Focuses on multicultural ethics. Introduces ethical theories for analyzing ethical situations and for making ethical decisions within and across cultures. Explores role of ethics in various academic disciplines and professional fields.
Upon completion of this course, learners should be able to:
Burnor, Richard, & Raley, Yvonne. (2018) Ethical Choices: An Introduction to Moral Philosophy with Cases (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0190464509.
Johnson, A.G. (2018) Privilege, power, and difference (3rd ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill. ISBN: 978-0-07-340422-6.
Zeuschner, Robert B. (2014) Classical ethics: east and west (Reprint ed.). Brattleboro, VT: Echo Point Books & Media. ISBN 978-1626542280.
Minimum Technology Requirements
| Week | Reading | Graded Assignments and Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1.The Nature of Ethics and Ethical Theory |
Required Burnor & Raley: chapters 1 through 4; Zeuschner: "Introduction" Additional Resources James Fieser's entry on "Ethics" in the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy: http://www.iep.utm.edu/ethics/ "A Framework for Ethical Decision-Making," authored by the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics: https://www.scu.edu/ethics/ethics-resources/ethical-decision-making/a-framework-for-ethical-decision-making |
Introductions. These are due on Wednesday of the first week. They are not graded. Forum Posting: Identifying and Applying Essential Concepts; 4 points Written Assignment: Your Ethical Baseline; 7 points Quiz: Getting Clear on Popular Moral Relativism; 2 points |
| 2. Ethical Theories and How to Assess Them |
Required Burnor & Raley: "Introduction" to Part II, chapters 6 and 8; Zeuschner: chapters 11 and 12 Additional Resources John Stuart Mill's Utilitarianism (see especially chapter 2): http://www.earlymoderntexts.com/assets/pdfs/mill1863.pdf Section I of Immanuel Kant's Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals: http://www.earlymoderntexts.com/assets/pdfs/kant1785chapter1.pdf Section II of Immanuel Kant's Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals: http://www.earlymoderntexts.com/assets/pdfs/kant1785chapter2.pdf |
Forum Posting: The Importance of Happiness; 4 points Forum Posting: The Multiple Formulations Problem; 4 points Written Assignment: Time to Choose; 7 points |
| 3. Multiculturalism, Cultural Identity, and Ethics: The Ethical Implications of Self-Formation |
Required Johnson: "Inroduction," chapters 1, 2, 5 & 6 Yea-Wen Chen and Hengjun Lin's Sarah Song's entry on "Multiculturalism" in the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/multiculturalism/ Additional Resources Slavoj Žižek on "Multiculturalism and Tolerance," at dailymotion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkkpOBvZLr8 Micheal James's entry on "Race" in the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/race/ Erica Matthews and Yolanda Flores Niemann's "The Role of Stereotype Internalization in Defining Normative Behavior Among Black Students in Predominantly White Institutions," from the McNair Journal: https://research.libraries.wsu.edu/xmlui/handle/2376/29 |
Written Essay: Autobiography; 7 points Forum Discussion: How Your Life Would be Different; 4 points |
| 4. Ethics & Religion |
Required Burnor & Raley, chapter 13; Zeuschner, chapters 4 and 9 Additional Resources Plato's Euthyphro, translated by Benjamin Jowett: http://classics.mit.edu/Plato/euthyfro.html Video on Immanuel Kant's philosophy, produced by The School of Life: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsgAsw4XGvU |
Forum Discussion: Divine Command Theory; 4 points Forum Discussion: Saint Augustine and Divine Command Theory; 4 points Forum Discussion: Bishop Joseph Butler and the Alternate Dependency Account; 4 points |
| 5. Natural Law Theory |
Required Burnor & Raley: chapter 9; Zeuschner: Introduction to Part IV (pp. 151-6), chapters 5 and 8 Additional Resources John Finnis's entry on "Natural Law Ethics," in the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/natural-law-theories/ Oliver Laughland, et al's "Oxford Scholar Who was Mentor to Neil Gorsuch Compared Gay Sex to Bestiality," from The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/law/2017/feb/03/neil-gorsuch-mentor-john-finnis-compared-gay-sex-to-bestiality Video on Aquinas and Natural Law, produced by Philosophy Explained, narrated by Dr. Gloria Frost: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kX1bR0-9PA Video on Lao Tzu (and Daoism), produced by The School of Life: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFb7Hxva5rg |
Forum Posting: Putting Natural Law Theory to Use; 4 points Forum Posting: St. Thomas Aquinas and the Poor; 4 points Forum Posting: Taoism and the Practice of Wu-Wei; 4 points |
| 6. Virtue Ethics |
Required Burnor & Raley, chapter 11; Zeuschner, chapters 2 and 7 Read the Jesuit Values Pamphlets designed by Fr. Bart Geger, S.J. These are available in the "Course Resources" folder, found under the Content tab. Additional Resources "MoralHeroes": http://moralheroes.org/ |
Forum Posting: Jesuit Virtues; 4 points Written Assignment: My Sage; 8 points |
| 7. Rawls and Social Privilege |
Required Johnson, chapters 3, 4, 7-9, "Epilogue;" Burnor & Raley, chapter 10 Samuel Freeman's entry on "The Original Position," in the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/original-position/ (Read the first five sections, at least.) Peggy McIntosh's "White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack," available at The National Seed Project: https://nationalseedproject.org/white-privilege-unpacking-the-invisible-knapsack Additional Resources Robert Jensen's "White Privilege Shapes the U.S.," originally published in The Baltimore Sun: http://www.en.utexas.edu/Classes/Bremen/e316k/texts/jensen.html NPR Staff's "Affirmative Action: How Far Have We Come?" originally heard on All Things Considered: https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129216337&sc=emaf?storyId=129216337&sc=emaf |
PowerPoint Presentation: The Original Position as a Critical Tool; 5 points Forum Posting: How to Deal with Privilege; 4 points |
| 8. Ethical Pluralism and Your Own Ethical Framework |
Required Burnor and Raley, Part III (pp. 297-336) |
Final Paper: My Own Ethical Framework; 12 points Forum Posting: Course Reflection; 4 points |
| Total points = 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 could include number of learners in the course; compelling current events; special faculty experience or expertise; or unanticipated disruptions to class session schedule.
| Letter Grade | Percentage | Grade Point |
|---|---|---|
| A | 93 to 100 | 4.00 |
| A‾ | 90 to less than 92 | 3.67 |
| B+ | 90 to less than 89 | 3.33 |
| B | 83 to less than 87 | 3.00 |
| B‾ | 80 to less than 82 | 2.67 |
| C+ | 78 to less than 79 | 2.33 |
| C | 73 to less than 77 | 2.00 |
| C‾ | 70 to less than 72 | 1.67 |
| D+ | 68 to less thank 69 | 1.33 |
| D | 63 to less than 62 | 1.00 |
| D‾ | 60 to less than 62 | 0.67 |
| F | Less than 60 | 0 |
Review the SPA Policies on the Regis University website. specifically note these items:
Additional Policies: