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NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE
COURSE SYLLABUS
M / W 9:30 – 10:50 am FLM Room #210
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Course Title: Introduction to Ethics
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Course Prefix & Number: PHIL 2306
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Section Number: 500
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Sem: Spring 2020
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Semester Credit Hours: 3
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Lecture Hours: 3
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Lab Hours: 0
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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.
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Course Prerequisite(s): None
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REQUIRED COURSE MATERIALS:
*Michael Morgan. Classics of Moral and Political Theory. 5th edition. Hackett Publishing Company. ISBN #13-978-1-60384-442-0.
In addition, there is 1 film you will be expected to watch OUTSIDE the classroom: Planet of the Apes (Franklin Schaffner, 1968). This can be viewed online at Amazon Instant Video, Youtube, or other (unspecified) places. Public libraries might also carry it. You will also need notebook paper and pencil/pens. These are standard tools of students and should always be carried into class for NOTE-TAKING or unannounced and otherwise spontaneously produced assignments.
*It is highly recommended that you buy/rent a PHYSICAL book. That way, you can make notes and highlight important passages. E-readers are acceptable, but laptop computers are NOT permitted.
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INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION
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Name of Instructor:
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Mark Thompson
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Campus/Office Location:
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Room #107 (Office Hours: Mon. and Wed. 11:15 am – 12:15 pm OR by appointment); online hours ( M / W 7:30 - 8:30 am)
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Telephone Number:
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--------------------- (use email)
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E-mail Address:
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USE CANVAS or mthompson@nctc.edu
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GRADING CRITERIA
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# of Graded Course Elements
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Graded Course Elements
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Percentage or Point Values
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daily
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In-Class Assignments / Attendance
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10%
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4*
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Group Quizzes*
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15%
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2
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Movie Essays
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40%
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3
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Discussion Board Assignments
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35%
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*Lowest grade will be dropped
You can earn a maximum of 1,000 pts. in this course:
In-Class Assignments and Attendance 10 % 100 pts.
Group Quizzes 15 % 150 pts.
1st Movie Essay 20 % 200 pts.
2nd Movie Essay 20 % 200 pts.
Discussion Board Assignments 35 % 350 pts.
COURSE PROMISES: This course is a journey (should you accept it) that will reveal why people behave the way they do; it will help answer why people believe in certain ethical ideas and how those beliefs lead to actions and habits; you will learn how to identity common assumptions and foundations that people utilize to understand what is “right” and “wrong” as they live out their lives on planet earth; you will discover why you are the person you are today, allowing for a more fulfilling human existence.
NOTE ON COMMUNICATION WITH YOUR PROFESSOR: You must use your NCTC-based email (either CANVAS or your @nctc.edu email account) to communicate with me. If you miss class, you do not need to email me.
If you miss class, it is a good idea to check the syllabus/calendar to see what you missed. Finding a small group can relieve stress throughout the semester. You can communicate with your group to locate any missed notes, and set up a bi-weekly/monthly study session. In-class assignments cannot be made up.
During the week (Monday – Thursday), my policy is to respond to emails within 24 hours. During the weekend (Friday – Sunday) and on holidays, I generally do not check work email, so an email sent to me on those days/times might require a few days before getting a response. IF ONE IS NEEDING A QUICK RESPONSE, TRY THE ONLINE HOURS (Mon. and Wed. 7:30-8:30 am via email). Better yet, come talk to me (in person!).
FAQ
- The In-Class Group Quiz will occur during the first 20-25 minutes of class (see calendar). Each student will be part of a small group of students (4-5) in which these conversations will take place. The aim of these discussions will be to go over the assigned text/reading material and prepare a written group response. Each group will be collectively assessed by the professor.
- For Discussion Board Assignments, students will log into CANVAS and click on the “Discussions” link. Follow the instructions, as each discussion-board assignment will be slightly different. Each discussion board thread will typically open on a Monday and remain open for 1 week (closing on Saturday night at MIDNIGHT. BE SURE TO KEEP TRACK OF THE DUE DATES FOR EACH ASSIGNMENT ON YOUR SYLLABUS CALENDAR!
- There are no “exams” for this course; it is hoped that this will alleviate any “test anxiety” that you may be prone to. It is important to periodically check your syllabus to know what assignment is approaching (and its due date). This is a responsibility of the student, although the professor will provide helpful reminders IN CLASS, if you habitually miss class (or come to class late), you will be making your life more difficult. Reduce unnecessary stress!!!
NOTE ON ABSENCES: Students who arrive 20 or more minutes after the start of class will be considered partially absent for that day (1 pt. deduction), as will students who leave early. As we have only 27 total class meetings, attendance, bodily participation, and reading are all crucial components for this class.
HOW TO SUCCEED IN THIS CLASS:
- While in class, it is highly recommended that you turn off (and leave off) your cell phone. LAPTOP COMPUTERS ARE PROBHIBITED. When studying/reading the textbook, turn off your phone/computer—or better yet, place these items in a different room; the spatial arrangement of your study area can significantly determine your brain’s ability to concentrate for extended periods of time. If you don’t believe me, I would recommend reading Nicholas Carr’s enlightening The Shallows: What the Internet is Doing to Our Brains (New York: Norton, 2010). You can also watch a short interview with the author here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tqRMbg7MPc Better yet, ask yourself after 5 minutes what you’re thinking of as you attempt to read your textbook for an uninterrupted hour: Emails? Headline news? Sports scores?
- Don’t think of your engagement with the textbook as a “forced exercise” or an “assignment I have to do” for “school.” Instead, view this moment as an opportunity to converse with the dead; in essence, you’re conjuring the ghost of Aristotle/Nietzsche, etc. and seeking advice/knowledge about this crazy world we all inhabit (and in their case, have inhabited).
- After completing the readings and assignments, think about the level of comprehension and the actual grade you projected to obtain. Was it accurate? If not, come talk to the professor, bringing your notes and textbook so you can display what kind of notes you are taking during class. It’s no use expecting different results by doing the same thing over and over: learn from your experiences.
Last day to withdraw from a course with a “W” is Friday, April 3rd.
DISABILITY SERVICES (OSD)
The Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) provides accommodations for students who have a documented disability. On the Corinth Campus, go to room 170 or call 940-498-6207. On the Gainesville Campus, go to room 110 or call 940-668-4209. Students on the Bowie, Graham, Flower Mound, and online campuses should call 940-668-4209.
North Central Texas College is on record as being committed to both the spirit and letter of federal equal opportunity legislation, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, ADA Amendments Act of 2009, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (P.L. 93-112). http://www.nctc.edu/StudentServices/SupportServices/Disabilityservices.aspx
Students are expected to follow all rules and regulations found in the student handbook. https://www.nctc.edu/_documents/academics/student-handbook.pdf
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Name of Chair/Coordinator:
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Crystal R.M. Wright
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Office Location:
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Gainesville Campus, Room 824
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Telephone Number:
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940-668-7731, ext. 4320
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E-mail Address:
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cwright@nctc.edu
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Name of Instructional Dean:
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Dr. Bruce King
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Office Location:
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1525 W. California St., Gainesville, Texas
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Telephone Number:
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bking@nctc.edu
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E-mail Address:
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940-668-4267
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CALENDAR
Instructor reserves the right to alter schedule at ANY time.
֎Discussion Board Dates to Remember (each due by MIDNIGHT): Discussion Board 1 Due (Saturday) 2/8; Discussion Board 2 Due (Sat) 2/22; Discussion Board 3 Due (Sat) 4/22
UNIT 1: ANCIENT ETHICS (“How to be virtuous”)
JAN.
W (22nd) INTRODUCTION; DISCUSS SYLLABUS
M (27th) Discuss: HAND OUT (have read before class) “Ethics: Thou Shalt Become Perfected” by Donald Palmer
W (29th) LECTURE: “Ethics and Ancient Greece/Rome”
FEB.
M (3rd) Discuss: (have read) Plato, Euthyphro pgs. 31-45.
W (5th) “ “ “ “
֎ Reminder: 1ST DISCUSSION BOARD DUE Sat. 2/8 at midnight
M (10th) Group Quiz: (have read) Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, pgs. 252-260 (Books I [Ch. 1-7])
W (12th) “ “ “ “
M (17th) Discuss: (have read) Epictetus, Encheiridion, pgs. 428-433.
W (19th) “ “ “ “
֎ Reminder: 2nd DISCUSSION BOARD DUE Sat. 2/22 at midnight
Be sure to watch Planet of the Apes over the weekend (We will discuss on Monday)
UNIT 2: HUMAN NATURE(“What am I able to do morally as a human?”)
M (24th) Discuss FILM (Planet of the Apes, 1968); DISCUSS MOVIE PROJECT #1
W (26th) Discuss: (have read) HAND OUT on CANVAS, “The Law of Human Nature” by C. S. Lewis
MARCH
M (2nd) Group Quiz: (have read) Hobbes, Leviathan, pgs. 575-76; 593-97 [Ch. 6]; 618-625 [Ch. 13]
W (4th) “ “ “ “
M (9th) LECTURE: “Social Darwinism”
W (11th) Discuss: (have read) HAND OUT on CANVAS, T. H. Huxley, Evolution and Ethics
SPRING BREAK (No class)
M (23rd) LECTURE: “Nietzsche and the ‘Will to Power’”
W (25th) Discuss: (have read) Nietzsche, On the Genealogy of Morality, pgs. 1214-1215; 1271-1276 [2nd Treatise, secs. 1-6]; 1284-89 [secs. 16-23]
MOVIE ESSAY #1 DUE MONDAY (3/30) at 9:30 am (Bring Hard [Paper] Copy and Upload to link in CANVAS ([Under “Assignments”])
UNIT 3: SOCIAL ETHICS (“How do societies impact ethical thinking?”)
M (30th) TURN IN MOVIE ESSAY #1; LECTURE: “Liberal Christianity and the Social Gospel”
APRIL
W (1st) Group Quiz: (have read) HANDOUT on CANVAS (Niebuhr, “Moral Man and Immoral Society”)
M (6th) “ “ “ “
W (8th) “ “ “ “
M (13th) Discuss: (have read) HANDOUT on CANVAS (MLK, “What is Man?” and “Letter from a Birmingham Jail”)
W (15th) “ “ “ “
֎ Reminder: 3rd DISCUSSION BOARD DUE Sat. 4/22 at midnight
UNIT 4: PRACTICAL ETHICS: HOW SHOULD I LIVE?
M (20th) LECTURE: “Mill and Nineteenth-Century Liberalism”; DISCUSS MOVIE PAPER #2 GUIDELINES
W (22nd) Group Quiz: (have read) Mill, Utilitarianism, pgs. 1008-1009; 1069-1072; 1086-1089 [Ch. 4]
M (27th) LECTURE: “Ayn Rand and American Capitalism”;
W (29th) Discuss: (have read) HANDOUT on CANVAS, Rand, “Ethics of Objectivism”
MAY
M (4th) WATCH FILM (in class): The Fountainhead (Part 1)
W (6th) WATCH FILM (in class): The Fountainhead (Part 2)
FINAL EXAM WEEK: MOVIE ESSAY #2 DUE (Date/Time to be Announced Later)