REQUIRED BOOKS:

Conduct and Character (2nd ed.), edited by Mark Timmons

Great Traditions in Ethics (8th ed.), edited by Theodore Denise, Sheldon Peterfreund, and Nicholas White

Customized Reading Packet

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

Philosophy 528 is an upper division course intended primarily for Philosophy majors and minors. Course requirements are three units of philosophy.

This course is intended as a historical introduction to philosophical thinking about ethics, beginning with some thoughts of Plato, and ending with some very contemporary thoughts. In the case of each philosopher whose ideas will be studied, we will focus only upon certain major features of that philosopher's thinking, in order primarily to develop a historical perspective of the progression of philosophical thought about ethics. Consequently, we will not go deeply into the thought of any individual philosopher.

Though students necessarily must finally arrive at their own ideas about these very complex subjects, emphasis in the course will be upon understanding what the philosopher has to say, and why it is important, rather than upon criticizing the philosopher's thought. You will be graded on the extent to which you show understanding of the philosopher's ideas, rather than on your individual originality about these subjects.

COURSE PROCEDURES:

All Classes will be primarily lectures and discussion, with discussion emphasized on Fridays. The readings are extremely important to the material of this course. Though the lectures will cover much of the same material as the readings, it is imperative that you do the readings before hearing the lecture and possibly after the lecture also. Understanding of what these philosophers have to say usually requires several readings and very careful digestion.

Class attendance is an important part of success in this course. Though there will be no regular role taking, I will employ a number of other techniques to keep track of who is in class. If it becomes apparent that an individual has missed at least forty percent of the classes, that person will not receive credit for the course no matter what scores they may have achieved on their written work.

REQUIRED WRITTEN WORK:

There will be a midterm and a final exam, as well as one announced quiz, covering the course material, and requiring essay answers. A two-page paper and a three-page paper will be required. Possible topics for the papers will be distributed for the required papers at least two weeks prior to the due date. A portfolio will be required at the end of the course. Next week I will distribute a set of instructions for composing the portfolio. There will also be additional unannounced "quizzes" intended primarily to keep track of who is in class, and who is doing the reading. These quizzes will usually require single sentence answers, since they are not intended to determine your understanding of the material.

GRADING:

Your final grade will be determined on the basis of the following percentages:

• 5% each for the announced quiz and for the total received on the unannounced quizzes.
  
• 10% each for the two-page paper, for the portfolio, and for classroom participation.
  
• 15% each for the midterm and the three-page paper.
  
• 30% for the final exam.

SCHEDULE:

Dates indicated in the first column refer only to the Monday of each week. However, all pages of assigned reading are regarded as "due" for every class day of the week, unless I indicate otherwise. Conduct and Character is designated by "CC" in the reading assignments. Great Traditions in Ethics is designated "GT." All Chapters in GT begin with a summary of the philosopher whose work is featured in that chapter. In cases in which I assign only part of the philosopher's writings, I include only the page numbers of those pages containing the assigned part of the philosopher's writings. However, you should always read the editor's summary of that philosopher also, even if the page numbers for the summary are not included below.

DATE  ASSIGNED READINGS      TOPICS                      WORK DUE

1/27  CC 1-23; GT 1-8        Terminology; Basic Distinctions

2/3   GT 9-26; CC 27-37      Plato; Egoism; Consciousness

2/10  CC 228-244; GT 28-46   Aristotle; Virtue Ethics

2/17  GT 56-60, 74-77;
      CC 65-71               Epicurus; Epictetus;
                             Ethical Relativism

2/24  CC 72-99; GT 114-123   Acquinas; Natural Law
                             Divine Command;
                             Ethical Absolutism  	Quiz 2/28

3/3   GT 125-145, 163-178    Hobbes, Social Contract
                             Hume, Sympathy

3/10  CC 148-156; GT 179-198 Kant, Rationality           Two-Page Paper
                             Categorical Imperative      Due 3/14

3/17  CC 100-114; GT 207-217 Bentham; Mill; Utilitarianism

3/24   HAVE A NICE SPRING BREAK!

3/31  GT 275-295, 366-379    Nietzsche; Sartre           Midterm 4/4
                             Existentialism

4/7   GT 315-330, 358-364    Moore; Naturalistic Fallacy
                             Stevenson; Emotivism

4/14  GT 296-314; CC 218-227 Dewey; Institutions
                             Principles

4/21  GT 398-415; CC 125-136 Rawls; Fairness; Justice
                             Rules; Institutions

4/28  CC 178-208             Psychological Development   Three-Page Paper
                             Caring                      Due 5/2

5/5   Reading Packet;
      CC 38-44               Sociobiology; Ecology
                             Purposes

5/12                         Review

5/21  FINAL EXAM  (10:30-12:30)                      	Portfolios Due