Syllabus

PHI 3150: Ethics

Description: This course is designed to expose the student to the fundamentals of ethical theory and practice. Ethical theory is concerned both with the very possibility of morality itself as a necessary human enterprise and with an analysis of the nature and import of moral concepts. And practical ethics is concerned with addressing concrete moral issues in our everyday lives by drawing upon the insights gained from the study of ethical theory. Ethical theory addresses questions such as how is morality possible at all? What are the sources of morality? Is morality a matter of convention? Or are there universal moral values that transcend societies and therefore the disparate societal conventions? What constitutes a morally good act? Indeed, what is the nature of moral goodness (and badness) and by extension what is the morally good life? Practical ethics addresses questions such as the following: Is abortion morally permissible? Is it ever morally right to kill oneself? To what extent, if any, is it morally right either to allow someone to die or, by actual participation, to facilitate the person's death in order to alleviate his/her suffering?

Content: There are two parts to the course. In Part I, the focus is on ethical theory. Here we will examine standard theories of ethics, noting their advantages and disadvantages. The theories we will study include, but are not limited to, the Divine Command theory of morality; Conventionalistic theory of ethics; Platonic and Aristotelian theories of the good life; Ethical egoism; Utilitarianism; Kantian deontologism; Moral Sentiment; and contemporary feminist and communicative theories of ethics.

In light of well-known constraints on these theories we will consider certain criteria that some ethicists have proposed to enable us to adjudicate moral problems in concrete situations. And drawing upon these criteria we will proceed to Part II of the course, where the focus is on practical moral issues, to address topics such as abortion, capital punishment, euthanasia and the like. Specifically, the following are some of the kinds of practical moral issues we will examine: What, if any, are the moral grounds for punishing a wrongdoer? Assuming that capital punishment deters criminals from committing murders, does it follow that society is morally justified in executing murderers? Is it ever morally right to kill oneself? Are there any moral bases for the commission of an abortion? Is civil disobedience ever morally (as distinct from politically) justifiable? Can there be moral grounds for discriminating against persons and/or groups? How intelligible is the notion of a "just war"? Are there no other morally desirable and even preferable alternatives to conflict resolution than war? We shall test the validity of the theories studied in Part One by considering how well or poorly they address these kinds of issues.

Behavioral Objectives: Upon completing the course the student will have acquired the following: a thorough understanding of the history and nature of ethical theory; a developed and heightened critical awareness of the complexity of moral issues and hence of the kinds of foundations upon which informed moral judgements are grounded; and a critical ability to apply appropriate theories (or syntheses thereof) to concrete moral problems.

Methodology: Lectures, seminar-type discussions, and one mandatory class presentation by each student.

Evaluation:

1 Test	25%
1 Short 5-7 page essay	25%
Class presentation on an assigned topic	20%
Closely monitored class participation	10%
In-class Final Test	20%
TOTAL	100%

Evaluation Dates: To Be Determined

Text: To be determined

CLASS POLICIES

(i) The seminar-type nature of the course makes class attendance mandatory

(ii) You are expected to fulfil all the requirements of the course during the semester and not later. Accordingly, it is your responsibility to be present for evaluation on the specific dates in which tests, exams etc. are given and to submit all papers and essays on the due dates. NO EXTENSION OF THE DEADLINE WILL BE GIVEN ON ANY COMPONENT OF THE COURSE UNLESS IN EXTREME SITUATIONS SUCH AS DEBILITATING ILLNESS OR IF THERE IS DEATH IN THE FAMILY. Please note that the grade of "I" (Incomplete) will not be given except in the above-stated situations.

(iii) Please be advised that in order to pass the course you must satisfy EVERY COMPONENT of the course requirements. This means, in other words, that every test, exam, and other instruments of evaluation in the course is mandatory. Therefore, if you fail to fulfill any one of the required components of the course, you will automatically receive an F in the entire course.

(iv) ACADEMIC HONESTY: Anyone guilty of plagiarism or cheating will automatically receive an "F" in the course. Please note that academic dishonesty may constitute grounds for expulsion from the institution.

(v) All papers must be typed-written and double-spaced.

(v) To retain Tennessee Education Lottery Scholarship eligibility, you must earn a cumulative TELS GPA of 2.75 after 24 and 48 attempted hours and a cumulative TELS GPA of 3.0 thereafter. You may qualify with a 2.75 cumulative GPA after 72 attempted hours (and subsequent semesters), if you are enrolled full-time and maintain a semester GPA of at least 3.0. A grade of C, D, F, or I in this class may negatively impact TELS eligibility. Dropping a class after 14 days may also impact eligibility; if you withdraw from this class and it results in an enrollment status of less than full time, you may lose eligibility for your lottery scholarship. Lottery recipients are eligible to receive the scholarship for a maximum of five years from the date of initial enrolment, or until a bachelor degree is earned. For additional Lottery rules, please refer to your Lottery Statement of Understanding form, review lottery scholarship requirements on the web at http://scholarships.web.mtsu.edu/telsconteligibility.htm, or contact the MTSU Financial Aid Office at 898-2830.

(vii) CIVILITY IN THE CLASSROOM:

Any successful learning experience requires mutual respect between the student and the instructor. Neither the instructor nor the student should be subjected to any student’s behavior that in any way is disruptive, rude or challenging to the instructor’s authority in the classroom. Students must remember, in the words of the MTSU Student Handbook, that

The instructor has the primary responsibility for control over classroom behavior

and can direct the temporary removal or exclusion from the classroom of any

student engaged in disruptive conduct or conduct which otherwise violates the

general rules and regulations of the institution. The instructor may report such

misconduct to the assistant dean for Judicial Affairs for implementation of such

disciplinary sanctions as may be appropriate, including extended or permanent

exclusion from the classroom. (MTSU Policy on Classroom Misconduct/Disrup-

tive Students.)

Work missed by any student (if s/he is removed from the class) will not be allowed to be made up, and the student will be considered absent for the day(s) removed from the class.

(viii) I reserve the right to modify the course syllabus as I deem necessary

GRADING SCALE in %

90	-	100%	A
87	-	89%	B+
84	-	86%	B
80	-	83%	B-
77	-	79%	C+
74	-	76%	C
70	-	73%	C-
67	-	69%	D+
64	-	66%	D
60	-	63%	D-
0	-	59%	F