CORE 1300 30
Spring 2006, 6:00-8:55 p.m. Mondays
C 104
Office: Just People, Inc., 304 Grape Street
Office Phone: 672-2118 / Email: mwaters@justpeopleabilene.org
Office Hours: By Appointment
COURSE DESCRIPTION
The course provides an introduction to ethical theories (deontological, teleological, etc.), moral decision-making, and key contemporary moral issues. Particular attention is given to practical application in moral reasoning and to the development of sensitivity to ethical issues of contemporary society, focusing on rights and duties of individuals and groups and the nature of legitimate needs and values.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
· To develop an understanding of basic ethical theories.
· To develop a greater capacity for equitable moral reasoning.
· To increase awareness and appreciation of diverse ethical perspectives.
· To better understand and critically evaluate one’s own perspectives.
Carter, Jimmy. Our Endangered Values: America's Moral Crisis. New York: Simon and Schuster, 2005.
Hinman, Lawrence M. Ethics: A Pluralistic Approach to Moral Theory, 3rd Edition. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth/Thompson Learning, 2003.
King, Martin Luther, Jr. Why We Can’t Wait. New York: Signet Classics, 2000 Reissue Edition (Originally published in 1964). (Any edition is acceptable.)
Wink, Walter, “Homosexuality and the Bible” (Photocopied Handout)
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Class attendance is required. After FOUR absences, the final grade will be reduced one point per absence on a 100-point scale. For example, a student with eight absences would lose four points off the final grade. Thus, a final grade of 93 would be changed to an 89, reducing the semester grade from an A- to a B+.
Class participation: Students are expected to participate in class by completing all assignments, engaging in class discussions and group assignments, and completing assigned readings. Class lectures will be informed by, but will not necessarily repeat, information from assigned readings. Students will be responsible for assigned readings whether or not details from assignments are repeated in class. Contemporary films/movies will be utilized occasionally during the course to illustrate moral issues or ethical theories. If a student is offended by the rating or content of a particular film, he/she may leave while the video is being presented and write a five-page analysis of the moral issue or ethical theory being illustrated as a make-up assignment. Make-up assignments are due at the beginning of the next class period. (No movie with a rating beyond “R” will be presented.)
Appropriate accommodations will be made for students with disabilities. In order to receive special accommodations, students must contact the office of Counseling and Career Services. See Disabled Student Services in the university catalog for details on how to document a disability.
ASSIGNMENTS
Book Summary and Response (20% of final grade): Why We Can’t Wait by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Summaries should include an introduction to the content of the book, a brief summary of the key points of each chapter, the student’s evaluation of the book, and a conclusion. Approximately one typed, double-spaced page should be devoted to each chapter. Due March 27
Each group chooses a leader and determines, as a group, their first two topic choices. The group leaders meet to negotiate the topic for his/her group. Each group must, finally, choose a different topic.
Presentations should clearly and fairly present at least two opposing sides to each issue. Groups are encouraged to be as creative as possible in developing interesting presentations. Possibilities include:
Mid-Term Exam (25% of final grade)
Final Exam (25% of final grade)
Bonus: Up to 5 points per effort, with a maximum of three efforts (15 maximum points), will be added to the final exam grade for students wishing to earn extra credit. Possibilities for earning extra credit include leading a class discussion on a chapter of the assigned reading (minimum 15 minutes) or writing an extra book review on a book approved by the professor. Extra credit assignments must be approved at least a week in advance by the professor.
1. Grades will be assigned on a 100-point scale and will be translated into letter grades including pluses (+) and minuses (-) as follows: 94-100=A; 90-93=A-; 87-89=B+; 84-86=B; 80-83=B-; 77-79=C+; 74-76=C; 70-73=C-; 67-69=D+; 64-66=D; 60-63=D-; 59-below=F. In accordance with catalog guidelines, there will be no A+ and no F+ or F-.
2. Group Projects will be graded as follows: The professor will assign an overall grade for the group presentation. The group will choose democratic means of grading each other, based on the contribution that each student makes to the preparation for the presentation and the presentation itself. The group project grade for each student will be the average of the professor’s grade for the group and the grade that each student receives from his/her group.
3. Late work will not be accepted except under extreme circumstances such as a family emergency (catastrophic illness or death) or documented illness/emergency on the part of the student. Poor planning and other forms of personal irresponsibility do not constitute emergencies. Make-up exams will be significantly more difficult than exams completed at the assigned times. Except in the case of a documented, last-minute emergency, make-up exams must be scheduled with the professor in advance of the exam date indicated in this syllabus. If an exam is missed without advance notice or documentation of an emergency, a failing grade will be assigned.
Plagiarism or cheating in any form will result in automatic failure of the class. Plagiarism includes using someone else’s ideas or words and presenting these ideas or words as if they were one’s own. Students should document sources and give credit to the authors of these sources. Moreover, plagiarism includes cutting and pasting someone else’s work from the Internet without giving credit to the original author. Cheating – for the purposes of this course – is the use of any form of dishonesty in order to appear to achieve objectives or assignments for the course or to raise one’s grade. Cheating also includes presenting someone else’s work – in any form – as if it were one’s own (e.g. copying off of another student’s test) or allowing someone else to copy assignments or tests.
This schedule is flexible and subject to change depending on variables such as the length of class discussions and the need to expand certain subject matter based on class interest and feedback. Due dates and exam dates, however, are locked-in and subject to change only by advanced mutual agreement on the part of the professor and a majority of the students in the class. Note: the course will focus on ethical theory through the mid-term exam and specific moral/ethical issues following the mid-term exam.
Jan 16: Introduction to the Course / Group Presentation Assignments
Why Study Ethics?; Defining Morality and Ethics
Diversity of Moral Perspectives: Relativism, Absolutism, and Pluralism
Refer to Chapters 1 & 2 of Hinman
Jan 23: Ground of Meaning Beliefs
Stassen Grid
Ground of Meaning
Perspectives of Various Faith Traditions; Sources of Authority
Read Chapters 1, 2, 3, & 4 of Carter
Jan 30: Ground of Meaning (cont)
Movie: “Saved” (PG-13; 1 hr. 32 min.)
Read Chapter 3 of Hinman
Teleological and Deontological Theories
Rights and Justice Theories
Read Chapters 5, 6, 7, & 8 of Hinman
Feb 13: Modes of Moral Reasoning (cont)
Virtues and Principles
Movie: “Dead Poets Society” (PG; 2 hrs. 9 min.)
Read to Chapters 4 & 9 of Hinman
Feb 20: Miscellaneous: Ethical Theory and Catch-Up
Feb 27: Mid-Term Review
Mar 6: Mid-Term Exam
Mar 13: SPRING BREAK
Exploring Specific Issues:
Mar 20: Issues Related to War and Peace / Life and Death
Read Chapters 8, 12, 13, & 14 of Carter
Refer to Chapter 12 of Hinman
Movie: TBA
Mar 27: Justice & Freedom
Read Chapters 6 & 9 of Carter and Chapters 10 & 11 of Hinman
Book Reviews Due: King, Why We Can’t Wait
Video: Speeches of Martin Luther King, Jr.
April 3: Individualism and Responsibility for the Common Good
Poverty and Economic Justice
The Environment
Read Chapters 10, 11, 15, & 16 of Carter
April 10: Human Sexuality
Read Chapter 7 of Carter
Read Photocopied Handout, “Homosexuality and the Bible”
by Walter Wink
April 17: EASTER HOLIDAY
April 24: Group Presentations
May 1: Group Presentations
Take-Home Final Exam Distributed
May 8: Take-Home FINAL EXAM Due at 6:00 p.m. in the classroom