PHILOSOPHY 281:
ACTION AND VALUE—ETHICS
Fall, 2000

COURSE DESCRIPTION
This is an introduction to some major ethical theories, including deontological, consequentialist, virtue and feminist ethics.  It also considers the moral aspect of special issues, such as the death penalty, the right to die, euthanasia, and the status and treatment of animals.

COURSE OBJECTIVES
1. To enable students to understand and appreciate the basic philosophical theories in ethics.
2. To give students the opportunity to apply these theories to some actual moral issues and problems.
3. To develop the student's ability to identify and evaluate moral views and positions using philosophical arguments.
*Note on Grading Criteria*

COURSE FORMAT AND REQUIREMENTS
Lecture and discussion combined.  Class participation in discussion is expected.
Small group discussion is part of class format.
Written work consists of homeworks, papers and exams.

REQUIRED TEXTS
1. Plato, The Trial and Death of Socrates (Hackett).
2. Kant, The Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals (Hackett).
3. Mill, Utilitarianism (Hackett).
4. Ibsen, A Doll's House (Hackett).
5. Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics (Library of Liberal Arts).
6. P. Singer (ed.) Applied Ethics (Oxford)
7. Reserve Readings (articles to xerox), Cudahy Library.

SYLLABUS

Week 1	Introduction: the nature of ethics; moral foundationalism and relativism. Conventional ethics vs. Virtues: read Crito  in Plato.
Week 2	Socratic ethics of character: read Apology in Plato. Focus on the arguments Soc. gives for: why does not corrupt the young, is not impious, why death is not to be feared. Read also Phaedo (last scene) in Plato. //Morality and Knowledge: Read Euthyphro in Plato;  Summary #1: What is S's argument about piety at Euth. 10a-11b?
Week 3	The theory of Utilitarianism: read Mill, chapters 1-2. Focus: what U.ism is, how we determine utitlity;  objections to the doctrine. Summary #2: How does Mill explain the difference between hedonism and U.ism?
Week 4	Utilitarianism, Continued: Read Mill, chapters 3-4. Focus: the external and internal motives to obey UP, the proof of the UP.//Mill, ch. 5: Justice and Utility. Summary #3: Is there a problem of reconciling justice and Utility? How does Mill explain it?
Week 5	Problems for Utilitarianism; discussion.  Read Kant, The Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals ch. 1. Kant on Imperatives: read Kant, The Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals ch. 2 (through the 4 examples, sec. 57).
Week 6	Intrinsic worth of persons, read Kant, The Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals ch. 2 sec. 57 to end. Freedom and Morality: read Kant, The Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals ch. 3. Summary #4: Does Kant think you should always keep your promises?  Why?
Week 7	First Paper Due In Class (See paper topics below). Aristotle on Happiness: read Nicomachean Ethics, Bk. I. Aristotle on Moral Virtue: read Nicomachean Ethics, Bk. II, and Bk. III, ch. 6-9. Summary #5: Can you have too much of a virtue, say, of courage?  Explain in terms of A's notion of the virtuous mean.
Week 8	Mon.-Tues., Oct. 19-20: Mid-Semester Break, no classes. Aristotle on Deliberation and Choice: read Nicomachean Ethics, Bk. III, 1-5. Summary #6: What is the distinction between a voluntary and involuntary action?
Week 9	Intellectual Virtues: read Aris., Nicomachean Ethics Bk. VI. Focus: what practical reason is, and how it fits together with moral virtue.
Week 10	Moral Particularism and Feminist Ethics: lecture on Ethics of Care. Read Ibsen's A Doll's House. Summary #7: Give an argument to show Nora's forgery was justified. Then give an objection to this. Movie: "A Doll's House."  TBA
Week 11	Gender and Ethics: problems of "separate spheres." Should men and women have separate spheres? Read J. Richards, "Separate Spheres" in Applied Ethics. Summary #8: Choose an argument from Richards' paper and analyse it.
Week 12	Death Penalty: read Thurgood Marshall's Court Opinion (xerox, on Library Reserves). Death Penalty: read J. S. Mill, "In Favour of Capital Punishment" in Applied Ethics. Summary # 9: Choose either Mill or Marshall and give their best argument. Movie: "Dead Man Walking." TBA
Week 13	Euthanasia and the Right to Die: read J. Rachels, in Applied Ethics. Download Kant on Suicide. Thurs., Nov. 26:  No Classes. Thanksgiving Break
Week 14	Status of Animals, read P. Singer, "All Animals are Equal" in Applied Ethics.  See Animal Welfare Act Focus: whether animals have rights, speciesism, vegetarianism, animal factory farming. Summary # 10: If animals feel pain, and have an interest in their own survival, don't they have a right to live well?
Week 15	Last Class: Kant, Mill, Aristotle, Care on Applied Issues. Second Paper Due In Class (see paper topics below).
Exam Week	Final Exam : See Final Exam Schedule (2 hours): Taken in Classroom.

REQUIREMENTS

1.	Two Short Papers: each paper is 5 pp., typed, double-spaced. These papers are essays written in argumentive style. >>For Guidelines on Argument Papers, See Below, and Antony Weston, A Rulebook for Arguments (Hackett).
2.	Eight of the Ten Summaries (8 of 10 miniumum): Each is Due In Class, and is not accepted late. No exceptions.
3.	Final Exam:  Essay-type exam, based on study questions given out in class.
** Each component counts approx. 25% (two papers together count 50%), and discussion is taken into account.

ACADEMIC POLICIES
1. Cheating will be punished as per Loyola Student Handbook policies.
Students are expected to know what kinds of textual use constitues plagiarism.

2. Every student is responsible for information about assignments, papers, and for material given out in class. If you miss class, call me or another student to find out what you missed on that day.

3. All papers are due in class on the day marked above; no late papers will be accepted except for medical emergencies.

ADVANCE PAPER TOPICS
Paper # 1:
1. What does Mill mean by his definition of Utilitarianism? Do you think that his description of what makes an action right or good is correct? Why or why not?
OR
2. What is Kant's categorical imperative? How does it function in evaluating a maxim? Are there any problems with the use of it ? If so, explain them.

Paper # 2:
1. What is a "virtue" and what role does it play in explaining our moral actions for Aristotle?  Do you think virtue ethics is preferable to the views of Kant or Mill?
OR
2. What might be said to be the form of moral reasoning Nora uses to commit the forgery?  Are there any limitations implicit in the ethic?
OR
3. Selecting the issue of death penalty, the right to die, or animal rights, first explain what position on the problem you favor, and then present some problems or criticisms of your view and answer them.

RELATED LINKS
Click here for a helpful link on ethics.
Dr. Ward's Criteria on Grading Papers