PHIL 2306 0300 - INTRODUCTION TO ETHICS

Introduction

Syllabus

NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE

COURSE SYLLABUS

 

 

Course Title:

Introduction to Ethics

Course Prefix & Number: 

PHIL2306

Section Number: 

 

Semester/Year:

 

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:

Dr. Jack O’Connor

Campus/Office Location:

Corinth

Telephone Number:

940-498-6258

E-mail Address:

joconnor@nctc.edu

 

OFFICE HOURS

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

8:30-9:30

8:30-9:30

8:30-9:30

8:30-9:30

 

11-1

 

11-1

 

 

Online 6-8p MW

 

 

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.

 

Demonstrate knowledge of major arguments and problems in 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

 

Your grade will be drawn from three things in this course:  Reading Quizzes, Papers, and a Final Exam.  The Reading Quizzes (RQ’s) will be given in class on a “pop quiz” basis and will be multiple choice timed at 20 minutes.  They are open book and the questions are aimed at a literal, reading comprehension level and so the questions are more about what the text says than interpreting it.  There will also be two Papers in the course, which will be about 3-5 pages in length, one due half way through the semester, the other toward the end.  More details will be provided later as well as a rubric.  Lastly, there will be a Final Exam during Exam Week.  Here is the breakdown of your grade:

RQ’s = 30%

Papers = 50% (half of it is your outline)

Final Exam = 20%

A = 90-99, B = 80-89, C = 70-79, D = 60-69, F = 0-32, Plagiarized Papers = F as 0 (zero)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

Reading/ Lecture Schedule

Part A – Orientation and Intro

Plato, Crito (p.64-71)

  • While everyone has AN opinion on what is good and right, they are not all correct. Ethics must be based on correct opinion of what is good

Part B – Ancient Ethics

Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics BK I, II (p.255-273)

  • Ethics is a search for what is “good” and how to behave to achieve it. For this reason, analyzing and understanding “good” is actually a complex and difficult exercise – especially when we think of a universal human good that should serve to motivate our actions.  Aristotle defines human good and how to attain it

Epicurus, Letter to Menoeceus & Doctrines (p.422-429)

  • This passage prescribes a simple and self-sufficient life of reason as the foundation for ethical action

Epictetus, Enchiridion (p.430-442)

  • This work is an example of Stoic ethics which holds that unemotionally looking at the world as it truly is and not being deluded by our wants and desires is the key to being good and happy

Part C – Medieval Ethics

Augustine, City of God (p.445-457)

  • Augustine was the first great Christian ethicist, and his understanding of “good” is related to God 

Aquinas, Summa Theologica Q 90-96 (p.463-485)

  • Aquinas, a Christian monk, built on Augustine’s ideas and focused on the role of law in ethics

Part D – Modern Ethics

Machiavelli, The Prince 15-23 (p.534-549)

  • This work diverges from ancient and medieval ideals of rational or spiritual self-disciple and roots “ethics” in practical things especially power

Hume, Treatise on Human Nature (p.803-825)

  • This perspective is from a foundation of human nature, that we are essentially emotional not rational, and that ethics comes from “sentiment” rather than rational argument

Mill, On Utility (p.1069-1082)

  • This is work conceives of the good as what is useful to creating human happiness – but how we define “happiness” is crucial

Nietzsche, On the Genealogy of Morality (p.1253-1265)

  • This work presents two types of ethics – one based on a strong “will to power” and the other based on a weak will.  The stronger should dominate in a “good” society.

 

 

 

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)

Additional Instructor-specific Absence Policy:

Last day to withdraw from a course with a “W” is ______Apr 3_________.

 

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)]”. 

 

            In order to preserve the sanctity of the mission of education, I will take all appropriate actions to prevent and to punish instances of scholastic dishonesty.   Students caught plagiarizing will be reported to the registrar’s office (via NCTC’s Scholastic Dishonesty Report Form) as well as receiving a “1” on the assignment.

 

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

 

Syllabus File(s)

Unit 1 [unit]