Philosophy 150
Section 401
2:00-3:15 MW
ACIV 013
Philosophy 150
Section 301
11:00-11:50 MWF FA
530
INTRODUCTION TO ETHICS
University of Maryland at Baltimore County
Philosophy 150
Section 301
11:00-11:50 MWF FA
530
Section 401
2:00-3:15 MW
ACIV 013
FINAL EXAMS:
Section 0301
FRIDAY DEC 17 10:30-12:30
Section 0401
MONDAY DEC 20 1:00-3:00
Instructor: Richard L. Wilson
Office: 521 Fine Arts
Office Phone: 3843
E-Mail: rwilson@towson.edu
Website: http://www.research.umbc.edu/~rwilso4
Office Hours: 10:00-11:00 Monday, Wednesday and Friday
1:00-2:00 Monday and Wednesday
Texts:
Great Traditions In Ethics by Theodore Denise Sheldon Peterfreund and
Nicholas White. Wadsworth Publishing Co., 9th edition, 1999.
Logic, Values & Ethical Analysis by Richard L. Wilson. Kendall Hunt
Publishing Co., Dubuque, Iowa, 2nd edition, 1997.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
This course is aimed at giving students an
introduction to the problems and concepts of moral philosophy as well as
focusing on an analysis of a variety of current moral issues. The course
is aimed at introducing students to major moral theories and their implications,
the nature of moral reasoning and argumentation, and the meaning and justification
of moral concepts such as rights and justice. In addition we shall also
attempt to see how each of the preceding items may be applied to contemporary
issues.
This course will examine ethical positions
and arguments from the perspective of the Western Philosophical tradition.
Our main objective is to try to understand the nature of philosophical
arguments by examining ”the arguments themselves”. This means that we will
read original sources. In addition to examining the nature
of philosophical argumentation we will also have to study the structure
of arguments. This means we will first have to spend some time examining
the nature of arguments in general.
The basic idea of the course is to introduce
students to the study of Philosophy by examining a variety of ethical texts
from the ancient, modern and contemporary times of Western Philosophy.
This course does not aim at being exhaustive of the sources of any philosophical
tradition, but it does aim at giving the student a basic understanding
of the philosophical problems that the philosophers we read encounter.
In order to understand the materials that we will read we will focus on
learning how to carefully read a philosophical text. Lectures and discussions
will be geared towards helping students understand the material we read
as well as helping students understand how to construct Philosophical as
well as ethical arguments.
In addition it is hoped that each student
will develop a reflective attitude with regard to their own perspectives
on life and that the development of a reflective attitude will lead each
of us to an active questioning of our previously unexamined presuppositions.
In aiming at developing a philosophical attitude in the student the instructor
presupposes the ideal that Philosophy “seeks to give unity to all the knowledge
the student acquires in college.”
Facts of interest to the student
(1) The thoughts and concerns of the Philosopher’s we shall examine will most likely be new to many students this semester and success in this class will require that the student study the reading materials diligently and with care. Philosophical ideas are not understood by mere memorization, but rather require an active striving on the student’s part in order to be understood. It is therefore the instructor’s opinion that careful reading and attendance in class will lead to the successful completion of the class. Students should also prepare to bring questions to class for possible discussion.
(2) Grading:
During the course of the semester we shall have a series of quizzes generally one a week. Your combined quiz average will count 20% towards your final grade. In addition there will be three tests. These tests will occur approximately 1/3 and 2/3rds of the way through the semester and during the final exam period. Each of these tests will count 20% towards a student’s final grade. Everyone must also write one 4-5 page paper on a theme we discuss in class. This paper will count 20% towards a students final grade. Final grade will be tabulated as follows:
Three Tests
20% each
Combined Quiz Average
20%
4-5 page paper
20%
=’s final grade
Classroom participation and overall improvement during the semester will also be taken into consideration when the instructor calculates the final grade. However, since classroom lectures and discussion will revolve around the assigned texts, attendance in class is considered to be crucial by the instructor for getting a good grade. Therefore, we will have the following attendance policy, if a student misses more than THREE classes during the semester (without a legitimate excuse) this will result in the student’s final grade being lowered by one letter grade.
(3) Academic Dishonesty: Philosophical study and thinking aim at encouraging each individual to think both according to historically accepted criteria and in there own fashion. To be even partially fulfilled these goals require that each individual do their own work. Therefore dishonesty (i.e. cheating) will be dealt with severely and in strict accordance with University policy.
(4) Reading Assignments: All reading assignments refer to the assigned texts listed below.
SCHEDULE
September 1 Introduction to the Problems and Scope
of
Ethics
September 3 Great Traditions in Ethics Chap. 1
September 6 Labor
September 8 Introduction to Arguments Wilson pp.
1-25.
September 10 Great Traditions in Ethics Chap. 2
September 13 Great Traditions in Ethics Chap. 2
September 15 Great Traditions in Ethics Chap. 3
September 17 Great Traditions in Ethics Chap. 3
September 20 Great Traditions in Ethics Chap. 8
September 22 Great Traditions in Ethics Chap. 8
September 24 Great Traditions in Ethics Chap. 12
September 27 Great Traditions in Ethics Chap. 12
September 29 Great Traditions in Ethics Chap.
October 1 Great Traditions in Ethics
Chap.
October 4 Great Traditions in Ethics
Chap.
October 6 Great Traditions in Ethics
Chap.
October 8 Great Traditions in Ethics
Chap.
October 11 Great Traditions in Ethics Chap.
October 13 Great Traditions in Ethics Chap.
October 15
October 18
October 20
October 22
October 25
October 27
October 29
November 1
November 3
November 5
November 8
November 10
November 12
November 15
November 17
November 19
November 22
November 24
November 26
November 29
December 1
December 3
December 6
December 8
December 10
December 14
December
===================================================================================
INTRODUCTION TO ETHICS
University of Maryland at Baltimore County
Philosophy 150
Section 301
11:00-11:50 MWF FA
530
Section 401
2:00-3:15 MW
ACIV 013
FINAL EXAMS:
Section 0301
FRIDAY DEC 17 10:30-12:30
Section 0401
MONDAY DEC 20 1:00-3:00
Instructor: Richard L. Wilson
Office: 521 Fine Arts
Office Phone: 3843
E-Mail: rwilson@towson.edu
Website: http://www.research.umbc.edu/~rwilso4
Office Hours: 10:00-11:00 Monday, Wednesday and Friday
1:00-2:00 Monday and Wednesday
Texts:
Great Traditions In Ethics by Theodore Denise Sheldon Peterfreund and
Nicholas White. Wadsworth Publishing Co., 9th edition, 1999.
Logic, Values & Ethical Analysis by Richard L. Wilson. Kendall Hunt
Publishing Co., Dubuque, Iowa, 2nd edition, 1997.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
This course is aimed at giving students an
introduction to the problems and concepts of moral philosophy as well as
focusing on an analysis of a variety of current moral issues. The course
is aimed at introducing students to major moral theories and their implications,
the nature of moral reasoning and argumentation, and the meaning and justification
of moral concepts such as rights and justice. In addition we shall also
attempt to see how each of the preceding items may be applied to contemporary
issues.
This course will examine ethical positions
and arguments from the perspective of the Western Philosophical tradition.
Our main objective is to try to understand the nature of philosophical
arguments by examining ”the arguments themselves”. This means that we will
read original sources. In addition to examining the nature
of philosophical argumentation we will also have to study the structure
of arguments. This means we will first have to spend some time examining
the nature of arguments in general.
The basic idea of the course is to introduce
students to the study of Philosophy by examining a variety of ethical texts
from the ancient, modern and contemporary times of Western Philosophy.
This course does not aim at being exhaustive of the sources of any philosophical
tradition, but it does aim at giving the student a basic understanding
of the philosophical problems that the philosophers we read encounter.
In order to understand the materials that we will read we will focus on
learning how to carefully read a philosophical text. Lectures and discussions
will be geared towards helping students understand the material we read
as well as helping students understand how to construct Philosophical as
well as ethical arguments.
In addition it is hoped that each student
will develop a reflective attitude with regard to their own perspectives
on life and that the development of a reflective attitude will lead each
of us to an active questioning of our previously unexamined presuppositions.
In aiming at developing a philosophical attitude in the student the instructor
presupposes the ideal that Philosophy “seeks to give unity to all the knowledge
the student acquires in college.”
Facts of interest to the student
(1) The thoughts and concerns of the Philosopher’s we shall examine will most likely be new to many students this semester and success in this class will require that the student study the reading materials diligently and with care. Philosophical ideas are not understood by mere memorization, but rather require an active striving on the student’s part in order to be understood. It is therefore the instructor’s opinion that careful reading and attendance in class will lead to the successful completion of the class. Students should also prepare to bring questions to class for possible discussion.
(2) Grading:
During the course of the semester we shall have a series of quizzes generally one a week. Your combined quiz average will count 20% towards your final grade. In addition there will be three tests. These tests will occur approximately 1/3 and 2/3rds of the way through the semester and during the final exam period. Each of these tests will count 20% towards a student’s final grade. Everyone must also write one 4-5 page paper on a theme we discuss in class. This paper will count 20% towards a students final grade. Final grade will be tabulated as follows:
Three Tests
20% each
Combined Quiz Average
20%
4-5 page paper
20%
=’s final grade
Classroom participation and overall improvement during the semester will also be taken into consideration when the instructor calculates the final grade. However, since classroom lectures and discussion will revolve around the assigned texts, attendance in class is considered to be crucial by the instructor for getting a good grade. Therefore, we will have the following attendance policy, if a student misses more than THREE classes during the semester (without a legitimate excuse) this will result in the student’s final grade being lowered by one letter grade.
(3) Academic Dishonesty: Philosophical study and thinking aim at encouraging each individual to think both according to historically accepted criteria and in there own fashion. To be even partially fulfilled these goals require that each individual do their own work. Therefore dishonesty (i.e. cheating) will be dealt with severely and in strict accordance with University policy.
(4) Reading Assignments: All reading assignments refer to the assigned texts listed below.
SCHEDULE
September 1 Introduction to the Problems and Scope
of
Ethics
September 3 Great Traditions in Ethics Chap. 1
September 6 Introduction to Arguments Wilson pp.
1-25.
September 8 Introduction to Arguments Wilson pp.
26-35.
September 10 Great Traditions in Ethics Chap. 2
September 13 Great Traditions in Ethics Chap. 2
September 15 Great Traditions in Ethics Chap. 3
September 17 Great Traditions in Ethics Chap. 3
September 20 Great Traditions in Ethics Chap. 5
September 22 Great Traditions in Ethics Chap. 5
September 24 Great Traditions in Ethics Chap. 6
September 27 Great Traditions in Ethics Chap. 6
September 29 Great Traditions in Ethics Chap. 3
October 1 Great Traditions in Ethics
Chap. 3
October 4 Great Traditions in Ethics
Chap. 3
October 6 Great Traditions in Ethics
Chap. 3
October 8 Great Traditions in Ethics
Chap. 3
October 11 Great Traditions in Ethics Chap.
3
October 13 Great Traditions in Ethics Chap.
3
October 15
October 18
October 20
October 22
October 25
October 27
October 29
November 1
November 3
November 5
November 8
November 10
November 12
November 15
November 17
November 19
November 22
November 24
November 26
November 29
December 1
December 3
December 6
December 8
December 10
December 14
December