NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE

COURSE SYLLABUS

 

 

Course Title:

Introduction to Ethics

Course Prefix & Number: 

PHIL2306

Section Number: 

500

Semester/Year:

F/2018

Semester Credit Hours:

3

Lecture Hours:

3

Lab Hours:

0

Course Description (NCTC Catalog):

The systematic evaluation of classical and/or contemporary ethical theories concerning the good life, human conduct in society, morals, and standards of value

Course Prerequisite(s): None

Required Course Materials:

Morgan, Michael. Classics of Moral and Political Theory.  5th edition.  Hackett Publishing Company.  ISBN 13-978-1-60384-442-0

             

 

INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

Name of Instructor:

Matthew Lampert

Campus/Office Location:

Flower Mound

Telephone Number:

 

E-mail Address:

mlampert@nctc.edu

 

OFFICE HOURS

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

11:30 - 12:30

 

11:30 - 12:30

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES (From Academic Course Guide Manual/Workforce Education Course Manual/NCTC Catalog

At the successful completion of this course the student will be able to:

 

Read, analyze, and critique philosophical texts.

 

Define and appropriately use important terms such as relativism, virtue, duty, rights, utilitarianism, natural law, egoism, altruism, autonomy, and care ethics.

 

Present and discuss well-reasoned ethical positions in writing.

 

Apply ethical concepts and principles to address moral concerns.

 

Apply course material to various aspects of life.

 

Discuss ways of living responsibly in a world where people have diverse ethical beliefs.

 

 GRADING CRITERIA

# of Graded Course Elements

Graded Course Elements

Percentage or Point Values

1

A course journal. For each class period, I will give you one or more response question(s); a few paragraphs should be sufficient in each case, but journals will be graded on relevance, completeness, and use of course material (your journal responses should show that you have read, and are applying, the assigned reading). Journals will be kept throughout the semester, and I will collect them at the end. Journals should be typed, and handed in printed, in accordance with course policies (see below). Late journals will be accepted (in person, printed) during the final exam week only, and will receive only ¾ credit, unless specific alternate arrangements have been made with me ahead of time.

20%

2

Weekly in-class quizzes (see schedule for specific dates); at the end of the semester, your lowest quiz score will be dropped; the rest will be averaged for your quiz grade. You must be present to take the quiz, which will be given at the very beginning of class—quizzes will not be sent home, nor given as make-ups. A missed quiz is a zero.

30%

3

Midterm Essay, to be assigned during the term. The essay assignments will be your opportunity to apply what you’ve learned and do some critical thinking.

30%

4

Class participation is very important.  This includes not only attendance (see below), but also active involvement in class discussion. I expect that each student will come in with some thoughts to share on each topic of discussion.

20%

 

COURSE SUBJECT OUTLINE (Major Assignments, Due Dates, and Grading Criteria)

 

August

27

First Day of Class:

Syllabus; Introductions; Outline of the course.

 

29

Opening Discussion: What Is Ethics?

September

3

Labor Day Holiday: No Class

 

5

Reading: Erich Fromm, “Humanistic Ethics”                                                 Canvas

                                                                                                            Quiz #1

 

10

Fromm, continued

 

12

Reading: Korsgaard: The Sources of Normativity, lecture I                          Canvas

                                                                                                            Quiz #2

 

17

Korsgaard, continued

 

19

Reading: Aristotle: Nicomachean Ethics        Book I 1-7, 13  CMPT 255-260, 264-265

                                                                                                            Quiz #3

 

24

Nicomachean Ethics, continued

 

26

Nicomachean Ethics, continued

October

1

Reading: Aristotle: Nicomachean Ethics        Book II, Book III 1-8     CMPT 265-280

                                                                                                            Quiz #4

 

3

Nicomachean Ethics, continued

 

8

Reading: Aristotle: Nicomachean Ethics        Book V                         CMPT 295-307

 

10

Reading: Aristotle: Nicomachean Ethics        Book VI, Book VII 1-3, CMPT 307-318

                                                Book VIII 1-3, 9,                       CMPT 328-330, 333-334

                                                Book IX 4, 7-9,                         CMPT 341-342, 343-347

                                                Book X 4-9                               CMPT 351-360

                                                                                                            Quiz #5

 

15

Nicomachean Ethics, continued

 

17

Nicomachean Ethics, wrap-up

 

22

Reading: Kant: Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals, Preface            CMPT 944-947

                                                                                                            Quiz #6

 

24

Groundwork, Preface, continued

 

29

Groundwork, Section I                                                                        CMPT 947-954

                                                                                                            Quiz #7

 

31

Groundwork, Section I, continued

November

5

Groundwork, Section II                                                                       CMPT 954-967

                                                                                                            Quiz #8

 

7

Groundwork, Section II, continued

                                                Essay Assignment Due!

 

12

Groundwork, Section II                                                                       CMPT 967-975

                                                                                                            Quiz #9

 

14

Groundwork, Section II, continued

 

19

Reading: Korsgaard: The Sources of Normativity, lecture III (pp. 1-10)       Canvas

                                                                                                            Quiz #10

 

21

Thanksgiving Holiday: No Class

 

26

Korsgaard, continued

 

28

Sources of Normativity, lecture III (pp. 10-20)

                                                                                                            Quiz #11

December

3

Korsgaard, continued

 

5

Catch-Up / Final Review

                                                                                                Journals Due!

 

10

 

Final Exam Period: Last chance to hand in late journals!

 

12

 

 

ATTENDANCE POLICY

Regular and punctual attendance is expected of all students in all classes for which they have registered.  All absences are considered to be unauthorized unless the student is absent due to illness or emergencies as determined by the instructor.  It is the student responsibility to provide documentation as to the emergency for approval and judgement by the faculty member.  Approved college sponsored activities are the only absences for which a student should not be held liable and only when provided by a college official ahead of the absence.  Valid reasons for absence, however, do not relieve the student of the responsibility for making up required work.  Students will not be allowed to make up an examination missed due to absence unless they have reasons acceptable to the instructor.  A student who is compelled to be absent when a test is given should petition the instructor, in advance if possible, for permission to postpone the exam.  Student will be dropped from a class by the Registrar upon recommendation of the instructor who feels the student has been justifiably absent or tardy a sufficient number of times to preclude meeting the course’s objectives.    Persistent, unjustified absences from classes or laboratories will be considered sufficient cause for College officials to drop a student from the rolls of the College. From Board Policy FC (LOCAL)

Last day to withdraw from a course with a “W” is November 8, 2018.

 

DISABILITY SERVICES (Office for Students with Disabilities)

The Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) provides support services for students with disabilities, students enrolled in technical areas of study, and students who are classified as special populations (i.e. single parents).

Support services for students with disabilities might include appropriate and reasonable accommodations, or they may be in the form of personal counseling, academic counseling, career counseling, etc.  Furthermore, OSD Counselors work with students to encourage self-advocacy and promote empowerment. The Counselors also provides resource information, disability-related information, and adaptive technology for students who qualify.

For support, please contact the counselors at (940) 498-6207 or (940) 668-4321.  Alternatively, students may stop by Room 170 in Corinth or Room 110 in Gainesville.

 

CORE CURRICULUM FOUNDATIONAL COMPONENT AREA (For classes in the Core)_______     


o         Communication

o         Mathematics              

o         Life and Physical Science

X         Language, Philosophy & Culture

o         Creative Arts

 

o         Government/Political Science

o         Social and Behavioral Sciences

o         Component Area Option

o         American History


REQUIRED CORE OBJECTIVES (For classes in the Core)


X          Critical Thinking

X          Communication

o         Empirical and Quantitative

 

o         Teamwork

X          Personal Responsibility

X          Social Responsibility


COURSE TYPE

            Academic General Education Course (from ACGM but not in NCTC Core)

X          Academic NCTC Core Curriculum Course

o        WECM Course

 

STUDENT HANDBOOK

Students are expected to follow all rules and regulations found in the student handbook and published online.

 

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY

Scholastic dishonesty shall include, but is not limited to cheating, plagiarism, academic falsification, intellectual property dishonesty, academic dishonesty facilitation and collusion.  Faculty members may document and bring charges against a student who is engaged in or is suspected to be engaged in academic dishonesty.  See Student Handbook, “Student Rights & Responsibilities: Student Conduct ([FLB(LOCAL)]”. 

 

Academic honesty is taken very seriously. In a philosophy class, this means that sources used in papers or journals should be cited somehow (MLA style, Chicago style, etc.), and quotations from any text clearly indicated. It also, more importantly, means not taking credit for the work of another. Plagiarism, handing in papers downloaded off of the internet, or any other case of a student handing in something he or she has not written will be grounds for immediate failure of the class, no exceptions. If you have any questions at all, please consult the university’s policy, and/or see me directly: “I didn’t know this wasn’t okay” is not an excuse.

 

QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, or COMPLAINTS

Name of Chair/Coordinator:

Crystal R.M. Wright

Office Location:

Gainesville Campus, Room 824

Telephone Number:

940-668-7731, ext. 4320

E-mail Address:

cwright@nctc.edu

Name of Instructional Dean:

Dr. Bruce King

Office Location:

1500 North Corinth St, Corinth, TX 76208-5408

Telephone Number:

940-498-6464

E-mail Address:

bking@nctc.edu

 

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