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Ethics

Honors

Spring 2001

Marist College

Dr. Greg Moses


Course Description:

In this course we will survey classic ethical writings of Aristotle, Aquinas, Kant, Bentham, and Mill, then turn to a contemporary survey of feminist political ethics. Throughout our investigations, we will inquire into the lasting value of the ethical writings before us, testing the principles and suggestions for consequences and relevance to our own moral lives. In the end, we will write our own explorations of prospective models for ethical reflection.


Outcomes:

By the end of the course, students should be able to (1) characterize and apply a variety of moral theories and (2) demonstrate an ability to make use of the course materials to assist with moral reflections. Frequent assignments and papers will assess student competency in these areas.


Required Texts:

  • Aristotle. Nicomachean Ethics. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 2000.
  • Aquinas, Thomas. Disputed Questions on Virtue. South Bend: St. Augustine's Press, 1999.
  • Kant, Immanuel. Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 1997.
  • Mill, John Stuart & Jeremy Bentham. Utilitarianism and Other Essays. London: Penguin, 1987.
  • Bar On, Bat-Ami & Ann Ferguson, Eds. Daring to Be Good: Essays in Feminist Ethico-Politics. New York: Routledge: 1998.

Requirements and Grades:

The final grade will be based upon the following:
  • 20% Class Participation and Preparation
  • 20% Paper on Aristotle and Aquinas
  • 20% Paper on Kant, Bentham & Mill
  • 40 % Final paper on ethics for our lives today (including Praxis report).

Praxis Report:

Each student is required to undertake 12 hours of community service, attend two Praxis roundtables, and submit a 10-page report on "Ethics and Community Service." The report will reflect upon the value of ethical theory in addressing issues that arise during community service. Opening pages should report your own developing impressions that result from experiences at the activity of your choice (2 pages). Scholarly sources source should address factual analysis of the issue at hand and propose alternative approaches (3 pages). The approaches, in turn, should be evaluated in a scholarly manner according to your choice of ethical theories from this course (2 pages). As usual, students will be encouraged to present their own opinions about the issue and its moral resolution (3 pages). Due Apr. 27.


Preparations:

For each class meeting, a preparation is indicated, which will be due at the beginning of class. Students may substitute up to four Praxis reports instead of the scheduled preparation, if the Praxis reports are also ready at the beginning of class for inclusion in workshops and forum discussions. Praxis reports should include scholarly reference to ethical theory as well as reflection upon personal experience with community service.


Attendance Policy:

Excused absences should be documented within two weeks. More than two unexcused absences will result in the deduction of a full letter from the final grade. After more than four unexcused absences, the instructor reserves the right to issues a failing grade for the course.

Schedule of Inquiry:


Jan. 17-Introduction to course. The study of ethical theory. Preparing for a discussion-centered classroom. Student expectations.

Part One: Aristotle and Thomas

In this section of the course we will review classic moral theories of Aristotle and Thomas, testing these theories for relevance against moral predicaments found in our own lives, portrayed in videos, experienced in community service, and faced in public debates. A midterm paper of eight pages will select a moral predicament from any of the above sources (2 pages), explore how Aristotle and Thomas might approach the issue (4 pages), and assess our own satisfaction with these classic approaches (2 pages). Assessment will be based on completeness of assignment, attention to scholarly habits of citation, composition, soundness of arguments, difficulty, and creativity of your chosen position.

Jan. 19-Aristotle, Bks. 1&2

Read: Selected Book

Preparation: Two paragraphs, typed. (1) Summarize the main points in your selected book and (2) select a key passage to show how it might apply to a moral predicament that you found in a film.

Workshops: Share your preparations, helping to summarize Aristotle's work and identify key passages that might be applied to films you have seen. Please be sure that each participant gets two to three minutes for presentation.

Forum: On issues and applications in Aristotle. Select video for discussion (a video saturated with moral predicaments).

Jan. 24-Aristotle, Bks. 3&4

Read: Selected Book.

Preparation: Two paragraphs, typed, as above (1) summarizing your selected chapter and (2) showing how Aristotle might be applied to a moral predicament in contemporary life.

Workshops: As above, please allow each participant two to three minutes for presentation.

Forum: On issues and applications in Aristotle.

Praxis: Selecting service projects.

Video #1: Illustrating moral predicaments.

Jan. 26-Aristotle, Bks 5&6

Read: Selected Book.

Preparation: Two paragraphs, typed. (1) Summarizing your selected chapter. (2) Applying a selected passage to a moral predicament in the video.

Workshops: Sharing presentations & applications.

Forum: Testing Aristotle.

Video #1: Continuing moral predicaments.

Jan. 31-Aristotle, Bks. 7&8

Read: Selected Book

Preparation: As before, two paragraphs (1) summarizing a book and (2) applying a passage to a moral predicament illustrated by the video.

Workshops: Sharing preparations.

Forum: Re-testing Aristotle. Looking for contemporary applications & challenges.

Praxis: Attending to service projects.

Feb. 2-Aristotle, Bks. 9&10

Read: Selected book.

Preparation: Two paragraphs: (1) summarizing selected book (2) applying a passage to contemporary issues and challenges.

Workshops: Sharing preparations and reflections on community service.

Forum: Aristotle and Praxis.

Feb. 7-From Aristotle to Aquinas.

Read: McInerny's introduction to the Disputed Questions on Virtue, pp. vii-xix.

Preparation: Three paragraphs: (1) Summary and passage from text (2) how Thomas' approach to a contemporary issue might compare to Aristotle (use the same issue selected last class?).

Workshops: Transition to Thomas, with suggested issues.

Forum: An influential approach to moral problems considered.

Video #2: Moral predicaments illustrated.

Feb. 9-Disputed Questions 1-4.

Read: Selected question.

Preparation: Two paragraphs: (1) summarize the nature of the dispute; (2) summarize Thomas' response and consider how his answer might be used to address a moral predicament in the video.

Workshops: Share preparations on Thomas. Please allow time for each participant.

Forum: Getting acquainted with Thomas.

Video #2: Continuing illustration.

Feb. 14-Disputed Questions 5-8.

Read: Selected question.

Preparation: (1) summarize the nature of the dispute; (2) summarize Thomas' response as it might be applied to a video predicament.

Workshops: Share preparations.

Forum: Implications of a Thomistic framework.

Feb. 16-Disputed Question 9-13

Read: Selected question.

Preparation: (1) summarize the nature of the dispute; (2) summarize Thomas' response as it might be applied to a moral issue encountered during community service.

Workshops: Share preparations. Praxis update.

Forum: Implications of a Thomistic framework.

Feb. 21-Disputed Questions on the Cardinal Virtues

Read: Selected question.

Preparation: (1) summarize the nature of the dispute; (2) summarize Thomas' response as it might be applied to contemporary issues & challenges.

Workshops: Share preparations.

Forum: Thomas and social justice.

Feb. 23-Reviewing Aristotle & Thomas

Preparation: Three paragraphs: (1) Two paragraphs identifying key themes of moral theory for each of our thinkers. (2) Proposed moral issue that you plan to examine for the midterm paper.

Workshops: Themes and issues for Aristotle & Thomas.

Forum: Planning the midterm paper.

Feb. 28-Outline Workshop

Prepare: Complete outline for midterm paper.

Workshops: Sharing approaches. Please take time to critically assess fellow members' proposals for thoroughness and interest. Nominate a representative report.

Forum: Sample outlines shared.

Mar. 2-Midterm Workshop

Preparation: Paper due (see above.)

Workshops: Share results.

Forum: Sharing papers.

Part Two: Kant, Mill & Bentham

In this section of the course we will review classic moral theories of Kant, Bentham, and Mill, testing these theories for relevance against moral predicaments found in our own lives, portrayed in videos, experienced in community service, and faced in public debates. A midterm paper of eight pages will select a moral predicament from any of the above sources (2 pages), explore how Kant, Bentham, and Mill might approach the issue (4 pages), and assess our own satisfaction with these classic approaches (2 pages). Assessment will be based on completeness of assignment, attention to scholarly habits of citation, composition, soundness of arguments, difficulty, and creativity of your chosen position.

Mar. 7-Introducing Kant

Read: Introduction to Groundwork, pp. vii-xxx.

Preparation: Three paragraphs: (1) summary of Kant's approach to moral theory (2) how Kant might be applied to a moral predicament from a film you have seen.

Workshops: Sharing initial impressions of Kant.

Forum: First look at Kant.

Video #3: For moral reflection.

Mar. 9-Further introduction

Read: Kant's own preface, pp. 1-5.

Preparation: Two paragraphs: (1) summarize how Kant sees his own work and (2) how Kant's approach might be used to assess morality in the video.

Workshops: Share preparation.

Forum: Getting acquainted with the Kantian turn.

Video #3: Material for moral reflection.

Mar. 21-Kant's Groundwork, Section I

Read: Groundwork, Sec. I, pp. 7-18.

Preparation: Two paragraphs: (1) summarize Kant's approach and (2) show how the approach might be used to assess the morality of a predicament found in the video.

Workshops: Share preparations and applications.

Forum: On the uses of the categorical imperative.

Video #3

Mar. 23-Kant's Groundwork, Section II

Read: Groundwork, Section II, pp. 19-51.

Preparation: Two paragraphs: (1) summarize Kant's argument and (2) reflect on ways that Kant's theory might apply to issues raised in the video.

Workshops: Sharing preparations and illustrations.

Forum: Autonomy and heteronomy of the will.

Video #3

Mar. 28-Kant's Groundwork, Section III.

Read: Groundwork, Section III, pp. 52-66.

Preparation: Two paragraphs: (1) summarize Kant's argument and (2) reflect on the way in which Kant affects your own view of morality and how you might apply Kant's theory to contemporary issues and challenges.

Workshops: Summarizing Kant and making applications.

Forum: On the deeper issues of moral theory and whether they make a difference.

Mar. 30-Pause for Praxis.

Preparation: Two pages: (1) A vivid description of some experiences in community service and (2) a Kantian style assessment of the quality of moral life that is reflected.

Workshops: Sharing Praxis experiences.

Forum: Of moral life and moral theory.

Apr. 4-Beginning with Bentham

Read: Bentham's Introduction, Chs. 1-4, pp. 65-89.

Preparation: Two paragraphs: (1) Summary of Bentham's theory of utility and (2) exploration of the use of utility to assess the moral quality of life reflected in your community service experience.

Workshops: Sharing summaries and assessments.

Forum: The utilitarian turn.

Video #4

Apr. 6-Bentham, part two.

Read: Bentham's Introduction, Chs. 5-14, pp. 89-112.

Preparation: Two paragraphs: (1) Summary of Bentham's views on punishment and (2) how the views might be applied to our video.

Workshops: Sharing thoughts on Bentham's theory of punishment.

Forum: Pain and punishment.

Video #4

Apr. 11-Beginning Mill

Read: Utilitarianism, Chs. 1-3, pp. 272-306.

Preparation: Two paragraphs: (1) Summarize Mill's view of utilitarianism and (2) suggest how the principles might apply to issues raised in the video.

Workshops: Sharing first impressions of Mill.

Forum: On Mill with comparisons to Bentham.

Apr. 18--Mill, part two.

Read: Utilitarianism, Chs. 3-5, pp. 307-338.

Preparation: Two paragraphs: (1) Summarize Mill's view of utilitarianism and (2) suggest how the principles might apply to contemporary issues and challenges.

Workshops: Sharing the theory and assessment of utilitarianism.

Forum: On the value of utilitarianism.

Apr. 20-Paper Due on Kant, Mill & Bentham

Workshops: Sharing results.

Forum: Sample papers.

Part Three: On Feminist Ethico-Politics

Final Exercise: Due at Final Exam Period TBA-In this paper we will describe our community service experiences (3 pages), review relevant research into an issue that arises during community service (2 pages), consider the relevance of feminist moral theory for encountering issues in community service (3 pages) and proposing a moral theory which would best suit your own pursuit of the moral life (5 pages). Assessment will be based on completeness of assignment, attention to scholarly habits of citation, composition, soundness of arguments, difficulty, and creativity of your chosen position.

Apr. 25-Feminism, part one.

Read: Selected chapter from part one of the Bar On & Ferguson reader.

Preparation: (1) Summarize a key argument (2) assess the value of the argument for an issue that you have seen represented on film.

Workshops: Sharing first impressions of feminism.

Forum: Wading in to moral psychology.

Video #4

Apr. 27-Feminism, part two.

Read: Selected chapter from part two of the Bar On & Ferguson reader.

Preparation: (1) Summarize a key argument (2) show how it might be applied to a predicament in the video.

Workshops: Sharing further reflections on feminism.

Forum: Feminism compared.

May 2-Feminism, part three.

Read: Selected chapter from part three of the Bar On & Ferguson reader.

Preparation: (1) Summarize a key argument (2) assess the value of the argument for moral evaluation of an issue encountered in community service

Review for final paper.

Final Workshop-Sharing results and sample papers.

Contact:

Dr. Greg Moses
Office: Cubicle in SC 149 (near the downstairs mailboxes)
Telephone: x2217
Email: JZ7R@maristb.marist.edu
Web: gregmoses.net

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