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.