Philosophy 450: Ethical Theory


Instructor: Jim Skidmore
Office:  LA 251
Office phone: 282-4661
E-mail: skidjame@isu.edu

<>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.

Required Texts:

--Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics
--Darwall, Philosophical Ethics
--Kant, Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals
--Mill, Utilitarianism
Course Description and Objectives:

This course will survey the central problems of contemporary moral philosophy, along with their historical roots.  These problems include, on the one hand, substantive questions about value.  Scientists (physicists, chemists, biologists, etc.) have made tremendous progress in developing coherent and comprehensive theories of our empirical world, but our world is not only one of masses and valences but also of values. Some things in it we judge to be good (or bad); some of our actions we judge to be right (or wrong). But what is it that makes certain things good, or certain actions right? 

In addition to these substantive questions, we will also take up the more philosophically fundamental issues of metaethics. Substantive accounts of the good and the right are one thing, but what exactly is the meaning of claims about value and rightness? For example, when I say, "human happiness is good," am I expressing a belief in a fact about the world? (If so, what kind of fact?) Am I merely expressing an attitude I have toward human happiness? Also, what is the relationship between morality and rationality? Could it ever be rational to do what is morally wrong?  These are the questions we will focus on, and we'll be looking at some of the most prominent philosophical attempts, both past and present, to answer them.

In the end, the goal of the course is to allow you the opportunity to gain a good command of ethics as a branch of philosophy--a command of some of the most important questions in ethics, along with the most important attempts that philosophers have made to solve them.  Along the way you will develop your own philosophical skills:  your ability to think carefully and critically about these and other questions, analyze and evaluate arguments, and develop and defend your own philosophical views.

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

    Option 1

           --Critical Summaries and Critiques                     15
           --3 short essays                                   20 each = 60
           --Final Exam                                                        25

    Option 2

           --Critical Summaries and Critiques                        15
           --Short Essay                                                         20
           --Research Paper                                                   40
           --Final Exam                                                         25

Students taking the course for graduate credit must choose Option 2 and write an additional short essay (or make an in-class presentation) on an approved topic of their choice.

Late work:

In fairness to other students, essays (or exams) that are handed in (or taken) less than a week late will be penalized one letter grade. Essays and exams handed in or taken more than one week late will receive a grade no higher than 'D'.
 
Tentative Schedule of Weekly Readings and Assignments

Introduction

Aug. 26th  --No reading

Aug. 31st  --Darwall, Chpts. 1, 2 and 4

Aristotle

Sept. 2nd  --Aristotle, Book I of Nicomachean Ethics
                 --Darwall, Chpt. 17

Sept. 7th  --No Class
Sept. 9th  --Aristotle, Book II of Nicomachean Ethics
                --Darwall, pp. 203-211 in Chpt. 18

Sept. 14th --Aristotle, Book VI of Nicomachean Ethics
                 --Darwall, finish Chpt. 18]
Sept. 16th  --Aristotle, Book VII of Nicomachean Ethics

Mill and Kant

Sept. 21st  --Chpts. 1 and 2 in Mill, Utilitarianism
                 --Darwall, Chpt. 12
Sept. 23rd  --Chpts. 3 and 4 Utilitarianism
                  --Darwall, Chpt. 13

Sept. 28th  --Review Utilitarianism, Chpts. 3 and 4 and Darwall, Chpt. 13
Sept. 30th  --"First Section" in Kant, Grounding...
                  --Darwall, Chpt. 14

Oct. 5th  --"Second Section" in Kant, Grounding...
                  --Read Darwall, Chpt. 15
Oct. 7th  --"Third Section" in Kant, Grounding...

Oct. 12th --No reading

Problems and Challenges

Oct. 14th --Hume, selections from A Treatise Concerning Human Understanding (on reserve)

Oct. 19th  --Moore, from Principia Ethica (on reserve)
                 --Darwall, Chpt. 3
Oct. 21st  --Reread Moore, from Principia Ethica (on reserve)
                  --Darwall, Chpt 5

Oct. 26th--Mackie, from Ethics: Inventing Right and Wrong (on reserve)
                --Darwall Chpt. 7
Oct. 28th  --Williams, "Consequentialism and Integrity" (on reserve)

 Nov. 2nd  --Williams, "Persons, Character, and Morality" (on reserve)
Nov. 4th  --Review Williams

Contemporary Theorists

Nov. 9th  --Railton, "Moral Realism" (on reserve)
Nov. 11th  --Railton, "Alienation, Consequentialism, and the Demands of Morality" (on reserve)

Nov. 16th  --Review Railton
Nov. 18th  --Blackburn, from Spreading the Word (on reserve)

Nov. 23-27:  Fall Recess (no classes)

Nov. 30th  --Blackburn, from Spreading the Word (on reserve)
Dec. 2nd  --Blackburn, from Spreading the Word (on reserve)

Dec. 7th  --to be determined
Dec. 9th   --to be determined

Finals Week (Dec. 14-18)

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.