Philosophy 103: Introduction to Ethics

Instructor: James Skidmore, Ph.D
Office:  LA 251
Office phone: 282-4661
E-mail: skidjame@isu.edu
Web page:  www.isu.edu/~skidjame (course materials available there)

Office hours:    --Monday/Wednesday:  2:30-3:30
                          --Tuesday/Thursday:  12:30-1:30
                          --Gladly by appointment
You are more than welcome to see me during office hours for any reason (and I'm often in my office outside those hours). If you have a question, concern, complaint, or even if you just want to chat, feel free to drop in.

Texts:
    --Morgan, Michael (ed.).  Classics of Moral and Political Theory (4th edition) (required)
    --Vaughn, Lewis, Writing Philosophy (required)

Course Description and Objectives:

How should we live?  This is the fundamental question of ethics, and it is in this sense that ethics, as a branch of philosophy, is practical rather than theoretical:  it is concerned not primarily with what to believe or with what exists but with what to do, how to act.  This course will introduce you to some of the most important questions that arise in ethics, along with the attempts that a number of philosophers have made to answer them.  As we will see, the great, overarching question of ethics--How should we live?--leads us to further questions, from the most general questions of moral theory to the most specific questions of daily moral life.  While we will encounter many of these during the course, our investigation will focus on the following:

        1.  What is the foundation of morality?
                    --Can moral claims be true or false?  What could make them true or false?
                    --Could moral properties (e.g., rightness, goodness) be real properties in the world?
                        If so, how could they?  If not, then what is rightness or goodness?

        2.  What is the sole intrinsic Good? (Or are there several?)
                    --Many things are good as a means to something else, but what is it that is good
                        in itself--the source of the goodness of everything else?

        3.  What (kinds of) actions are right or wrong?
                    --What kinds of actions are obligatory? Permissible or impermissible?  
                        In virtue of what are they so?

        4.  Why should I be moral?
                    --What is the relationship between morality and self-interest?  Is it always in my interest
                        to behave morally?  If so, how?  If not, then isn't it irrational to behave morally
                        against my own interests?  What reason do I have to do what morality says I must?

These are the questions we will examine in the course--with the help of some of the greatest
philosophers in the Western tradition.  Our goal will be to understand and criticize (critically evaluate)
both the answers these philosophers provide and (more importantly) the arguments
they advance in defense of those answers.  Thus the objectives of the course are:

        --To understand the fundamental philosophical questions of ethics
        --To understand some of the main answers philosophers have provided for those questions and
                the arguments in defense of those answers
        --To understand some of the potential objections against these arguments, along with potential
                responses to these objections.

In short, the objective is to provide you with a good introductory grasp of the central problems and
central figures of ethics as a branch of philosophy.  Beyond this, the goal of the course is to help you
think more carefully and critically on your own about these problems.  If Socrates was right,
philosophical (and especially ethical) reflection is at the center of a fully human life.  If living well is
important and difficult (and if it isn't, what is?), then thinking carefully and critically about how to do
so is important.   Along the way you will develop your own philosophical skills:  your ability to
analyze and evaluate arguments, and develop and defend  your own philosophical views.  If your
future involves any activity demanding thought, these skills will serve you well.

Grading

For better or worse, one of my duties in this class is to give you a grade. Your grade will be determined by your performance on the following assignments:
                        Assignments:                                          % of Final Grade
                        --First short essay (Due Sept. 17th)                    20
                        --Midterm Exam (Oct. 15th)                               20
                        --Second short essay                                           25
                        --Final Exam (Finals week)                                35

Note on Grading:  I am aware that grading standards vary widely across the university.  I will do my best to follow the university's guidelines.  Grades in the 'A'-range represent genuinely outstanding or excellent work.  Grades in the 'B'-range represent good work.  Grades in the 'C'-range represent adequate work.  I do not think you will find my grading unfair, but if you are expecting an "easy 'A' or 'B'" you may be disappointed.  If at any point in the class you become concerned about your grade, please see me immediately.  I will do everything I can to help you earn the grade you seek.

Late work:  In fairness to other students, essays and exams that are handed in less than a week late will be penalized one letter grade. Essays and exams handed in more than one week late will receive a grade no higher than 'D'.

Rewrite policy: Any essay (turned in on time) that receives less than a 'C' may be rewritten for a grade of no higher than 'C'.

Tentative Schedule of Weekly Readings and Assignments

Plato and Aristotle

Aug. 25th  --No Reading
Aug. 27th  --Plato, Euthyphro (pp. 35-45)
                  --Vaughn, Chpt. 1

Sept. 1st  --Vaughn, Chpt. 2
                --Try the Philosophical Health Check at The Philosopher's Magazine.
Sept. 3rd  --Plato, Republic, Book II to 368a (pp. 93-99)

Sept 8th  --Finish Book II (99-110), Book III (from 412b..., pp. 127-130 )
Sept. 10th  --Book IV (pp. 130-147)

Sept. 15th  --Reread Book IV
Sept 17th  --Aristotle, Book I of Nicomachean Ethics (pp. 255-265)
                 --First Short Essay Due
                
Seot, 22nd  --Book II (pp. 265-273)
Sept. 24th  --Book VII (pp.315-328)

Sept. 29th  ---Book VIII (sec. 1-8, 13,14) and IX (sec. 8,9) (pp. 328-333, 337-338, 344-347)
Oct. 1st    --Epictetus, Enchiridion (pp.427-439)

Oct. 6th  --Reread Enchiridion
Oct. 8th  --Hobbes, Chpts. 6, 10, and 11 in Leviathan (pp. 566-570, 577-585)

Oct. 13th  --Chpts. 13 and 14 (pp. 591-598)
Oct. 15th  --Midterm Exam

Oct. 20th  --Mill, Chpts. I and II of Utilitarianism (pp. 995-1008)
Oct. 22nd  --Chpt. III (pp. 1008-1012)

Oct. 27th  --Chpt. IV (pp. 1012-1015)
Oct. 29th  --Chpt. V (pp. 1015-1028)

Nov. 3rd  --Kant, Preface and First Section of Grounding... (pp. 893-903)
Nov. 5th  --Second Section to pg. 913

Nov. 10th.  --Second Section, pp. 913-921
Nov. 12th  --Review and finish Second Section (to p.924)

Nov. 17th  --Nietzsche, Sections 257-260 of Beyond Good and Evil (available online);
                        Sections 1-10 of First Section of On the Genealogy... (pp. 1146-1153)
Nov. 19th  --Finish First Section (pp. 1153-1160)

Nov. 23-27: No Class (Fall Recess)

Dec. 1st  --Singer, from The Life You Can Save (on reserve)
Dec. 3rd  --from Animal Liberation (on reserve)

Dec. 8th  --To be determined  
Dec. 10th  --To be determined

Dec. 14-18:  Final Exams

Miscellaneous Announcements

Message from ADA Disabilities & Resource:  Our program is committed to helping all students achieve their potential.  If you have a disability or think you have a disability (physical, learning disability, hearing, vision, psychiatric) which may need a reasonable accommodation, please contact the ADA Disabilities & Resource Center located in Gravely Hall, Room 123 (282-3599) as early as possible.

Class attendance:  You will notice that attendance is not included in the calculation of your grade. However, I do expect you to attend class, and I encourage you to participate actively. Doing so will not only allow you to get the most out of the class, but may tip the scales in borderline grade situations. Please note that if you must miss class, you are responsible for handing in ahead of time any assignments due. Otherwise the late work policy will take effect.

Plagiarism:  The university (and I) view plagiarism and cheating as academic dishonesty, extremely serious offenses that can quickly bring an end to your college career. In writing papers for this class, please make sure that you document appropriately all quoted and paraphrased passages from other authors. I am not picky about how you do it, and I am not going to crucify you for an innocent mistake; but if you decide to turn in a paper that tries to hide a number of quotes from other texts (or the internet), you are playing a very dangerous game.  Similarly for cheating on an exam:  Penalty for intentionally plagiarized work, or cheating on an exam, is an 'F' in the course and referral to the Dean (of Student Affairs) for further action.