Philosophy Summer Instructor: Cinnamon Jenson

Transcription

1 Summer 2012 Redwood Campus, CT 090 MW 11:30-1:10 Instructor: Cinnamon Jenson or consultation by appointment. emergency voic COURSE DESCRIPTION: I am excited to introduce you to some of the most interesting and thought-provoking topics in Ethics, a subfield of philosophy. The course introduces philosophical methods of inquiry and argumentation. Ethics involves thinking about what we ought to do. We will survey numerous ethical theories from Ethical Realism, Relativism, and Skepticism. The complexities and dynamics that frame these theories will be emphasized as we read and discuss primary texts from past and present philosophers. We will apply traditional theories to contemporary debates in wealth and consumption, animal rights, capital punishment, abortion, gay marriage, and others. LEARNING OBJECTIVES: 1. Acquire substantive knowledge about the field of ethics. This includes understanding some major historical movements as well as contemporary debates. You'll learn some terminology that will help you converse about important ethical systems including Divine Command theory, Utilitarianism, Deontology, Ethical Relativism, Egoism, Subjectivism, and Skepticism. 2. Think critically by developing logical skills. Philosophy is about critiquing and analyzing people's arguments. You will learn some formal logic and informal fallacies that will help you parse arguments, recognize valid argument structures, and spot common fallacies in reasoning. 3. Organize and communicate ideas orally and in writing. Philosophy demands clarity of thought. This means you must read carefully, write clearly and succinctly, and engage in class groups and discussion. Synthesize your experiences and current issues with philosophical ideas. 4. Be civically engaged. Learn about civic issues including justice, democracy, virtue, rights, equality, etc. Develop your ethical beliefs. Gain appreciation for different perspectives by objectively defending and creating arguments.

2 REQUIRED READING: Course Packets are available from the SLCC bookstore: a) Main Reading Packet: Theories and Perspectives b) Case Studies Packet #1: Abortion, Death Penalty, Violence c) Case Studies Packet #2: Marriage and Gay Rights, Hate Speech and the First Amendment, Euthanasia d) Case Studies Packet #3: Animals and the Environment, Civil Disobedience, Wealth, Work and Hunger Additional primary readings may be assigned. INSTRUCTIONS FOR ASSIGNMENTS, ADDITIONAL READINGS AND HANDOUTS WILL BE POSTED ON CANVAS. You must check CANVAS announcements often, especially if you miss class. ASSESSMENT: Attendance / participation 10% In-class quizzes 5% Group assignment 5% Two Response Essays 20% each Two Exams 20% each Grading scale, criteria, and instructions will be posted on CANVAS. ATTENDANCE/ PARTICIPATION. Philosophy cannot be done by simply memorizing facts. You must engage to learn. The history of philosophy can be thought of as one long conversation. In order to do philosophy, one must participate in this conversation by discussing philosophical issues in class, applying philosophical themes to current issues, synthesizing ideas with others and critiquing arguments. Come to class prepared for discussion. Post questions and comments in CANVAS discussion forums. Your grade will suffer if you miss more than two classes.

3 You are expected to carefully read the assigned material before class. It helps to take notes when you are reading, and to formulate argument outlines and objections. Philosophy courses are content driven, so you will have to summarize arguments in essays, quizzes, and exams. Secondary sources are necessary to understand primary texts. I encourage you to do your own research. Look up terms you don t know; research authors we read; and browse the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy online (which is more credible than Wikipedia, but also a little more technical) at: QUIZZES are intended to assess your understanding of the required reading. No late work will be accepted. TWO EXAMS will consist of true/false, multiple choice, short answer and short essay questions. These are take-home exams. If your work will be late then you must notify me to make other arrangements. Exams are distributed in class, to take home. You can also download exams from CANVAS. EXAM DATES ARE: JUNE 21 AND AUG 1. GROUP ASSIGNMENT. You and your group will choose a contemporary debate and a class lecture project on a current debate from your Case Study packets. Your grade will be determined by a grading rubric, and graded by your peers. Group projects will occur the last third of the semester. TWO RESPONSE ESSAYS involve critiquing an argument from a philosopher and then developing your own argument against it. These papers will be 4-6 pages, on a topic that you choose from a list. Instructions and tips will be posted on CANVAS. You must CITE PROPERLY using quotes, and give a BIBLIOGRAPHY. Late assignments will be penalized. You may send me a draft in advance. You should upload one essay of your choice to your E- Portfolio as your signature assignment. RESPONSE ESSAY DUE DATES: JULY 2 AND JULY 30. For proper grammar, use the Elements of Style by Strunk and White, online at: Teach yourselves how to write properly! I will grade for proper citations and bibliographies in your papers. Use the APA manual online at:

4 SCHEDULE: (subject to change): Downloads are in quotes, and indicated in red. You must download required material from Canvas, under the FILES folder. Readings from the Main Course packet is indicated in Green. 1. May 14. Intro to Ethics. Ethics Mindmap. Syllabus. Trolley problems. Socrates' story. May 16. Gansberg, p. 20; Milgram, p. 25. BRING SYLLABUS TO CLASS "Tips on reading philosophy." 2. May 21. Critical thinking intro. Monty Python's argument clinic. "Logic Primer" by Lewis Vaughn. Logic primer. May 23. "Informal Fallacies" by Jon Arthur. "6 ways to critique an argument" 3. May 28. Divine Command Theory. Arthur, 142. Anderson, "If God is dead, is everything permitted?" May 30. Utilitarianism. Bentham. Mill, p "Response essay instructions" and "Tips on how to write an argument essay." (Due June 25). 4. June 4. Critique of Utilitarianism. Twilight Zone episode. "Number 12 looks just like you." "Twilight Zone handout." Williams p. 74. OR LeGuin, p. 82 June 6. Deontology. Kant, 45; Rachels, June 11. Kant worksheets. Rawls, 102. June 13. Mill vs. Kant. Star trek clip. Trolley problems. EXAM 1 take-home. 6. June18. NO CLASS June 21. Ethical Relativism. "Moral Relativism" by Rachels. Midgley, 154; OR Furrow, 158. EXAM 1 DUE JUNE June 25. Egoism. Rand, 121; OR Pojman, 126; OR Rachels, 129. June 27. Moral Subjectivism. Hume 88 and 93. Skepticism. Mackie, July 2. Meaning in life without God. Existentialism. "Camus Myth of Sysphus" by Albert Camus. RESPONSE ESSAY 1 DUE July 2. July 4. Abortion. Case Studies #1. Thomson, 4. Group work. "Instructions on Current Debates Assignment." "Group Work Grade Rubrik." "Response essay 2 instructions." 9. July 9. Animal Rights. Case Studies #3: Peter Singer, p. 4; Michael Pollan, p. 10 July 11. Wealth, work and hunger. Case Studies #3: Peter Singer p July 16. Group 1. Case Studies. July 18. Group 2. Case Studies. 11. July 23. Guest Lecturer. Case Studies packet #2. Marriage and Gay Rights. TBA July 25. Guest Lecturer. Movie: Tying the Knot. TBA

5 12. July 30. RESPONSE ESSAY 2 DUE. Review. From Ethical Realism to Skepticism. Take-home exam. Aug 1. Last Day of Class. EXAM 2 DUE. RESPONSE ESSAY 2 DUE. STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT The student is expected to follow the SLCC Student Code of Conduct found at ADA STATEMENT Students with medical, psychological, learning or other disabilities desiring accommodations or services under ADA, must contact the Disability Resource Center (DRC). The DRC determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of these accommodations and services for the college. Please contact the DRC at the Student Center, Suite 244, Redwood Campus, 4600 So. Redwood Rd, Phone: (801) , TTY: , Fax: or by linda.bennett@slcc.edu Plagairism. IT IS EASIER THAN YOU THINK TO PLAGIARIZE. DO NOT DO IT. Plagiarism means the intentional unacknowledged use or incorporation of any other person's work in, or as a basis for, one's own work offered for academic consideration or credit or for public presentation. Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to, representing as one's own, without attribution, any other individual s words, phrasing, ideas, sequence of ideas, information or any other mode or content of expression. Do not plagiarize your own work, i.e. from other classes. Proper citation is important. The currency of academics is their ideas. That means that if you do not give credit to authors for their ideas, then you are stealing. If you summarize information you find on a web site, for example, then cite author and source. Cite web pages. Include bibliographies with your papers. I will grade for proper citation. Use the APA style formats for citations (APAstyle.org). NO CELL PHONES OR COMPUTERS.