Schedule of assignments

Date

Topic(s)

Reading assignment (with a few links to explanatory notes and study questions)

May 10

Introductory Session

May 17

Reason, Relativism, Subjectivism, and Religion

Rachels, Chapters 1-4

Reasons and cases

May 24

Egoism and feeding the hungry

Rachels, Chapters 5-6; articles by Singer and Hardin, Applied Ethics, pp. 358-380

May 31

Memorial Day Holiday

No class

June 7

Utilitarianism and the example of Euthanasia

Rachels, Chapters 7 and 8; articles by John Stuart Mill, Rachels and Pellegrino, Applied Ethics, pp. 10-21 and pp.166-183; Paper topic statement due

Possible questions for next week's exam

June 14

Kant and Hunger (again)

Rachels, Chapter 9; Kant and Van Wyk in Applied Ethics, pp. 22-33 and 381-390; Exam 1

June 21

Kant and Punishment

Rachels, Chapter 10; Kant and Primoratz. in Applied Ethics, pp. 33-38 and 284-294

June 28

The Death Penalty

Intro to chapter and articles by Bedau, Van den Haag and Amsterdam, Applied Ethics, pp. 238-283

July 5

July 4 Holiday

No class

July 12

Social Contract Theory and Economic Justice

Rachels, Chapter 11; Rawls in Applied Ethics, pp.38-44; Hospers and Govier in Applied Ethics, pp. 311-341; Handouts; Rough draft of position paper due

Possible questions for next week's exam

July 19

Abortion

Intro. to chapter and articles by Warren (2) and Marquis in Applied Ethics, pp. 71-110; Exam 2

July 26

Feminist Ethics

Rachels Chapter 12; Sherwin, Mackenzie and Wolf-Devine in Applied Ethics, pp. 59-69, 120-133, 145-155

Aug. 2

Virtue Theory

Rachels, Chapter 13, Foot in Applied Ethics, pp. 50-58

Aug. 9

Pornography and Freedom of Expression

Introduction to Chapter 8; articles by Mill, Lynn, and Gastil, in Applied Ethics, pp. 539-579   Final draft of position paper due

Possible questions for next week's exam

Aug. 16

More on freedom of expression: hate speech, harm and offensiveness