PHI 130 Morality & Society Fall 2013

PHI 130 – Morality & Society – Fall 2013008 MWF 9:00 – 9:50BE 306007 MWF 10:00 – 10:50 CB 235ProfessorKyle Burchett kyle.burchett@uky.edu Department Phone (859) 257-1861Office HoursMW 11:00 – 12:001406 Patterson Office TowerMailbox 1443 Patterson Office TowerOverviewWhat exactly is morality? Is there such a thing as an objective right or wrong? How is it possible to determinewhether an action is (or should be) permissible, forbidden, or obligatory? How can one determine the makeupof the moral community—i.e., who or what has rights or responsibilities? Philosophers have long helddisparate beliefs about the nature of value and its place in our lives, and their weighty opinions have helpedshape the widespread assumptions accepted (or rejected) by individuals across cultures as well as subcultures.Without the shared beliefs andpractices of a community’s members,particularly those regarding notions ofright and wrong behavior, theemergence of complex social andpolitical structures would be unlikely, ifnot impossible.In this course, we will examine some ofthe most prevalent ethical theories thathave emerged in the West and explorethe implications of adopting thesetheories in response to contemporaryethical issues. By the end of thesemester, students are expected notonly to attain a practical understandingof moral philosophy as it has evolved inthe West but also to critically evaluateand clarify their own positions onvarious ethical issues in a dialogue withthe ethical frameworks encountered inthe assigned material. CXXX VII VIII秋 MMXIII

2Required TextsThe Elements of Moral PhilosophyMcGraw-Hill Higher Education, 6th Edition, 2010James Rachels & Stuart RachelsISBN: 0073386715A NOTE – The 6th edition will be used in this class. If you purchase the 7thedition, you will pay too much. Used copies of the 6th edition are listed onlineat reasonable prices. Students are advised to check around for the best dealsavailable before purchasing the text. (Try campusbooks4less, for example.) Please obtain the text ASAP since it will be used from September 4th.Exploring Ethics: An Introductory AnthologyOxford University Press, 2nd Edition, 2011Steven M. CahnISBN: 0199757518Companion Website: 7510/student/?view usaWild Justice: The Moral Lives of AnimalsUniversity of Chicago Press, 2010Marc Bekoff & Jessica PierceISBN: 0226041638 CXXX VII VIII秋 MMXIII

3GradingStudents will maximize the possibility of receiving a satisfactory grade in this course by completing allassignments and attending every class ready to discuss that day’s material. It is each student’s responsibilityto request make-up quizzes, exams, etc.; although there will be no make-ups without an excused absence. Astudent’s final grade in this class will not be destroyed by a poor grade on a single assignment, nor will it bedestroyed by (for example) a poor quiz average. Since the overall quiz average accounts for 20% of the finalgrade, a quiz average of 60 (60 x .20) will only result in a deduction of 8 percentage points—not even droppingthe average by a letter grade. Consistently poor scores in all four graded elements will, however, consistentlyresult in a poor final grade. All elements will be graded according to the quality of the students’ work.The grading scale is as follows: A 90 – 100%, B 80 – 89%, C 70 – 79%, D 60 – 69%, E 0 – 59%.1. Quizzes: (20%) There will be a number of quizzes administered during class, either announced orunannounced, to determine whether or not students are keeping up with assigned readings &viewings. The lowest quiz grade will be dropped.2. Exams: (50%) There will be two exams, each worth 25%: a midterm and a final. Exams will teststudents’ understanding of the ethical theories presented in the readings as well as students’ ability toapply these theories to contemporary ethical issues.3. Presentation: (10%) Each student will give a 15-minute PowerPoint presentation on an assignedreading. (Presentations will be assigned at the beginning of the semester.) Students are expected todemonstrate adequate understanding and critical evaluation of the readings by providing coherentsummaries and by facilitating classroom discussion regarding relevant ethical issues. PowerPoint filesmust be e-mailed to the instructor by the morning of the assigned presentation. Just in case,students must also bring digital copies to class.4. Ethical Issues Album: (20%) Each student is required to submit an ethical issues album, by e-mail andvia Blackboard, in which the student will critically engage contemporary ethical issues throughreflection on the various moral principles encountered in assigned readings. Ethical issues arise invirtually all areas of life, and they are blatantly presented to us almost any time we watch or read thenews. Students are encouraged to identify as many ethical issues as they can as the issues arise in themedia throughout the semester—and to bring up these issues during class discussions. Examples arehyperlinked in the assignment schedule. Throughout the semester, students will turn in 6 individualalbum entries, based on critical analyses of relevant sources, with the final, compiled album due beforemidnight on Friday, December 6th. Refer to the ethical issues album handout for exact details.Albums will be evaluated on the diversity of ethical issues analyzed as well as on the quality ofclarifications, observations, and reasoning provided. Students are expected to exhibit college-levelproficiency in English. Students who struggle with spelling or grammar are advised to make use of thefree services provided by UK’s Writing Center, located in the W. T. Young Library:http://wrd.as.uky.edu/writing-center. CXXX VII VIII秋 MMXIII

45. Attendance: Attendance is mandatory. Students will be permitted two unexcused absences, thoughperfect attendance is highly recommended. Each subsequent unexcused absence will result in adeduction of two percentage points from the final grade. If a student is tardy, leaves class early withoutpermission, is mentally absent, or is otherwise disruptive, a further deduction may result. If you aregoing to be absent and have a legitimate reason, it is in your best interest to let me know. Studentswho maintain perfect attendance and consistently contribute to classroom discussions will beawarded two bonus percentage points at the end of the semester. Students will also haveopportunities to receive bonus points by attending and participating in outside events that will beannounced by the instructor throughout the semester.Letters of AccommodationIf you have a documented disability which requires academic accommodations, please contact me assoon as possible with a letter of accommodation from the Disability Resource yResourceCenter/current.html.Miscellaneous CAUTION: A Cell phones must be muted or turned off during class. Text messaging is strictlyforbidden and guaranteed to draw my ire. Up to five points may be deducted from a student’s overallgrade for each violation. Egregious violators will be ejected from the classroom. Computers andtablets, however, are allowed if used for note taking or accessing assigned materials. If you would prefer to privately discuss the materials or any other concerns, please do not hesitate tovisit me during scheduled office hours or contact me by e-mail.Assignment ScheduleSyllabus to be revised at the instructor’s discretion.Exploring Ethics: An Introductory Anthology (EE)The Elements of Moral Philosophy (EMP)Wild Justice: The Moral Lives of Animals (WJ)1. W 8.28Greetings—What We Are Doing in This Class2. F 8.30Morality and Moral Philosophy William K. Frankena (EE Ch. 1) pp. 3-6Crito Plato (EE Ch. 2) pp. 7-22Recommended: The Trial of Socrates http://www.youtube.com/watch?v U6rmxxWDdnU3. M 9.02Academic Holiday4. W 9.04What Is Morality? (EMP Ch. 1) pp. 1-13 CXXX VII VIII秋 MMXIII

55. F 9.06Does Morality Depend on Religion? (EMP Ch. 4) pp. 48-616. M 9.09How Not to Answer Moral Questions Tom Regan (EE Ch. 3) pp. 25-29God and Morality Steven M. Cahn (EE Ch. 4) pp. 30-33Right and Wrong Thomas Nagel (EE Ch. 6) pp. 47-507. W 9.11The Challenge of Cultural Relativism (EMP Ch. 2) pp. 14-31Star Trek TOS: A Taste of Armageddon http://www.startrek.com/watch episode/fPZzsPG li5CEthical Issue: Women who fear being forced to marry abroad told to hide spoon in underwearEthical Issue: ‘Honour killings’ bring dishonour to IndiaRecommended: Gendercide (and other international human rights issues) in the news8. F 9.13Subjectivism in Ethics (EMP Ch. 3) pp. 32-47The Nature of Ethical Disagreement Charles L. Stevenson (EE Ch. 9) pp. 70-769. M 9.16Ethical Egoism (EMP Ch. 5) pp. 62-79Ethical Issue: If science gives people superpowers, will they use them for good or evil?Ethical Issue: ‘Generation me’ students have less empathy than 20 years agoEthical Issue: Armstrong comes clean in his own wordsRecommended: Higher social class predicts increased unethical behavior - Piff et al. (PDF)10. W 9.18Egoism and Moral Scepticism James Rachels (EE Ch. 7) pp. 51-62Happiness and Immorality Steven M. Cahn and Jeffrie G. Murphy (EE Ch. 8) pp. 63-69Recommended: Epicurus on Happiness http://www.youtube.com/watch?v irornIAQzQY11. F 9.20The Social Contract Thomas Hobbes (EE Ch. 17) pp. 129-136Phaedo Plato (EE Ch. 40) pp. 396-40012. M 9.23 [Ethical Issues Album Entry #1 Due]The Idea of a Social Contract (EMP Ch. 6) pp. 80-96Ethical Issue: Push for all younger women to register with Selective Service gaining steamEthical Issue: Defiant Russia Grants Snowden Year’s Asylum13. W 9.25Birmingham 1963 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v -0lD37bq8YILetter from a Birmingham Jail Martin Luther King, Jr. (EE Ch. 39) pp. 379-395Ethical Issue: Judge in ‘stop-and-frisk’ case cites Trayvon Martin’s deathEthical Issue: Obama: ‘Trayvon Martin could have been me 35 years ago’Recommended: You're probably more racist and sexist than you think14. F 9.27The Categorical Imperative Immanuel Kant (EE Ch. 10) pp. 79-88A Simplified Account of Kant’s Ethics Onora O’Neill (EE Ch. 11) pp. 89-9215. M 9.30 [Ethical Issues Album Entry #2 Due]Are There Absolute Moral Rules? (EMP Ch. 9) pp. 124-135Kant and Respect for Persons (EMP Ch. 10) pp. 136-145 CXXX VII VIII秋 MMXIII