BELLEVUE COLLEGE
Arts and Humanities Division Philosophy Department
Philosophy 102 Contemporary Moral
Problems
FALL Quarter 2012 MW 12:30 to 2:40 PM Rm
C168
Instructor: Dr. Tablan Ph.D. ftablan@bellevuecollege.edu
R230-K Office Hours: MW 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM
Course Description:
Provides
philosophical consideration of some of the major moral problems and
controversies that divide contemporary American society such as abortion,
euthanasia, gay marriage, war, and genetic engineering. Moral issues will be discussed
and analyzed using classical and contemporary ethical theories. Fulfills social
science or humanities credit at BC.
Learning Objectives:
After
completing this course, students should be able to:
1. Recognize
and use basic philosophic vocabulary (e.g., “supererogatory,”
“consequentialism,” “virtue,” etc.) in in-class and take-home essays, short
answer tests, or matching quizzes.
2. Recognize,
assess, and be able to use appropriate deductive and inductive argument
strategies and tactics. For instance, students should be able to recognize an
argument as fallacious or logically successful, and be able to explain how the
truth or falsity of premises impacts a given argument.
3. Distinguish
good evidence for a position from bad evidence. For example, students should be
able to explain in a one page essay why a philosopher has failed to support his
or her position on the issue of euthanasia.
4. Explain
in an essay the arguments for and against a specified position. For example,
students should be able to write a four page take-home essay explaining the
reasons for and against accepting the Pro-Choice side of an abortion debate.
5. Analyze
philosophic concepts in writing. For instance, students should be able give an
analysis of concepts such as Justice, Personhood, or the Good. Analyses should
include an adequate definition and considerations of potential counterexamples.
6. Accurately
and informatively explain the topics discussed by the philosophers studied. For
instance, students studying John Stuart Mill should be able to write a one-page
essay explaining what he means and how he defends himself when he argues for a
maximum amount of personal liberty in the academic environment.
7. Identify,
distinguish, and explain the different schools of thought in Ethics (e.g.,
Divine Command Theory, Cultural Relativism, Ethical Egoism). This may be
assessed via short answer tests.
8. Write
argumentative essays containing clear thesis claims, strong arguments for the
theses, reasonable consideration of opposing views, and conforming to the
presentation/writing standards set forth in the “BC Philosophy Writing
Guidelines.”
Course Requirements and Grading Scheme
Requirements
In-class
Participation (5%); Assignments (5%); Class activities and Quizzes (15%);
2
Philosophical Essays (30%); Mid-Term Exam (20%); Final Exam (25%)
100-Point Grading
Scale
|
A-
91 - 94 B+
87 - 90 |
B
84-86 B-
80-83 C+
77-79 |
C
74-76 C-
70-73 D+
66-69 |
D
60-65 F
below 60 |
About the Requirements:
Reading Assignments: Being a text-based
course, it is the students’ responsibility to do their own reading of the
assigned texts. Instructional procedure will take the form of commentaries,
interpretations, explanations, applications, problem-solving activities, and
critical questions on some of the major points and difficult passages of the
text. It will not be a paragraph-by-paragraph lecture of its content. All
students are required to have a copy of the course textbook and to bring it to
class every meeting ( Vaugh, Lewis. 2009 Contemporary Moral Arguments: Readings
in Ethical Issues USA: Oxford University Press. It is highly
encouraged that you look online for used
copies of the text which are less expensive.).
In-class
Participation:
Discussion is a very important part of the course. Students are expected to
bring to class insights, issues, interpretation, comments, critiques, and
questions regarding the required readings for the purposes of information
sharing, argument, and informal debate. People learn in different ways. Some
learn by thinking out loud while others need to listen a while before forming
their own conclusions. However, even for more reserved students, classroom
discussion is an important way to think through questions and ideas. While I do
not give graded recitation, I shall take your regular attendance and consistent
thoughtful engagement in class as the basis for in-class participation.
Classroom Attendance: It is your
responsibility as students to attend all classes on time. Class attendance is
monitored but not graded. Poor attendance may affect your grade because if you
miss class, you miss the discussions, important announcements, active learning
exercises, group activities, and the opportunity to ask questions and get answers.
If you miss class, it is your responsibility to update yourselves with missed
assignments and readings. You are likewise accountable for any announcements,
changes in syllabus or class calendar, and schedules of exams and quizzes
whether you have been attending class or not.
Tutorials and
Consultation:
Every reasonable effort will be made to assist you for any problems or
difficulties you may encounter with any aspect of this course. I will never be
offended by your questions or comments about papers, class schedule, reading
materials, class discussions, grading, study habits and so on. For brief
consultations, you can see me after class. Emails are the most efficient means
by which we can communicate outside the classroom. It is absolutely necessary
that you get an acknowledgement that I have received your email. Save a copy of
my email acknowledgement for your reference. Every student is required to have
a public email (I will not send blind carbon copy to anyone). While I send
class updates and class assignments though email from time to time, this is
only as a form of courtesy. This is not an online course. All
announcements and assignments should be given in class.
Tentative
Course Outline and Reading Assignments
(This
schedule is for planning purposes only. It may be changed by the instructor
depending upon the students’ interests, the ability of the class to absorb the
materials, and the composition of the class.)
MORAL REASONING pp. 1 to 15 (week 1)
1.
Ethics
and the Moral Domain
2.
Ethics,
Law, and Religion
3.
Moral
Relativism
4.
Moral
Arguments
MORAL THEORIES pp. 53 to 65 (week 2 – 3)
1.
Why Moral Theories?
2.
Important Moral Theories
3.
Utilitarianism
4.
Kantian Ethics
5.
Natural Law Theory
6.
Rawls's Contractarianism
7.
Virtue Ethics
8.
The Ethics of Care
9.
Feminist Ethics
ABORTION (week 4 – 5)
1.
Mary Anne Warren: On the Moral and Legal Status of Abortion
pp. 114 to 119
2. Stephen
Schwarz: The Being in the Womb Is a
Person pp. 119 to 130.
3. John
T. Noonan, Jr.: An Almost
Absolute Value in History pp. 154 to 157.
EUTHANASIA AND ASSISTED SUICIDE
(week 6 – 7)
1.
Daniel Callahan: When Self-Determination
Runs Amok pp. pp. 265 to 269.
2.
John Lachs: When
Abstract Moralizing Runs Amok pp. 270 to 273.
3.
James Rachels: Active
and Passive Euthanasia pp. 283 to 287
4.
Winston Nesbitt: Is Killing No Worse Than Letting Die? pp. 287 to 290.
GAY MARRIAGE (week 8)
1.
Sam Schulman: Gay Marriage--and Marriage pp. 246 to
252
2.
Jonathan Rauch: For Better or Worse? pp. 253 to 258.
GENETIC ENGINEERING AND CLONING (week 9)
1.
Dan W. Brock: Cloning Human Beings: An Assessment of the Ethical Issues Pro and
Con pp.
334 to 344
2.
Søren
Holm: A Life in the Shadow: One Reason Why We Should Not Clone Humans pp. 345 to 347
WAR, TERRORISM, AND
TORTURE (week 10)
1. War, Terrorism and Torture pp. 396 to 405
2. Douglas P. Lackey: Pacifism pp. 407 to 414
3. Michael Walzer:
The Legalist Paradigm pp. 424 to
HEALTH CARE
(week 11)
1.
Economic Justice: Health Care pp. 547 to 558.
2.
Norman Daniels: Is
There a Right to Health Care and, if so, What Does it Encompass? pp. 559 to 565
3.
Allen Buchanan: The
Right to a Decent Minimum of Health Care pp. 566 to 567.
ECONOMIC
JUSTICE AND GLOBAL OBLIGATIONS
1.
William W. Murdoch and Allan Oaten: A Critique of Lifeboat Ethics pp. 688 to 696
2.
Peter Singer: Famine,
Affluence, and Morality pp. 698 to 705.
Class Policies
1. I
have a little difficulty in hearing so please speak slowly, loudly and clearly
whenever you talk in class.
2. Before
coming to class, students must have enough sleep and rest. Take a cup of
coffee/tea, or soda that has caffeine. Eat lightly. Some people get sleepy
after eating a heavy meal. Eating during class is not allowed.
3. All
written assignments or papers are due at the beginning of the class on the
submission date. Lack of access to a computer and/or computer glitches are not
acceptable excuses for failing to hand in assignments on time. Late submission
for any requirement, for whatever reasons, is subject to a substantial grade
reduction – 15% deduction for every meeting. If you cannot come to class, you can
submit your paper in advance or ask one
of your classmates to do it. Late papers cannot be left in my faculty mailbox
without my permission. No late requirements will be accepted one week after the
due date.
4. Email
submission is NOT allowed.
5. Students
are expected to plan their schedules in advance having the dates of the exam in
mind. If you miss a long exam, the only acceptable excuse is serious physical
injury/illness and a note from a hospital or doctor. There will be no make-up
for missed class activities.
6. It
is the responsibility of the students to arrange for make-up work at the
convenience of the instructor. All make-up work must be completed within one
week upon returning to class.
7. Students
who are absent are accountable for all the lectures, handouts, discussions, and
announcements that are given during the class
8. An
incomplete grade is given only if the student has completed substantial
requirements of the course but failed to take the final exam. If an incomplete
is granted, the student must complete the academic work according to the BC
policy.
9. All
returned materials should be kept until the official final grade is given. Back
up all written assignments to insure against loss.
10. The
use of laptop during class is not allowed without permission from the
disability center.
11. No
student will be permitted to rewrite a submitted paper. It is understood that
all papers submitted are in their final
version.
12. Letter
grades (A, A-, B+, etc.) are assigned only at the end of the quarter.
13. The
final grade is non-negotiable. No extra credit.
Disability Resource
Center (DRC)
Students with
disabilities
who have accommodation needs are required to meet with the Director of the
Disability Resource Center (room B132-G; 425-564-2498 or TTY 425-564-4110) to
establish their eligibility for accommodation. The DRC office will provide each
eligible student with an accommodation letter. Students who require accommodation
in class should review the DRC accommodation letter with the instructor during
the first week of the quarter.
Student Code
“Cheating,
stealing and plagiarizing (using the ideas or words of another as one’s own
without crediting the source) and inappropriate/disruptive classroom behavior
are violations of the Student Code of Conduct at Bellevue College. Examples of unacceptable behavior include,
but are not limited to talking out of turn, arriving late or leaving early
without a valid reason, allowing cell phones/pagers to ring, and inappropriate
behavior toward the instructor or classmates.
The instructor can refer any violation of the Student Code of Conduct to
the Vice President of Student Services for possible probation or suspension
from Bellevue College. Specific student
rights, responsibilities and appeal procedures are listed in the Student Code
of Conduct, available in the office of the Vice President of Student
Services.” The Student Code, Policy
2050, in its entirety is located at: http://bellevuecollege.edu/policies/2/2050_Student_Code.asp
Affirmation of
Inclusion
Bellevue
College is committed to maintaining an environment in which every member of the
campus community feels welcome to participate in the life of the college, free
from harassment and discrimination. We value our different backgrounds at
Bellevue College, and students, faculty, staff members, and administrators are
to treat one another with dignity and respect. Part of this respect involves
professional behavior toward the instructor, colleagues, and the class
itself. Disruptive behavior is
disrespectful behavior. The Arts and
Humanities Division honors the right of its faculty to define "disruptive
behavior," which often involves such things as arriving late, leaving early,
leaving class and then returning, talking while others are trying to hear the
instructor or their group members, doing other homework in class, wearing
earphones in class, bringing activated beepers, alarm watches, or cellular
phones into class, inappropriate comments or gestures, etc. http://bellevuecollege.edu/about/goals/inclusion.asp