Ethics
Course 650:142 | Professor Margaret Holland | ||
Office Hours: | Office: Baker 146 | ||
TTh 12:45-1:30 | Office Phone: 273-5975 | ||
and by appt. | Dept. of Philosophy & Religion. | ||
Email: margaret.holland@uni.edu | Baker 135 | ||
Download Syllabus | Dept. Phone: 273-6221 |
Spring 2006 Syllabus
Course Description:
Ethics is
concerned with questions about what constitutes a good human life and how one
ought to act. This course in intended to familiarize students with some
significant works written by moral philosophers, and to expose students to
important issues in moral philosophy. We will discuss topics such as the role
of character in a good life, the possibility of learning ethical values, and the
source of moral value. In addition to becoming acquainted with traditional
philosophical approaches to questions about ethics, we will discuss some
contemporary issues.
Each student will be required to pursue a research project.
Aristotle | |
Nichomachean Ethics |
Kant | Foundations of the Metaphysics of Morals |
Mill | Utilitarianism |
Shafer-Landau | Whatever Happened to Good and Evil? |
All students should bring the books we are reading to each class meeting.
Some additional required readings will be at the Reserve Desk in the library.
Requirements:
(1) Students are expected to attend and participate in all class meetings,
as well as read all assignments. If you miss a class meeting, it is your
responsibility to contact another student and to get the assignment and
class notes. You need to make-up missed work before the next class.
(2) Each student will pursue a research project in ethics. After selecting a research topic, the student will prepare three written assignments. The assignments are described below. Points will be deducted for late assignments.
(3) There
will be two tests during the term, and a final exam. There will be no
make-up tests unless appropriate documentation of a legitimate reason for
missing the test is provided. Legitimate reasons for missing a test are
limited to things such as: jury duty, accident, illness. All non-emergency
requests for make-up tests must be given to the instructor in writing at
least two weeks prior to the test date. Emergency requests for make-up
tests must be made (either on the phone or through e-mail) no later than the
morning of the test. Relevant documentation of emergency requests
must be received by the instructor within five days of the missed test. If
these requirements are met, the instructor may consider providing a
make-up test.
** Please familiarize yourself with UNI's Academic Ethics Policies. These policies are in the student handbook, and they can be found on-line. Search "academic ethics" on UNI's home page and you will be directed to a number of sites that explain your responsibilities on this matter. UNI's policy not only states that cheating and plagiarism are "unacceptable" but that an instructor may take further disciplinary action against any student who violates academic ethics. In accordance with this policy, students who cheat or plagiarize will receive an automatic grade of "F" for the entire course.
Test Dates and Grade Percentages:
Feb. 16 | 16% of grade |
March 30 | 20% of grade |
Final Exam Week | 30% of grade |
Research Report - Feb. 23 | 10% of grade |
Annotated Bibliography – March 21 | 10% of grade |
Paper – April 6 | 14% of grade |
Tests will cover the readings, lectures and class discussions. Tests will consist of essays and will be comprehensive.
On Feb. 2 we will meet in the library.
Research Project Requirements:
(1) Research Report:
The Research Report should be typed, double-spaced, and include
your name and the course title.
The first section of your Research Report should include a 200
word description of your topic. The description should include the names of
philosophers you will use, and a description of the issues on which you will
focus. Also, include information about questions you have concerning your
research.
The second section of your Research Report should include the
following information: a list of encyclopedias and indexes you have used in
your research, a list of the terms you have used in your research, and a
report (including volume and page numbers) about what you found in each
source. [For example: Encyclopedia of Ethics, Becker, ed.; searched
Plato, justice, soul, state; found the following entries which look useful
and had good bibliographies... I have put in ILL requests for…. I have
copied… I have signed out of the library…] I will be sending you a chart
to use for the second section of your report. Hand-in two copies of your
Research Report.
Each student must use
the following reference works and must include them in the research report.
Additional reference works may be used and may be included in the report.
Encyclopedia of Ethics, Lawrence C. Becker, ed.,
Charlotte B. Becker, co-editor Ref. BJ63.E45, second edition
A Companion to Ethics, Peter Singer, ed. Ref. BJ1012.C62 1991
The Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Paul Edwards, ed. Ref. B51.E58
Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Edward Craig, ed. Ref. B51. R68 1998
Philosopher’s Index [electronic resource]
(2) Annotated Bibliography:
The Bibliography must be typed.
It should include no less than four articles or books which were
the main sources for your research (other than assigned reading and not
including reference works). Web sources should not be among your four main
sources. Also, do not include encyclopedias among your four sources. The
four main sources must be philosophical.
For each source write two paragraphs containing the following
information: describe the source in general (i.e. provide an overview of
the source), the specific use you made of it, what it contributed to your
research, and which pages you read. Hand-in two copies of your Annotated
Bibliography.
For the bibliography format use The University of Chicago
Manual of Style or the MLA Style Sheet (see the
Reference section of the library).
I have put an Annotated Bibliography from another course on Reserve in the Library for you to consult.
(3) Paper:
The paper must be typed, double-spaced.
The paper should be written in complete sentences, not in
outline form.
Summarize your
research. Include (1) a general introduction to your topic, (2) a description
of the main points you will discuss, (3) a discussion of each point, (4) your
conclusion, and further questions. Each paper should begin with a paragraph
stating: “The topic of my research is …,” then continue “Specifically, I will
discuss…,” “The main points I will cover are…”
The paper should be about 6 pages long.
Include a cover sheet with the following information: instructor's
name, student's name,
research title, date. Also, include a revised and corrected version of your
Annotated Bibliography.
Staple together the cover sheet, paper, and Annotated
Bibliography.
If you would like to change your topic after you hand-in your Research Report or Bibliography, notify me and re-do the written assignments for the new topic.
Points will be deducted if any part of the written work is late. One point per day will be deducted for each part of the written assignment which is handed-in late. Also, Research Reports must be handed-in in order to receive credit for Bibliographies and papers, and Bibliographies must be handed-in in order to receive credit for papers. Written assignments which are more than one week late will receive no credit.
There are many topics which are appropriate for your research project. Possible topics include:
-moral relativism -Aristotle’s view of justice
-the role of emotion in moral knowledge -friendship
-moral agency -Kant’s Lectures on Ethics
-moral conflicts -Rawl’s A Theory of Justice
-responsibility and freedom
-the relation between pleasure and the good; Plato’s Gorgias
-altruism and egoism
-politics and ethics
-feminist ethics
-loyalty
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Extra-Credit Option:
Students may receive extra-credit for using the UNI Writing Center
to improve the quality of their Research Projects. A total of six additional
points will be available through this option. Specific information about the
extra-credit option will be provided in February.
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We will not be reading the entire Nicomachean Ethics. The reading assignments will be:
Book I
Book II
Book III, chap. 1-5
Book VI, chap. 5-13
Book VII, chap. 1-10
Book X
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The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) provides protection from illegal discrimination for qualified individuals with disabilities. Students requesting instructional accommodations due to disabilities must arrange for such accommodations through the Office of Disability Services (ODS). The ODS is located at 103 Student Health Center and the phone number is 273-2676 (voice) or 273-3011 (TTY).