• REQUIRED TEXTS
• COURSE OBJECTIVES
• COURSE REQUIREMENTS
• PROVISIONAL SYLLABUS

REQUIRED TEXTS:     back to top

Conduct & Character (Third Edition), edited by Mark Timmons
Utilitarianism: For and Against, by Smart and Williams
Three articles on reserve in the main library (by Rawls, Nozick, and Scanlon)

COURSE OBJECTIVES:    back to top

1. To come to an understanding of several long-standing normative ethical theories as they are interpreted and utilized in contemporary philosophy.
2. To learn and be able to use the philosophical tools necessary for understanding, analyzing, and evaluating the arguments employed with respect to these theories.
3. To discuss, think, and write critically about the relevant theories and to reach (and be able to support) your own conclusions about the issues involved.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:     back to top

1. Attendance at lecture is absolutely crucial to your understanding of what are occasionally extremely difficult readings. In addition, our class discussions would be rather masturbatory affairs if I were the only one showing up. Consequently, a little incentive: I'll take attendance every day, and if you miss more than SIX class meetings (unexcused), that will constitute sufficient grounds for your receiving an F in the course.
2. There will be a total of TWO exams given during the quarter, both of which will be in class, closed text and closed notes. The first will cover the material from the first part of the course (tentatively scheduled for Friday, 10/13); the final will cover only the material from the last part of the course (i.e., it will not be comprehensive). If I do not have two exam grades for you, you will receive an F in the course. The exam questions will make reference to specific information from the lectures and the readings, so be sure to study the assigned readings carefully and to keep abreast of what happens in lecture. THERE WILL BE NO MAKE-UP EXAMS. I have a system in place which should eliminate the need for such things. Each exam will be worth 30% of your overall grade.
3. You will write TWO 3-5 page papers during the course of the semester on an assigned topic. They will each be due in class (within the first ten minutes of the class period) on the dates given in the syllabus. I will give you some guidelines on these in class when the time comes. Each paper will be worth 20% of your overall grade. All grading will be done on the plus/minus system.
4. You must read each of the assigned readings and have them read PRIOR to the class period in which we will discuss them. Otherwise, our discussions will be dead and useless. For now, I'll have faith that you are doing the readings, but if at any time I sense that they are generally not being read, I reserve the right to change the weighted percentages of your other assignments and add written assignments having you summarize the readings. Please do not test my faith in this matter.
5. Discussion is crucial in the doing of philosophy, so please come to class prepared to participate in our discussions.  While I clearly cannot require you to talk, I can at least add an incentive for you to do so:  regular participation can get you up to 2 points added onto your overall, final grade tally (e.g., pushing you from an 88 -- a B+ -- to a 90 -- an A-).  Don't worry:  I won't take away any points for hostile silence (as much as I might like to).
6. Occasionally during the semester, opportunities will arise for you to do some extra credit writing. I will announce these as they occur.

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