Philosophy 316:
Syllabus
Professional Ethics
PHIL 316 - SPRING 2012 - 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 - 2:30, F 12:00 - 1:00, T 12:00 - 2:00 and Th 2:00 – 4:00. 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. "Professional Ethics" Course Pack (available only at the Dupre Library Reserve Desk)
Assignments & Grading:
There will be three in-class exams, the two during the semester each worth 30% of your course grade, and the cumulative final exam worth 40% of your course grade. The in-class exams will consist primarily of short answer and multiple choice questions. However, all make-up exams will be primarily 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 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 the exams 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 of Disability Services 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 address is: http://www.ucs.louisiana.edu/~kak7409/Survival.html.
My Philosophy 316 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 address is: http://www.ucs.louisiana.edu/~kak7409/professionalethics.html.
A Moodle page will also be created for this course.
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 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: Assignments, due dates and class procedures are tentative and may change.
(CP) = Course Packet
(ON-LINE) = Linked from on-line syllabus
Topic 1: Moral Reasoning and Ethical Theory
Week of 11 & 13, Cultural Relativism
(CP): "The Challenge of Cultural Relativism" by James Rachels.
January 16 – Martin Luther King Day - No Classes.
Jan. 18 & 20, Understanding Philosophy & Ethics
(ON-LINE): "What Is Philosophy?" and "Moral Reasoning In Applied Ethics" by Keith Korcz; (CP): "Keeping Your Colleagues Honest" by Mary Gentile.
Week of Jan. 23, The Divine Command Theory & Ethical Egoism
(no readings)
Week of Jan. 30, Utilitarianism, Rights & the Origin of Morality
(CP): "The Debate Over Utilitarianism" by James Rachels.
Topic 2: Social Justice
Weeks of Feb. 6 and 13, Social Justice
(CP): excerpts from The Life You Can Save by Peter Singer; “A Pluralistic Conception of Justice” by Nicholas Rescher; “The Case For Equality: John Rawls” by Michael Sandel; “The Entitlement Theory” by Robert Nozick.
EXAM #1: FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17.
Monday, February 20 through Wednesday, February 22 - Mardi Gras Holiday - No Classes.
Feb. 24 & Weeks of Feb. 27 & March 5, The Moral Limits of Markets
(CP): “Companies and the Customers Who Hate Them” by Youngme Moon; “Ethics in the Marketplace” by Manuel G. Velasquez; “Markets, Property and Power” by Michael Walzer; “Is Inheritance Justified?” [link is to longer version of the article] by D. W. Haslett.
Monday, March 12 – Advising for FA12 begins.
Topic 3: Corporate Responsibility
Week of March 12, Corporations & Social Responsibility
(CP): "The Social Responsibility of Business is to Increase Its Profits" by Milton Friedman; "A Stakeholder Theory of the Modern Corporation " by R. Edward Freeman.
Week of March 19, Corporate & Stakeholder Conflict
(CP): “The Campus Anti-Sweatshop Movement” by Richard Applebaum and Peter Dreier; “The Great Non-Debate Over International Sweatshops” by Ian Maitland; “Boycott Basics: Moral Guidelines for Corporate Decision Making” by Mary Lyn Stoll.
EXAM #2: FRIDAY, MARCH 23.
Topic 4: Deception in Business
Week of March 26, Advertising & Sales
(CP): “The Bribed Soul” by Leslie Savan; "Political Economy" by Mark Twain; "Information Disclosure in Sales" by David Holley.
Friday, April 6 through Sunday April 15 – Spring Break - No Classes.
Week of April 2, Consumer Product Safety & Self-Deception
(CP): “The Ethics of Consumer Production and Marketing” by Manuel G. Velasquez; “Ethical Breakdowns” by Max Bazerman and Ann Tenbrunsel.
Topic 5: Employees
Week of April 16, The Value of Work & Whistleblowing
(CP): “Leisure and Consumption” by Joanne B. Ciulla; "Whistleblowing and Employee Loyalty" by Ronald Duska; “Whistleblowing: Professionalism, Personal Life, and Shared Responsibility for Safety in Engineering” by Mike W. Martin.
Week of April 23, Workplace Safety
“Occupational Health and Safety” by John R. Boatright.
April 30, Downsizing
“The Ethics of Downsizing” by John Orlando.
LAST DAY OF CLASSES: MONDAY, APRIL 30.
FINAL EXAM (IN REGULAR CLASSROOM): THURSDAY, MAY 3, 3:00PM – 5:30PM.
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!
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