Ethical Inquiry -- Spring Semester, 2003
Metropolitan State University
First Assignment ( due January 27)
| Date | Topic | Reading Assignment | Discussion project |
| Jan. 13 | Introductory Session | discussion project on ethical questions (if you missed the first class you should complete this on your own) | |
| Jan. 27 |
Reason, Relativism, Subjectivism, and Religion |
Rachels, Chapters 1-4 | |
| Feb. 3 | Egoism and feeding the hungry | Rachels, Chapters 5-6; articles by Singer and Hardin, Applied Ethics, pp. 358-380 | |
| Feb. 10 | Utilitarianism: the basic idea and the example of Euthanasia | Rachels, Chapter 7; articles by Rachels and Pellegrino, Applied Ethics, pp.166-183 | Discussion project on utilitarianism; cases for discussion |
| Feb. 17 | Utilitarianism: refinements | Rachels, Chapter 8; selection from John Stuart Mill, Applied Ethics, pp.10-21. Study questions here. | Discussion project on Mill's utilitarianism |
| Feb. 24 | Kant and Hunger (again) | Rachels, Chapter 9; Kant and Van Wyk in Applied Ethics, pp. 22-33 and 381-390. Notes and study questions on Kant. | Discussion project on Kant's ethics |
| Mar. 3 | Kant and Punishment | Rachels, Chapter 10; Kant and Primoratz. Applied Ethics, pp. 33-38 and 284-294 | Possible questions for midterm exam |
| Mar. 10 | Spring Break | ||
| Mar. 17 | The Death Penalty | Into to chapter and articles by Bedau, Van denHaag and Amsterdam, Applied Ethics, pp. 238-266; 277-283 First Exam | |
| Mar. 24 | Social Contract Theory | Rachels, Chapter 11; Rawls in Applied Ethics, pp.38-44; handouts by Rawls and Hobbes | Discussion project: Castaways |
| Mar. 31 | Economic Justice | Hospers, Nagel, and Govier in Applied Ethics, pp. 311-341, handout by Tawney | Discussion project: choosing rules |
| April 7 | Abortion | Intro. to chapter and articles by Warren (2) and Marquis in Applied Ethics, pp. 71-110 | |
| April 14 | Feminist Ethics | Rachels Chapter 12; Sherwin, Mackenzie and Wolf-Devine in Applied Ethics, pp. 59-69, 120-133, 145-155 | |
| April 21 | Virtue Theory | Rachels, Chapter 13, Foot in Applied Ethics, pp. 50-58 | discussion project on virtue theory |
| April 28 | Affirmative Action | Intro to chapter, articles by Pojman, Hettinger, and Hill in Applied Ethics, pp. 391-399, 407-422, 436-449, 459-472 | |
| May 5 | Wrap up | Second Exam | Possible exam questions |