Contemporary Moral Dilemmas
Phil 111 - Spring 2008 - Dr. Keith Korcz
How To Reach Professor Keith Korcz:
My office is in H. L. Griffin Hall, rm. 563. My office hours are MW 12:00 - 1:00 and 2:30 - 4:30, F 12:00-12:30 and TTh 12:00 - 2:00. We can also meet at other times by arrangement - just ask. My office phone no. is 482-6806. You can also contact me (or ask questions) by e-mail at keithk@louisiana.edu.
Required Texts:
1. "Contemporary Moral Dilemmas" Course Pack (available only at the Dupre Library Reserve Desk)2. The Elements of Moral Philosophy, Fifth Ed. by James Rachels
3. Animal Liberation: New Revised Edition by Peter Singer
Assignments & Grading:
There will be three in-class exams, the two during the semester each worth 25% of your course grade, and the cumulative final exam worth 30% of your course grade. There will also be a paper, to be completed in two drafts, worth 20% of your course grade. The in-class exams will consist primarily of short answer and multiple choice questions. A few sample questions typical of some of the sorts of questions which may be on the exams are given in the course pack. However, all make-up exams will be primarily long-essay. The exams will cover both lectures and assigned readings (material in lectures and assigned readings will not always overlap). All exams are closed book/closed note. The paper must be approx. 7 - 8 pages in length, and will be described in more detail later.
The course grades will initially be determined according to the standard scale, i.e., 90-100% = A, 80-89% = B, 70-79% = C, 60-69% = D, 59% and below = F, and then may be modified as follows: Course grades might be curved, but, if so, the curve would not be such that any student's grade is lowered. Such factors as improvement over the length of the course, class participation, attendance, etc., may be taken into consideration, especially where doing so may improve a borderline grade. You must complete all course assignments (namely all exams and both drafts of the paper) to receive a passing grade (i.e., a grade other than F, NC or U).
Class Policies:
If you miss class, for whatever reason, it is your responsibility to get class notes from another student. Missed exams or other assignments can be made up only if an appropriate excuse, e.g., illness requiring medical attention, participation in certain official university events, etc., is provided. If you miss an assignment due date, you must notify me within one week of either the due date or the cessation of a medically documented persistent vegetative state in order to make up the assignment. An unexcused late assignment will be dropped 2/3 of a letter grade per day it is late. If you have a disability and require assistance with fulfilling class assignments, don't hesitate to notify the instructor and the Office for Services to Students with Disabilities at 482-5252. Finally, be sure you are familiar with all university policies described in the UL Lafayette Undergraduate Bulletin. All assignments for this class must be completed individually, and any instance of academic dishonesty on any assignment will be sufficient to fail the course.
Internet Resources:
I strongly recommend taking advantage of the following resources I have created for you!
My How To Survive Your First Philosophy Course pages contain useful information about what I look for when grading papers, how to study for my exams, reading philosophy, taking notes, doing research in philosophy, etc. The URL address is: http://www.ucs.louisiana.edu/~kak7409/Survival.html.
My Philosophy 111 Home Page contains links to an on-line syllabus (which contains numerous links to home pages of authors we'll be reading, readings available on-line, etc.), study aids, and other resources you will find helpful. The URL address is: http://www.ucs.louisiana.edu/~kak7409/111Home.html.
My home page contains links to all my course home pages, extensive links pages on philosophy, general research, fun sites, and lots of other information. The URL address is: http://www.ucs.louisiana.edu/~kak7409.
Emergency Evacuation Procedures:
A map of this floor is posted near the elevator marking the evacuation route and the Designated Rescue Area. This is an area where emergency service personnel will go first to look for individuals who need assistance in exiting the building. Students who may need assistance should identify themselves to the teaching faculty.
COURSE CALENDAR & PLANNED READING ASSIGNMENTS*
You should complete each of the readings before they are discussed in class. Some of the readings are difficult, and you may find that you need to re-read them after they have been discussed in class in order to fully understand them.
NOTE: Readings in [brackets] are not required.
(CP) = Course Pack
(AL) = Animal Liberation
(EMP) = Elements of Moral Philosophy
[NOTE: LINKS FOLLOWED BY "JSTOR" ARE AVAILABLE ONLY THROUGH A CONNECTION TO THE UL LAFAYETTE COMPUTER SYSTEM]
Topic 1: Moral Reasoning and Ethical Theory
Monday, January 21 - Martin Luther King Day - No Classes
Jan. 23 & 25, Cultural Relativism
(EMP): Chapter 1, What Is Morality?" and Chapter 2, "The Challenge of Cultural Relativism." OPTIONAL: (EMP): Chapter 3, "Subjectivism in Ethics."
Week of Jan. 28, Understanding Philosophy and Ethics
(CP): "What Is Philosophy?" and "Moral Reasoning In Applied Ethics" by Keith Korcz.
Monday, Feb. 4 through Wednesday, Feb. 6 - Mardi Gras - No Classes
Feb. 8, Religion and Ethics
(EMP): Chapter 4, "Does Morality Depend on Religion?"
Week of Feb. 11, Philosophical Ethics I: Utilitarianism & Value
(EMP): Chapters 6 & 7.
Week of Feb. 18, Philosophical Ethics II: Rights and Ethical Theory vs. Applied Ethics
(EMP): Chapters 8, 9 & 13.
Topic 2: The Ethics of Homosexuality
Feb. 25, Homosexuality, Nature and Society
(CP): "Homosexuality, Prejudice and Discrimination" by Richard D. Mohr. [you can also read some op-ed pieces by Mohr here]
EXAM #1: FRIDAY, FEB. 29.
Week of March 3, Gay Marriage
(CP): "How Domestic Partnerships and 'Gay Marriage' Threaten the Family" by Robert H. Knight; "The Family Lives of Lesbians and Gay Men" by Letitia Peplau and Kristin Beals; "Goodridge v. Department of Public Health" by The Supreme Court of Massachusetts [note: link is to the un-edited version]. In Class Video: Ballot Measure 9. [Here is some information about one of the producers, Linda Kliewer. Read the NYT review of the movie. You can also visit the home page of Basic Rights Oregon.]
Topic 3: Ethical Issues in the Treatment of Animals
March 10, Animal Suffering & The Overall Good
(AL): all Prefaces and Chapters 1-4.
FIRST DRAFT OF PAPER DUE: FRIDAY, MARCH 14, AT THE BEGINNING OF CLASS.
March 12 and 14, Replies To Singer
(CP): "The Challenge to Utilitarianism" by Tom Regan; "Pain, Amelioration and the Choice of Tactics" by R. G. Frey; "Darwin, Species and Morality" by James Rachels.
Topic 4: The Ethics of Abortion
March 17 and 19, Factual Background + Abortion & The Rights Of Persons
(CP): "Abortion and Mental Health: What Therapists Need to Know" by Lisa Rubin and Nancy Felipe Russo; "An Almost Absolute Value in History" by John T. Noonan; "On the Moral and Legal Status of Abortion" (Sec. II & Postscript only) by Mary Anne Warren.
Friday, March 21 through Friday, March 28 - Spring Break - No Classes
EXAM #2: FRIDAY, APRIL 4.
Weeks of March 31 and April 7, Abortion and Indirect Strategies
(CP): "Why Abortion is Immoral" [JSTOR] by Donald Marquis; "A Defense of Abortion" [JSTOR] by Judith Jarvis Thomson, "On the Moral and Legal Status of Abortion" (Intro. and Sec. I only) by Mary Anne Warren.
Topic 5: The Death Penalty
Week of April 14, Factual Background
(CP): "This Man Has Expired: Witness to an Execution" by Robert Johnson.
Arguments For The Death Penalty
(CP): "The Ultimate Punishment: A Defense" by Ernest van den Haag; "Aggravated Murder and Capital Punishment" by Tom Sorrell.
Week of April 21, Arguments Against The Death Penalty
(CP): "The Case Against The Death Penalty" by Hugo Adam Bedau; "Rights and Capital Punishment" by Thomas Hurka.
FINAL DRAFT OF PAPER DUE: FRIDAY, APRIL 25, AT THE BEGINNING OF CLASS.
Topic 6: Psychoactive Drugs
Week of April 28, Ethical Issues
(CP): "The Principle Of Autonomy and the Right to Use Drugs" by John Lawrence Hill, "Permissible Paternalism: Protecting Smokers From Themselves" by Robert E. Goodin, "The Use Of Drugs For Pleasure" by Dan Brock.
Week of May 5, Harms From Drug Use and Abuse + Legalization
(CP): "Against The Legalization Of Drugs" by James Q. Wilson; "Legalization" by Vincent Bugliosi [an article in a college newspaper gives some information about Bugliosi].
Wednesday, May 10 - Study Day
FINAL EXAM (IN REGULAR CLASSROOM): THURSDAY, MAY 15, 2:00PM - 4:30PM.
*Note: Assignments, due dates and class procedures are tentative and may change.
Some Helpful Tips:
1. On class evaluations, students often state that they would tell friends planning to take this class that good class attendance and good class notes are essential to doing well on the exams.
2. Keep up with the readings - they further explain and help you to remember the issues you'll be tested on.
3. If you're having trouble understanding course material, do not hesitate to discuss it with the instructor!
