Course Outline
Semester: Spring 2009
Days:TTh
Time:9:45 - 11:10 am
Location: Building 26D Room 2240
Professor: Charles T. McGruder, Ph.D.
Office: Building 26B, Room 2551K
Office Hours: MTWTh, 8:45 am - 9:45 am
Telephone: (909) 274-4595
Email: cmcgruder@mtsac.edu
Web Address: https://faculty.mtsac.edu/cmcgruder/
Class Webpage Page: https://myportal.mtsac.edu
Textbooks
Great Traditions in Ethics, 12th ed., Denise, White, Peterfreund
Gandhi – An Autobiography, Dover Press
The Humanism of Existentialism by Jean-Paul Sartre
Handout
Selections from Nietzsche’s Writings, Novak
Handouts
Critical Thinking Format/Study Sheet
Prerequisite: Eligibility for ENGL 1A and a 3.5 GPA
Course Description
A critical analysis of empirical and normative factors involved in choice, including an examination of major ethical theories and their application to the study of moral problems. Honors courses are designed to provide an enriched experience for accelerated students. Students may not receive credit for both PHIL 12 and PHIL 12H.
Goals
An enhanced self/social understanding
An enhanced capacity to be philosophical—to grapple with language and values
To discern value judgments
A disciplined engagement with contemporary themes and moral issues
An enlargement of communication and critical thinking skill
Use of visual/analytical methods
ACCESS Accommodations:
Mt. SAC strives to make its courses accessible to everyone. It specifically considers features that make its courses accessible to individuals with disabilities, including those using assistive technology for computer access. if you need special accommodations, please contact both the professor and Mt. SAC (ACCESS) at (909) 596-5411, ext. 4290 or http://www.mtsac.edu/students/dsps/
Grading
90% = A, 80% = B, 70% = C, 60% = D, 50% = F
40% Written Assignments (including Gandhi Outline and Nietzsche Notebook)
20% Quizzes
20% Case Study
20% Attendance & Participation
Attendance Policy
Attendance is mandatory in all of my classes.
The deadline to withdraw from the Spring Semester is Friday, May 1.
It is your responsibility to drop the class. I will drop you for lack of attendance or work.
Make up Policy
No make ups allowed except for emergencies.
I will accept assignments early, but not late.
Calendar Course Outline
|
WEEK |
DATE |
READING and DISCUSSION TOPIC |
|
1 Feb. |
24 T |
Introduction Read: Handouts |
|
|
26 TH |
Handouts |
|
2 March |
3 T |
Great Traditions Chapters 1 & 2 Introduction & Knowledge and Virtue PLATO |
|
|
5 TH |
Great Traditions Chapter 3 Moral Character ARISTOTLE |
|
3 |
10 T |
Great Traditions Chapter 4
The Pleasant Life EPICURUS |
|
|
12 TH |
Great Traditions Chapter 5 Self-Discipline EPICTETUS |
|
4 |
17 T |
Great Traditions Chapter 8 Social Contract Ethics HOBBES |
|
|
19 TH |
Great Traditions Chapter 9 Nature and Reason Spinoza |
|
5 |
24 T |
Great Traditions Chapter 10 Morality and Sentiment DAVID HUME |
|
|
26 TH |
Great Traditions Chapter 11 Glossary Exam Duty and Reason IMMANUEL KANT |
|
6 |
31 T | Holiday! |
|
April |
2 TH |
Great Traditions Chapter 12 The Greatest Happiness Principle JOHN STUART MILL |
|
7 |
7 T |
Great Traditions The Leap of Faith SOREN KIERKEGAARD |
|
|
9 TH |
Great Traditions Chapter 14 Morality as Ideology KARL MARX |
|
8 |
14 T |
Great Traditions Chapter 16 The Transvaluation of Values FRIEDRICH NIETZSCHE |
|
|
16 TH |
Great Traditions Chapter 17 Scientific Method in Ethics JOHN DEWEY |
|
9 |
21 T |
Great Traditions Chapter 19 Prima Facie Duty W. D. ROSS |
|
|
23 TH |
Great Traditions Chapter 21 & Handout Radical Freedom JEAN-PAUL SARTRE |
|
10 |
28 T |
Great Traditions Chapter 23 Ethics and Social Justice JOHN RAWLS |
|
|
30 TH |
Great Traditions Chapter 25 Ethics as Trusting in Trust & Feminist Ethics ANNETTE BAIER |
|
11 May |
5 T |
NIETZSCHE Notebook Due |
|
|
7 TH |
NIETZSCHE |
|
12 |
12 T |
GANDHI Outline Due |
|
|
14 TH |
GANDHI |
|
13 |
19 T |
Case Study Format, Requirements for Moral Judgments handout |
|
|
21 TH |
Group Case Study |
|
14 |
26 T |
Group Case Study |
|
|
28 TH |
Individual Case Study |
|
15 June |
2 T |
Individual Case Study |
|
|
4 TH |
Individual Case Study |
|
16 |
11 TH |
Final Meet at 9:00am |
OUTLINE OF ETHICAL THEORY
I. Descriptive Ethics: factual inquiry
II. Normative Ethics: the application of basic moral principles and values
A. Action Theories: Right/Wrong/Obligatory (R/W/O)
1. Teleological Theories – R/W/O depend on maximization alone
a. Ethical Egoism – maximize the good for the self
b. Utilitarianism – maximize the good for "all"
Act-Utilitarianism – moral authority in the agent
Rule-Utilitarianism – moral authority in the rules
2. Deontological Theories – deny that R/W/O depend on maximization alone
(appeals to reason, "nature", God, history,
evolution, general will, etc.)
a. Act-Deontological
b. Rule-Deontological
B. Trait Theories: Good/Bad (G/B) focus on persons, states of being
1. Trait-Teleology
a. Trait-Egoism
b. Trait-Utilitarianism
2. Trait-Deontology
3. Combinations
C. Non-Moral Value Theories (things, ideas, experience, institutions, etc.)
1. Intrinsic/Inherent Values: good in themselves
2. Extrinsic Values: good as necessary and/or sufficient or desirable
(not good in themselves)
3. Examples of intrinsic values: pleasure (hedonism), power, self-realization,
wealth, salvation, freedom
4. Teleological theories: logically dependent on production of intrinsic values
5. Deontological theories: logically independent of their production
III. Metaethics: the clarification, analysis and justification of basic moral principles
A. Nature of Ethics (vs. other normative speech: etiquette, law, prudence, religion)
B. Theories of Justification
1. Definism: G/B/R/W state facts of some kind
(Absolutist)
2. Intuitionism: G/B/R/W are non-natural properties
(Absolutist)
3. Non-Cognitivism: G/B/R/W are expressions of opinion, belief, emotion, etc.
(Relativist)
C. Relativism
1. Metaethical Relativism: basic moral judgments can not be true or false in an
absolute sense
2. Descriptive Relativism: different cultures have different and conflicting basic
moral judgments
D. Human Nature (descriptive basic assumptions)
1. Psychological Egoism
2. Social Nature
E. Justice
1. Formal Principle
2. Content
F. Rights
1. Inalienable
2. Conditional
G. Why be moral?
| Last Updated: 10/19/22 |