Philosophy 3630: Contemporary Moral Issues

Section 001

Tuesdays and Thursdays: 2:00pm - 3:15pm

Humanities Building, Room 320

Fall 2002: August 26th - December 7th

 

Syllabus          

 

Instructor: Craig Bradley

Email address: jbradle5@luna.cas.usf.edu

Home Phone: 971-8773 (until 10pm)

Office Phone: 974-5459 (only during office hours!!)  (Note: I prefer that you call me at home)

Office: FAO 230

Office Hours: Tuesday and Thursday, 1pm - 2pm, and by appointment

 

GORDON RULE REQUIREMENT: This course is not a Gordon Rule course.

 

Course Description/Outline:

This course offers a basic introduction to moral philosophy.  The purpose of this course is to introduce you to moral reasoning, i.e. moral justification and moral disagreement. Not only will you be asked to read and discuss various articles in which moral issues are analyzed, but you will be called upon to discuss moral issues as they arise in case studies, many of which involve real-life situations. By the end of the course you should be familiar with various ethical theories, various ethical issues, and reasons typically given in the discussion of such issues.  This will allow you to discuss moral issues critically in the future, and in particular it will help you critique faulty moral reasoning while also helping you develop your own moral reasoning.  You should come to understand the sorts of reasons that can be used to support moral judgments and the sorts of reasons that are of no relevance to moral decision-making.

 

The objectives of this course are to introduce undergraduate students to moral philosophy and its applications.  This involves studying the most historically significant ethical theories and considering their application to difficult moral problems.  In examining moral issues we will discuss various arguments, reasons, and justifications in favor of various positions, and then analyze the reasoning.  This often requires that students question their own assumptions and hold their own convictions up to be scrutinized. 

 

Even though this is not a Gordon rule class, the basic strategy will be to promote the development of your thinking through discussion and through the writing of papers.

 

Materials for the Course:

 

1.       Analyzing Moral Issues, by Judith A. Boss, 2nd edition.  (let me know ASAP if you cannot obtain this book)

2.       Selected Readings that I will distribute throughout the semester.

 

Midterm Papers are due: October 22, by 5pm, by email.

Final Papers are due: December 7th, 5pm, by email

 

Grades:  Your final grade in Philosophy 3630 is based on: 

 

1.             Short Writing Assignments: 20%       

2.             Class Participation (i.e., discussion) and Attendance = 25%

3.             Midterm Paper = 25%

4.             Final Paper = 30%

 

 

 

Prerequisites: College Level Reading and Writing Skills are Required

 

Attendance

 

I expect you to arrive on time to class.  Please be here promptly when class starts.  Also, regular class attendance is mandatory for the successful completion of this course.  If you receive 3 or more unexcused absences, you may receive a grade penalty.  If you receive 4 or more unexcused absences, you may receive an F grade.  If you are absent, please provide me with a note from you and/or your doctor explaining your absence.  If you are absent for any reason, please email me ASAP and explain why you were absent.

 

Class time is important.  You need to read the assigned materials prior to the class.  I suggest you read the assigned materials over more than once. 

 

READING LIST

 

PAPERS:

The paper(s) should be about the material we cover in class.  Feel free to have me review drafts of your papers.  Papers should be double-spaced, typed, page-numbered, etc.  Please make sure you keep a back-up copy of your paper in case the original gets lost, etc.  Also, please make sure that I confirm that I have received your paper.

 

The methodology that we will use in the class will be primarily discursive reflection and argumentation.  The methodology required for your paper is traditional argumentation.  Please pay close attention to the hand-out on "how to write papers."  If you would like to explore non-traditional approaches to argumentation in your paper, you MUST check with me before you embark on such a project.  I also STRONGLY urge you to discuss your paper topic with me before you begin, and I am always willing to discuss any problems that arise as you develop your work.  Feel free to stop by my office, or contact me via email me or by phone.

 

Generally, no late papers will be accepted.  If you have a special situation, you may be allowed to hand in a paper late, but with a grade penalty of approximately ½ grade per day late.

 

EXAMS:

This course is primarily intended to encourage your writing, thinking, and conversational abilities.  Thus there will be no exams, but only papers and class participation.

 

CLASS PARTICIPATION

 

Attendance and Class participation are part of your grade.  It is essential that the reading be completed before the class session so that everyone may be able to ask appropriate questions and discuss their opinions.  I will be calling on students at random to answer questions about the reading, so come to class prepared.  The reading requirements will be about 50-100 pp. per week.  I will provide questions on the reading material that will require a written answer of about a page for every class meeting.  Each assignment should address the primary sources in answering the questions.  Generally speaking, the assignments cannot be made up; however, I may make an exception in extraordinary circumstances. 

 

Feedback

 

Please provide me with feedback.  If you don’t understand something, if I am unclear, if I am speaking too quickly, or it you think we need to cover certain material more thoroughly, please let me know.  I cannot read minds!  You need to let me know your views about what works and what doesn’t.  Please offer any suggestions regarding how to make the class more enjoyable and productive.  Please ask Questions!  Talk!  Discuss!  Think!

 

SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS: please talk to me if you require special accommodations due to a disability, etc.

 

Finally, have Fun!  Let’s try to make this class enjoyable.  I usually attempt to do this by discussing the relevance of philosophy to real-world issues and events.  We can discuss politics, religion, morality, law, film, etc.