions disclosed 12/5 Review Session Final exam time and location: Section Date Time Location (where each class usually meets) Section 1 (MWF 8.00 AM) Monday, December 8 8.00 AM 10:30 AM HC 3353 Section 2 (MWF 9.00 AM) Friday, December 12 8.00 AM 10:30 AM HC 2352 Section 3 (MWF 11.00 AM) Friday, December 12 12.00 noon 2:30 PM HC 2442 Section 4 (MWF 12.00 noon) Wednesday, December 10 12 noon 2:30 PM HC 1435 8