Phil 102 – Contemporary Moral Problems |
Instructor: Dr. Tablan Ph.D |
Winter Quarter 2012 |
Office: R230 K |
Class times: MW 12:30-2:40 p.m. |
Office Phone:
425-564-2074 |
Classroom: C168 |
e-mail:
ftablan@bellevuecollege.edu |
|
Office Hours: M/W 5:10 – 6:45 p.m. |
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 “BCC 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 ( Vaughn, Lewis. 2009 Contemporary Moral Arguments:
Readings in Ethical Issues USA: Oxford University Press).
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 strongly advised 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 – 10% 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.
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
Grading Criteria for
Essays 1. Completion of the Requirements 25 points Answers to the guide questions/paper
instructions; accomplishment of the paper’s objective; effective title and
conclusion; grammatically correct sentences; footnotes and documentation
(when applicable); careful proofreading; appropriate manuscript form; clean
typing and printing; pages are numbered and stapled. 2. Quality of Ideas 35 points New insights, creativity and originality;
persuasiveness of arguments; absence of fallacies; appropriate examples;
complexity of ideas and arguments; appropriate awareness of opposing views;
range and depth of analysis; range and depth of interpretation. 3. Organization and Development 25 points Clarity of thesis statement (when
applicable); logical and clear
arrangement of ideas; good development
of ideas through supporting details,
examples, evidence and quotations from the text; effective use of
transition; unity and coherence of paragraph 4. Clarity and Style 15 points Ease of readability; clarity of arguments and
sentence structure; appropriate audience; gracefulness of sentence structure;
appropriate variety of sentence structure. |