Ethical Inquiry -- Summer Semester, 2005

Metropolitan State University

 

Syllabus

Position Paper Assignment

Paper writing guides: 

    from Williams College

    from Princeton University

 

Schedule of assignments

Date

Topic(s)

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

Discussion Projects (If you miss class, complete the discussion project on your own and turn it in next time.)

 

 

 

 

May 11

Introductory Session

 

Identifying Ethical Questions

May 18

Reason, Relativism, Subjectivism, and Religion

Rachels, Chapters 1-4

Discussion Project on Chapters 1-4; Cases for Discussion

May 25

Egoism and feeding the hungry

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

Discussion Project on Egoism

Oxfam America website

June 1

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 simple utilitarianism

June 8

Utilitarianism: Refinements Rachels, Chapter 8, selection from Mill in Applied Ethics, pp.10-21 Discussion Project on Mill's utilitarianism  

June 15

Kant and Hunger (again)

Rachels, Chapter 9; Kant and Van Wyk in Applied Ethics, pp. 22-33 and 381-390; Paper topic statement due

Discussion Project on Kant's theory;  Possible questions for first exam **updated on 6/15**;  Position Paper Assignment

June 22

Kant and Punishment

Rachels, Chapter 10; Kant and Primoratz. in Applied Ethics, pp. 33-38 and 284-294; Exam 1  

 

June 29

The Death Penalty

 

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

Discussion Project on Capital Punishment  

July 6

Social Contract Theory

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

Discussion Project: CastawaysPosition Paper Assignment

July 13

Economic Justice   Hospers and Govier in Applied Ethics, pp. 311-341 Discussion Project: Choosing Rules; Handout on free markets

July 20

Abortion

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

Discussion Project: Analyzing Abortion Essays

July 27

Feminist Ethics

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

 

Aug. 3

Virtue Theory

Rachels, Chapter 13, Foot in Applied Ethics, pp. 50-58; Position Paper due

Applying Virtue TheoryPosition Paper Assignment
Aug. 10 Virtuous Sex Soble, “Philosophy of Sexuality,” (esp. sections 6-16) online here;  Gastil, in Applied Ethics pp. 569-579; Reread Rachels,  pp. 44-47 and 53-57; (Optional) Levin, in Applied Ethics pp. 665-674; Exam 2 Possible exam questions