| DATES | TOPICS | READINGS* & ASSIGNMENTS |
| Week 1 (1/28-2/1) |
-Introduction to course -Arguments & Argument Fallacies -Moral Reasoning |
"Introduction" (1-9) |
| Week 2 (2/4-2/8) |
-Moral Relativism -Branches of Moral Philosophy -Normative Ethical Theories |
"What is Morality? Traditions and Theories" (11-15) |
| Week 3 (2/11-2/15) |
-Ethical Theories, cont'd. -Introduction to Abortion |
"Abortion and Euthanasia" (149-151) |
| Week 4 (2/18-2/22) |
-A Conservative Argument Against Abortion | Don Marquis, "Why Abortion is Immoral" (163-174) |
| Week 5 (2/25-3/1) |
-Objections to Marquis -A Moderate Argument for the Permissibility of Abortion |
Judith Jarvis Thomson, "A Defense of Abortion" (154-163) |
| Week 6 (3/4-3/8) |
-Thomson Concluded Exam #1, Friday, 3/8 |
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| Week 7 (3/11-3/15) |
-Introduction to the Issue of Euthanasia -- Kevorkian Live! -Expanding the Scope of Permissible Euthanasia |
"Abortion and Euthanasia" (151-153) James Rachels, "Active & Passive Euthanasia" (199-202) |
| Week 8 (3/18-3/22) |
-Restricting Euthanasia | Bonnie Steinbock, "The Intentional Termination of Life" (203-206) |
| 3/25-3/29 | SPRING BREAK!! | |
| Week 9 (4/3-4/5) No class on 4/1 - Cesar Chavez Day |
-Speciesism and the Case for Animal Rights | Peter Singer, "Animal Liberation" (621-628) |
| Week 10 (4/8-4/12) |
-Film: "To Love or Kill: Man vs. Animal" -The Case for People over Animals |
Bonnie Steinbock, "Speciesism and the Idea of Equality" (628-634) |
| Week 11 (4/15-4/19) |
Exam #2, Monday 4/15 -The Moral Status of Homosexuality |
Michael Levin, "Why Homosexuality is Abnormal" (281-286) |
| Week 12 (4/22) No class on 4/24 or 4/26 |
-Objections to Levin | Richard Mohr, "Gay Basics: Some Questions, Facts, and Values" (273-281) |
| Week 13 (4/29-5/3) |
-Feminism, Pornography, and Harm | Catharine MacKinnon, "Pornography, Civil Rights and Speech" (465-471) |
| Week 14 (5/6-5/10) |
-MacKinnon, cont'd. -A Moderate Feminist Defense of Pornography |
Duggan, Hunter, and Vance, "False Promises: Feminist Antipornography Legislation" (471-485) |
| Week 15 (5/13-5/17) Last day of classes, 5/17 |
-The Moderate Defense, cont'd. Exam #3, Fri., 5/17 |