Instructor: James Skidmore
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:  11-12
                          --Gladly by appointment (or just drop by).

You are more than welcome to see me during office hours for any reason. If you have a question,
concern, complaint, or even if you just want to chat, feel free to drop in.
.
Texts:

--Walzer, Just and Unjust Wars
--Other readings will be on reserve at the library or available on the internet (see course website)

Course Description and Objectives:

This course will examine a number of philosophical issues that arise regarding the conduct of warfare and the practice of (and fight against) terrorism.  Our concern will be primarily with ethical questions, such as:
        --Under what circumstances is it morally justified to wage war or commit terrorist acts?
                (Any? None?)
        --What moral constraints are there on the conduct of a justified war? (Is it true that all
                is fair in love and war?)

As we discuss these ethical issues we will of course run into more fundamental questions, such as
        --What is war? (How does it differ from other kinds of violence?)
        --What is terrorism? (How does it differ from war?)

Our examination of these questions will also take us into prominent theories in ethics and political philosophy, including those of historical figures such as Machiavelli, Hobbes, Mill, and Kant, as well as contemporary figures such as Michael Walzer.  By the end of the semester you should have a good sense of the most important philosophical questions that arise with respect to war and terrorism, along with a good sense of the most important attempts to answer those questions.

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 Essay (Due Sept. 21)                            20
                --Midterm Exam (Oct. 17)                              25
                --Second Essay (Due Nov. 16)                       25
                --Final Exam (Dec. 12)                                   30

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 not receive a grade higher than ‘C’.

Rewrite policy: Any essay that receives less than a 'C' may be rewritten for a grade of no higher than 'C'.

Tentative Schedule of Weekly Readings and Assignments

Weeks 1-4: Historical Background

Sept. 12  --Walzer, Chpts. 1 and 2  in Just and Unjust Wars
Sept. 14  --Holmes, Chpt. 2 in On War and Morality (on reserve)

Weeks 5-9:  Just War Theory

Sept. 19  --Walzer, Chpts. 3 and 4
Sept. 21  --Walzer, Chpts. 5 and 6
                  --First Short Essay Due

Oct. 3  --Thomas Nagel, "War and Massacre" (on reserve)<>
Oct. 5  --Walzer, Chpt. 11

Weeks 10-12:  Pacifism and Non-violence

Nov. 7  --Walzer, "Afterword" from Just and Unjust Wars
                 --Elizabeth Anscombe, "War and Murder" (on reserve)
Nov. 9  --Jan Narveson, "Pacifism:  A Philosophical Analysis" (on reserve)

Weeks 13-16:  Terrorism

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 views plagiarism as academic dishonesty, a very serious offense 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:  minimum penalty for intentionally plagiarized work is an 'F' in the course.