SPRING 2021 FGCU
CONTEMPORARY MORAL
ISSUES
|
PHI 1630 | CRN 13398 | 3 CREDIT HRS
TUESDAYS & THURSDAYS
MARIEB HALL 200
10:30-11:45 A.M.
Dr. Carolyn Culbertson
Associate Professor of Philosophy
Email: cculbertson@fgcu.edu
Office: Reed Hall 104
Office hours: Wed 2-4 p.m.
What does it mean to treat others fairly? What sorts of inequality am I morally responsible
for trying to resolve? Where do moral responsibilities come from and how do they differ
from legal obligations? Does ignorance excuse a person from moral responsibility? This
course will help students navigate these and similar questions as well as the difficult
practical decisions in which they arise by introducing them to important contributions on
the nature of ethics from philosophers past and present. Students will not only apply
ethical theory to contemporary moral issues but will critically evaluate inherited principles
of ethical theory by considering, above all, their implications for our shared world today.
REQUIRED BOOKS
1) Ethics: The Essential Writings, ed. Gordon Mariono
(Modern LIbrary, 2010).
2) Michael Sandel, Justice: What Should We Do?
(Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2010).
Note: You will need hard copies of these books to annotate and
to use in class (no devices are allowed in class). In addition to
these two books, there are a few readings that can be found
directly on Canvas.
ASSIGNMENTS
Exams (2 Essay Exams: 34 pts, 2
Oral Exams 20 pts.) | There will
be two exams in the class. These
exams will allow you to
demonstrate a deep
understanding of the questions,
concepts, and theories
introduced in the reading and to
apply them to thinking about
contemporary social issues.
Each exam will consist of two
components -- a written essay
portion and an oral argument
portion. Study guides and
further guidance will be
provided well in advance of
each exam.
Note: Grades can be followed on
Canvas (except for points lost for
absences). The grading scale is: 80-83.9
(B-), 84-86.9 (B), 87-89.9 (B+),, etc.
Teaching Presentation (6 pts.) |
At one point in the semester,
you will do a teaching
presentation on an ethical
theory, debate, or issue covered
in the class. Your task will be to
teach us to think more clearly
about this topic. You will be
asked to coordinate with one
other student on this
presentation.
Contributions to Class
Discussion (14 pts.) | A
successful course requires that
all students are actively
contributing to the learning
environment. Effectively
contributing to class discussion
means demonstrating complete
attentiveness when class is in
session and contributing
thoughtful, relevant questions,
insights, and responses during
class discussion.
In-class Quizzes (26 pts) | On
several days throughout the
semester, class will begin with a
brief quiz on the reading. These
quizzes are intended to make
sure that you are keeping up
with the reading and coming
prepared for class discussion.
Your lowest 3 quiz scores will be
dropped. This will include up to 3
zeroes you receive due to
absences.
SCHEDULE OF ASSIGNMENTS
Week 1 | On the study of ethics: how it's
possible, how it's done
Tu 1/12 | Course introduction -- No reading
Th 1/14 | Read Justice, Ch. 1, p. 3-30
Week 2 | The greatest happiness principle
Tu 1/19 | Read Justice, Ch. 2, p. 31-48
Th 1/21 | Read Ethics, Selection from John
Stuart Mill's Utilitarianism, p. 228-255
Week 3 | The greatest happiness principle
Tu 1/26 | Read Justice, Ch. 2, p. 48-57
Th 1/28 | Read Ethics, Peter Singer's "Rich and
Poor," p. 506-529
Week 4 | Do you own yourself? Can you do
whatever you'd like to yourself?
Tu 2/2 | Guest lecture -- No reading
Th 2/4 | Read Justice, Ch. 3, p. 58-74
Week 5 | Do you own yourself? Can you do
whatever you'd like to yourself?
Tu 2/9 | Read Ethics, Judith Thomson's "A
Defense of Abortion," p. 569-588
Th 2/11 | Read Sandra Bartky's "Feminine
Masochism and the Politics of Personal
Transformation" (On Canvas)
Week 6 | The limits of market-based
conceptions of fairness
Tu 2/16 | Read Justice, Ch. 4, p. 75-91
Th 2/18 | Read Justice, Ch. 4, p. 91-102
Week 7 | The Kantian conception of duty,
conscience, and moral motivation
Tu 2/23 | Read Justice, Ch. 5, p. 103-124
Th 2/25 | Read Justice, Ch. 5, p. 124-139
Week 8 | Duty, conscience, and moral motivation:
After Kant
Tu 3/2 | Read Ethics, Tom Regan's "The Case for
Animal Rights," p. 531-544
Th 3/4 | Read Ethics, Thomas Nagel's "Mortal
Questions," p. 445-461
Week 9 | Duty, conscience, and moral motivation:
After Kant
Tu 3/9 | Read selection from Jose Medina's "The
Epistemology of Resistance" (On Canvas)
Tu 3/11 | Read selection from Jose Medina's "The
Epistemology of Resistance" (On Canvas)
Week 10 | Demonstration of learning
Tu 3/16 | Essay exam (In class)
Th 3/18 | Oral exams (scheduled for 3/17 & 3/18)
Week 11 | The moral limits of contracts; Emerging
ethical questions for the 21st century
Tu 3/23 | Read Justice, Ch. 6, p. 140-166
Th 3/25 | Read Yuval Harari's essay, "Work" from 21
Lessons for the 21st Century (On Canvas)
Week 12 | Emerging ethical questions for the 21st
century; The Importance of teleological considerations (i.e., Aristotle) for ethics today
Tu 3/30 | Read Yuval Harari's essay, "Liberty" from
21 Lessons for the 21st Century (On Canvas)
Th 4/1 | Read Justice, Ch. 7, p. 167-183
Week 13 | The importance of teleological
considerations (i.e., Aristotle) for ethics today
Tu 4/6 | Read Ethics, Selection from Aristotle's
Nicomachean Ethics, p. 41-65
Th 4/8 | Read Justice, Ch. 8, p. 184-207
Week 14 | Ethical responsibility beyond individual
rights and individual accountability
Tu 4/13 | Read Justice, Ch. 9, p. 208-225
Th 4/15 | Read Justice, Ch. 9, p. 225-243
Week 15 & Exam Week | Demonstration of learning
Tu 4/20 | Read Justice, Ch. 10, p. 244-269
Th 4/22 | Oral exams (scheduled for 4/21 & 4/22)
Tu 4/27 | Essay Exam (10:00-11:15 a.m.)
LATE WORK POLICY
Only some assignments can be made up late. If you
miss the first essay exam, either oral exam, or your
teaching presentation, you may come to my
regularly scheduled office hours within one week to
make it up. There will be a 15% late penalty applied.
If you miss the second essay exam, there will be
one scheduled opportunity to make up the exam
for a 15% penalty. In-class quizzes cannot be made
up; however, your lowest 3 quiz scores will be
dropped.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
To recognize the role of ethical theory
in figuring out how to act and how to
live -- as an individual and as a
society
To become familiar with the some of
the most important and influential
ethical theories in human history and
to understand their relevance for
contemporary moral issues today
To be able to construct thoughtful,
well-grounded arguments about issues
of public concern by drawing on
general ethical principles and by
understanding the specific limits of
each of these principles so as not to
extend them beyond where they are
justified
OTHER COURSE
POLICIES
Attendance Policy | Your consistent
presence in class is essential to the
learning goals of this course. As such,
there is a penalty for missing too much
class. 4 or fewer absences will not affect
your grade (these are discretionary
absences to use for whatever you
consider justifiable reasons); however,
every absence beyond this will lower
your grade by 1 point. Students absent
for COVID-related reasons will have
these absences excused only if I receive
an official notice of the required
quarantine from Student Health Services.
COVID Classroom Protocol (masks,
distancing, daily screening) | Per
university policy, all students are
required to (1) wear an appropriate mask
that covers their mouth and nose while in
the classroom, (2) maintain an
appropriate, CDC-recommmended
distance from others in the classroom,
and (3) complete the daily health
screening app before
coming to class. Per university policy, if a
student is noncompliant with the
masking policy and refuses to leave the
classroom promptly when requested, the
instructor may cancel class. Any student
who fails to comply with these requests
and/or disrupts a class may be referred
to the Office of Student Conduct. The
student’s action may be treated as a
violation of the Student Code of Conduct,
which could result in disciplinary action
from the university.
Academic Honesty | All students are
expected to demonstrate honesty in
their academic pursuits. The university
policies regarding issues of honesty can
be found in the FGCU Student Guidebook under the Student Code of
Conduct and Policies and Procedure ssections. All students are
expected to study this document which outlines their responsibilities
and consequences for violations of the policy. The FGCU Student
Guidebook is available online at:
http://studentservices.fgcu.edu/judicialaffairs/new.html.
Learning Environment and Tech | Philosophy classes require that
you pay serious attention and that you actively demonstrate your
attentiveness to others in the learning environment. As such, avoid
any behavior in class that would make it hard for you or others to
concentrate. Put away all devices while in the classroom.
HELPFUL RESOURCES
Counseling Services | CAPS (Counseling and Psychological
Services) provides free counseling and therapy services (including
psychiatry) to all FGCU students. Please contact CAPS at (239) 5907950 or email caps@fgcu.edu for more information or to
establish services.
Adaptive Services | FGCU provides classroom and academic
accommodations for students with documented disabilities. If you
need to request an accommodation in this class due to a disability
or suspect that your academic performances is affected by a
disability, please contact the Office of Adaptive Services (Howard
Hall 137 | 239-590-7956 or TTY 239-590-7930).
Academic Support | CAA (Center for Academic Achievement)
offers various programs to assist you in reaching your academic
goals. CAA services are for all FGCU students and include Academic
Coaching, Tutoring, Success Workshops, and Writing Consultations.
Visit www.fgcu.edu/caa & www.fgcu.edu/writingcenter to make
appointments and get schedules for workshops. Or stop by the
office in Library 103 to pick up a schedule and make appointments.