PL 360: Ethics

Supplemental Course Information

Academic Learning Activities Required Outside of Scheduled Class Time: (Instructor Add or Delete 5-week hybrid/F2f classes only)

Course Meeting Times/Place

Term: [instructor add]
Location: [Instructor add Online/Campus]
Start Date: [instructor add]
End Date: [instructor add]
Time: [instructor Add]
Type: [Online, Face to Face, Blended, Hybrid]

Instructor Information

Name of instructor: [instructor add]
Office Location: [instructor add]
Office Hours: [instructor add]
Office Phone: [instructor add]
Regis.edu email: [instructor add]

Course Descripion:

This course examines and assesses philosophical justifications for morality. It investigates ethical theories and their application to contemporary moral problems.

Prerequisite Courses:

None

Course Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, learners should be able to:

  1. Evaluate the status of moral truth claims.
  2. Analyze the moral reasoning used to justify moral actions and beliefs.
  3. Apply ethical theories in the justification of moral actions and beliefs.
  4. Provide a reasoned defense of your own views on selected contemporary moral problems.

Course Materials:

Required Texts:

Vaughn, L. (2015). Beginning ethics: An introduction to moral philosophy. New York, NY: W. W. Norton & Company. ISBN: 978-0-393-93790-9

Optional Materials:

All written assignments are expected to be written using the American Psychological Association (APA) style and format, which includes a title page, and reference page.

Course Assignments and Activities

Week/Topic Readings Graded Assignment or Assessments and Associated Points
1
Tools for Ethical Living and Decision- Making

Required

Vaughn (2015), Chapters 1, 2, and 4

Philosophy Bites Podcast: Simon Blackburn on Moral Relativism (Try a "direct download" of the podcast; then it should play on your browser.) (Transcript)

Additional Resources


Powerpoints, "Anatomy of Normative Ethical Systems" and "The Status of Moral Claims"
  1. Introductions (Not graded)
  2. Discussions/Participation (20%)
    • Exploring Normative Theories of Ethics
    • Investigating the Status of Moral Claims
2
Animal Suffering and Consequentialism: Ethical Egoism, Utilitarianism, and Social Contract Theory

Required

Vaughn (2015): Chapters 5, 6, and 9


Singer, P. "Down on the Factory Farm" (E- Reserves)


Gruen, L. "Eating Animals" (E-Reserves)

Additional Resources


PowerPoint: "Taking A Deeper Look: The Moral Logic of Ethical Egoism, Utilitarianism, and Social Contract Theory"


View The Trolley Car Problem, scripted by Nigel Warburton, and published by the BBC (Transcript)


Read PBS Frontline's interview of Senator Elizabeth Warren, on the topics of credit cards, bankruptcy, and usury laws


View Sustainable Table and Free Range Studios' The Meatrix (Transcript) and The Meatrix II -- be sure to select The Meatrix II from the menu below the screen (Transcript)
  1. Paper: Animal Suffering (10%)
  2. Discussions/Participation (10%)
    • The Trolley Car Problem
    • Usury Laws
3
Capital Punishment and Non-Consequentialist Ethical Theories: Deontology, Divine Command Theory, and Natural Law Theory

Required

Vaughn (2015): Chapters 7 and 8

Austin, Michael W. Divine command theory. (N.D.). Retrieved from Internet encyclopedia of philosophy. http://www.iep.utm.edu/divine-c/.

Additional Resources

PowerPoint: "Do the Right Thing"

View Kant's Axe, scripted by Nigel Warburton, and published by the BBC (Transcript)

Galli, M. (March, 2015). Let Kelly Gissendaner live. Christianity today. Retrieved from http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2015/march-web-only/let-kelly-gissendaner-live.html.
  1. Paper: Climate Change (10%)
  2. Discussions/Participation (10%)
    • Using the Cracked Code
    • Climate Change
4
Climate Change: Virtue Theory and the Feminist Ethics of Care

Required

Vaughn (2015): Chapters 10 and 11


Knapp, A. (2012). Forbes. The Basic Science of Climate Change is Undeniable


Fischetti, M. (2015). Scientific American. The Pause in Global Warming is Finally Explained


Jamieson, D. “When Utilitarians Should be Virtue Theorists” (E- Reserves)

Bradely, C. “Keeping the Soil in the Good Heart: Women Weeders, the Environment, and Ecofeminism” (E- Reserves)

Additional Resources

PowerPoint: “Virtue Ethics”

Listen to Julia Annas on the Philosophy Bites podcast: What is Virtue Ethics For? (Transcript)

Watch StudiocanalUK's overview of the 2014 Oscar-winning film The Imitation Game (Transcript)

Watch a video by big think in which Carol Gilligan discusses In a Different Voice  (Transcript)
  1. Paper: Climate Change (10%)
  2. Discussions/Participation (10%)
    • Using the Cracked Code
    • Climate Change
5
Applied Ethics		 Researching your project
  1. Paper Applied Project (10%)
  2. Discussions Participation (10%)
    • Topic Proposal (Not graded, but required)
    • Working Hypothesis/Monitoring Thread
100%

Note to Learners: On occasion, the course faculty may, at his or her discretion, alter the Learning Activities shown in this Syllabus. The alteration of Learning Activities may not, in any way, change the Learner Outcomes or the grading scale for this course as contained in this syllabus. Examples of circumstances that could justify alterations in Learning Activities might include: number of learners in the course; compelling current events; special faculty experience or expertise; unanticipated disruptions to class session schedule.

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