FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON UNIVERSITY
Odysseus Makridis
Spring 2002
Mondays and Thursdays 12:45-2:00
Texts:
1) N. Rosenstand, The Moral of the Story: An Introduction to Ethics 3rd edition, (Mayfield Publishing Co.) {hereafter, referred to as Rosenstand}
2) P. Singer, ed., Ethics; An Oxford Reader (Oxford University Press). {hereafter, referred to as Singer}
Course Description
Human life is beset by agonizing moral dilemmas. Especially in moments of crisis, our moral obligations may come into mutual conflict: For instance, I might think that I have a moral duty to always speak the truth, and, yet, at the same time, I see that I may also have a moral duty to spare a dying person from the horrifying truth about his terminal illness. How should I act in such moments?
Works of popular culture – for instance, movies – also depict harrowing moments of moral uncertainty. You could even say that stories with a pronounced moral theme are more interesting than less sophisticated – morally obtuse – dramas: For instance, we expect even “B movies” to dress the protagonists in the morally interesting garbs of “hero,” “victim,” or “the evil one.” An even more interesting plot would actually allow for some ambivalence in the depiction of the moral qualities of the characters: The presumptive good person might have flaws, the supposed evil one might have a more benign side to him, and so on.
What are we to infer from all this? Even when we entertain ourselves, we cannot escape the specter of moral questions hovering over us. Indeed, we sometimes even ask if it is morally right to seek entertainment – or pursue pleasure.
Even on a more basic level, moral philosophy seeks to answer questions like the following: What is a moral duty? Why is it that we, human beings, are capable of conceiving of moral duties and rights? Why do different cultures impose different moral obligations on their members? Does this mean that there are no universally valid moral codes? Are there any methods, rules, or procedures that can help us figure out what out duties are in given situations? Are there any theories that can assist us with determining our moral obligations? Why are there more than one theories? – after all, it sounds plausible that there should be a ‘right’ answer to questions concerning moral duties. What is it that makes a theory ‘good’ – or ‘bad’?
Ethics deals with questions of this nature. All of us are familiar with the notions of ‘right,’ ‘duty,’ ‘justice,’ and so on. Even when we fail to do the ‘right thing’ – and even when we doubt whether it matters that we didn’t do the ‘right thing’ – we might still, perhaps, experience ‘guilt.’ And, why do most people react guardedly toward persons who have no moral scruples?
Societies too – in addition to individuals – confront trying moral choices. Issues like abortion, euthanasia, capital punishment, and the right to own a gun – to mention only a few headline-makers – cannot be addressed without attention to moral-philosophical issues and theories.
In this course, we study theories and reflect on stories with a moral theme. The stories are engaging – they come from novels you might have read and films you might have enjoyed. Here is your chance to develop skills, acquire reasoning tools, and equip yourself with the theoretical means, which will allow you to “make sense” of life’s problems and hopefully prepare you to deal with real-life situations.
Schedule
[Read only the pages indicated below, in the order suggested. Occasionally, I will hand out photocopied material to supplement our readings. Come to class prepared. 10% of your grade depends on class participation.]
Mo, Jan 28
Introductory meeting.
Thurs, Jan 31
Ethical Egoism.
Rosenstand, chapter 4; read pp. 127-147. Read only Boxes 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.7, 4.11.
Mo, Feb 4
Ethical Egoism - continued
Rosenstand, chapter 4, read pp. 152-160. Singer pp. 43-47, 60-61, 61-63, 67-69, 78-88. Rosenstand, chapter 4, 160-167.
Thurs, Feb 7
Ethical Relativism
Rosenstand, chapter 3; read pp. 87-90, 95-104, 107-111. Read only Boxes 3.1, 3.3, 3.4. Rosenstand, chapter 3; read pp. 111-117.
Mo, Feb 11
Ethical Relativism - continued
Singer, pp. 134-137. A. Bloom, The Closing of the American Mind, selection on moral relativism, xerox. Rosenstand, chapter 3, pp. 117-125.
Thurs, Feb 14
Why Care About Ethics?
Singer, pp. 294-305. Rosenstand, chapter 2; read pp. 68-71, 73-83.
Mo, Feb 18
Origins and Nature of Ethics
Singer, pp. 21-29, 41-49, 140-147, 152-155, 219, 220, 224-228, 294-305.
Thurs, Feb 21
Utilitarianism
Rosenstand, chapter 5; read pp. 169-170, 173-190. Read only Boxes 5.1, 5.3, 5.5.
Mo, Feb 25
Utilitarianism - continued.
Singer, pp. 306-312, 312-313, 313-317, 317-319, 332, 339-345, 199-200, 201-205. Rosenstand, box 5. 5.
Thurs, Feb 28
Utilitarianism - continued
Rosenstand, chapter 5, pp. 190-209.
Mo, March 4
Kantian Deontology
Rosenstand, chapter 6; read pp. 211-222. Read only box 6.2. Singer, pp. 39-40.
Thurs., March 7
Kantian Deontology - continued.
Rosenstand, chapter 6, pp. 222-227, 232-237. Singer, pp. 274-294.
Mo, March 11
Kantian Deontology - continued.
Singer, pp. 118-123, 123-132, 132-137. Rosenstand, chapter 6, pp. 237-248.
Thurs, March 14
Natural Rights and Social Contract Ethics
Rosenstand, chapter 7; read pp. 249-263, 267-268. Read only boxes 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4.
Mo, March 18 & Thurs, March 21
Spring Recess
Mo, March 25
Natural Rights and Social Contract Ethics – continued
Rosenstand, chapter 7, pp. 267-268. Singer, pp. 247-258, 265-273. Rosenstand, boxes 7.5, 7.6.
Thurs, March 28
Mid-term Exam [in class]
Mo, April 1
Animal Ethics
Rosenstand, ch. 6; read pp. 227-232. Read boxes 6.4. Rosenstand, ch. 7, read pp. 273-277. Singer, pp. 362-387.
Thurs, April 4
Virtue, Vice, and ‘Virtue Ethics’Rosenstand, chapter 8; read pp. 307-327. Read box 8.2. Rosenstand, ch. 8, pp. 327-340.
Mo, April 8
Aristotle’s Virtue Theory
Rosenstand, chapter 9; read pp. 343-359. Read boxes 9.1, 9.2, 9.4. Rosenstand, ch. 9, pp. 365-374.
Thurs, April 11
Modern Perspectives on Virtue
Rosenstand, chapter 10; read pp. 375-379, 387-393, 397-403. 10.2, 10.6, 10.8, 10.9, 10.11. Rosenstand, ch. 10, pp. 409-419.
Mo, April 15
Gender and Ethics
Rosenstand, chapter 11; read pp. 421-425, 430-448. Read boxes 11.4, 11.7. Rosenstand, ch. 11, pp. 449-459, 462-463.
Thurs, April 18
Case Studies Criminal Justice
Rosenstand, chapter 7, pp. 277-284, 288-294. Read box 7.7. Rosenstand, ch. 7, pp. 295-304.
Mo, April 22
Case Studies / Specific Virtues
Rosenstand, chapter 12; read pp. 465-490.
Thurs, April 25
Specific Virtues - continued
Rosenstand, ch. 12; read boxes 12.1, 12.2, 12.3, 12.4, 12.5, 12.6, 12.7, 12.8, 12.9, 12.10, 12.11, 12.12.
Rosenstand, ch. 12; pp. 497, 499-503, 506-509, 512-514.
Mo, April 29
Case Studies
Peter Singer, “Famine, Affluence, and Morality,” xerox. Singer, read only pp. 345-352. Onora O’Neill, “Kantian Approaches to Some Famine Problems,” xerox.
Thurs, May 2
Case Studies
Bernard Williams, “Utilitarianism and Integrity,” xerox. F. Dostoevsky, The Brothers Karamazov, selection, xerox.
Mo, May 6
Case Studies
Debra Satz, “Markets in Women’s Reproductive Labor,” xerox. Judith Jarvis Thompson, “Abortion,” xerox.
Thurs, May 9
Comprehensive Review Session
Course Assignments
There will be two in-class exams – one mid-term and one final. There will be two reaction take-home papers. Class participation will be counted toward computation of the final grade. There will be no surprise quizzes. You are allowed a maximum of two absences without permission.
Grade Computation
Mid-term Exam [in class]: 40%
Final Exam [in class]: 35%
Reaction Papers: 15%
Class Participation: 10%
Statement on Disabilities
If you have any special needs – physical, health-related, or learning-related – contact me, so we can make appropriate arrangements.
Please do not hesitate to contact me at any time. I will let you know when my office hours will be held. I will be also available to meet you by appointment. Good luck.
