Core 1300: Ethics
Spring 2006
“All human beings by nature desire to know.” Aristotle
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Instructor: Joel Whittemore |
Office Phone: 793-4625 E-mail: jwhittemore@mcm.edu |
| Office Hours: (other times by appointment) |
MW: 8:00 - 9:00; 10:00 – 12:00, 2:30 – 3:30 TR: 1:00 – 3:00 |
| Section Core1300-01 |
Class Time MWF 9:00 – 9:55 |
Classroom R 103 |
Course Description: This course provides an introduction to the major methods of moral reasoning: formalism, utilitarianism, natural law, and inclusivist ethics and attempts to develop sensitivity to ethical issues of contemporary society, focusing on rights and duties of individuals and groups and the nature of legitimate needs and values. This course will explore the critical thoughts of ethical theory spanning time from the Ancient Greeks to the present. It will consist not only of theoretical discussions, but also reflective appraisals of your thoughts through writing on hypothetical and practical scenarios.
Course Objectives: During this course students are expected to understand the basis for making ethical decisions using a variety of theories. They are expected to know the primary argument of each theory and its weaknesses. Furthermore, students are expected to apply the various theories in case study analyses and research and to demonstrate their knowledge of ethical theories through examinations and quizzes.
Required Resouces:
Texts: 1) Cornford, F. M. (trans). (1993). The republic of Plato. London: Oxford. 1993.
2) Rachels, J. (2003).The elements of moral philosophy. 4th ed. Boston: McGraw-Hill. 2003.
Resources: 1) Internet access to Moodle (http://cs1.mcm.edu/moodle)
Disability Services: McMurry University abides by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which stipulates that no otherwise qualified student shall be denied the benefits of an education “solely by reason of a handicap”. If you have a documented disability that may impact your performance in this class and for which you may require accommodations, you must be registered with, and provide documentation of your disability to, the Disability Services Office located in Old Main, Room 102.
Philosophy: I will not chase after you to complete assignments. You are expected to be prepared for class discussion by completing relevant reading, quizzes, exams, and other assignments as scheduled. If your personal schedule creates conflicts with required completion dates please visit with me before that date to coordinate any necessary changes.
Attendance and Grades: Attendance is required (refer to the class attendance policy in the McMurry University Catalog). I will reduce the final course grade 10 points for every unexcused absence beyond the three allowed by the university. Anyone who fails to attend a minimum of 80% of the class meetings will not receive credit for the course; regardless of the status of your grades.
Assignment Completion and Penalties: You are expected to complete the assignments detailed in this syllabus. I do not assign make-up work for students who miss class or for those who miss a due date. If you are an athlete it is your responsibility to notify me when you will be absent for team travel, even if you think the coach is sending an announcement to the faculty. An assignment submitted late, regardless of the reason, will be reduced by 10 points for each class period it is late.
Academic Ethics and Honesty: As commonly defined, plagiarism consists of passing off as one’s own the ideas, words, writings etc., which belong to another. In accordance with this definition, you are committing plagiarism if you copy the work of another person and turn it in as your own, even if you should have the permission of that person. Plagiarism is one of the worst academic sins, for the plagiarist destroys the trust among colleagues without which research cannot be safely communicated.
All work in this class must be your own work. Anyone who presents another’s work as his or her own, who acquires or attempts to acquire the answers to an assignment or exam from anyone else, or who assists in providing such answers to another student, will be considered guilty of cheating. Anyone suspected of cheating on an assignment or exam will automatically receive a grade of zero for that assignment and possibly a failing grade for the course. His or her case may be forwarded to the Dean of Students for action which may result in academic suspension or permanent expulsion.
Description of Assignments, Exams, and other Requirements:
Written Papers: You will write several papers throughout the semester that are a reflection of your personal thoughts and scholarly research on given topics.
Annotated Bibliographies: You will complete two annotated bibliographies during the course on ethical theories. These bibliographies will conform to the APA citation style.
Exam: There will be two exams administered during the semester, a mid-term and a final. The final exam may be comprehensive.
Quizzes: There will be several quizzes throughout the semester reflecting predominantly the concepts presented by Plato and the theories presented in Rachels’ text.
Ethics Forum: you will contribute ten entries to an Ethics Form on Moodle. Your entries may consist of world, national, or local events that appear in the news or they may consist of either real or hypothetical moral challenges that you personally face. Three of your entries must be original contributions that you submit to the forum, the remaining seven entries may be responses to entries other students have posted.
Important Notes:
1) Assignments are due no-later-than the beginning of the class period on the date due, papers not submitted then will be considered late. 2) Any assignment, late or otherwise, will not be accepted after dead-day.
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Basis for Course Grade: Your final grade will be computed based on the following assessments:
Assignment Point Value Weight
Papers (4) 400 pts 40 %
Annotated Bibliographies (2) 200 pts 20 %
Exams (2) 200 pts 20 %
Quizzes (10) 100 pts 10 %
Ethics Forum (10) 100 pts 10 %
Total 1000 points