Course Schedule and Assignments

COURSE SCHEDULE AND ASSIGNMENTS

Aug. 20: Introduction and Overview

[No weekly e-mail summary and question for the first week]

Syllabus

Course Schedule (this document)

Come with questions about anything in ethical theory, weakness of the will, and practical reason. We will spend the entire class discussing anything you want as general background. In particular, read the following entries in the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy:

A. General Background

Reflective Equilibrium (a methodology for testing moral theories)

Deontological Ethics

Consequentialism

B. Course Topics

Action

Weakness of the Will

Dynamic Choice

Practical Reason

We’ll so discuss the following course documents:

A List of Some Main Issues in Moral Theory

Moral Assessment

Aug. 27:

Comments on Previous Class: ______

Advice and Class Policies (no comments needed)

Notes on Holton (no summary needed; just a question) ______

Holton Ch. 1: ______

Holton Ch. 2: ______

Sept. 3: Labor Day, No class.

Sept. 10:

Comments on Previous Class: ______

Advice and Class Policies (no comments needed)

Notes on Holton (no summary needed; just a question) ______

Holton Ch. 3: ______

Holton Ch. 4: ______

Sept. 17:

Comments on Previous Class: ______

Notes on Holton (no summary needed; just a question) ______

Holton Ch. 5: ______

Holton Ch. 6: ______

Sept. 24:

Outline of first paper due by e-mail (see instructions in “Suggestions for Papers”)

Read “Suggestions for Papers” and “Writing Strategies”

Comments on Previous Class: ______

Notes on Holton (no summary needed; just a question) ______

Holton Ch. 7: ______

Holton Ch. 8: ______

Oct. 1 (class may be slightly longer than usual):

Rough drafts due to partner (no copy to me; see instructions in “Suggestions for Papers”)

Paper Presentation ______

Comments on two papersdue by e-mail (with copy to me; see instructions in “Suggestions for Papers”) within three days.

Oct. 8:

Paper Presentation ______

Oct. 15:

Final version of paper is due.

Notes on Dorsey (no summary needed; just a question) ______

DorseyCh. Introduction: ______

DorseyCh. 1: ______

Oct. 22:

Comments on Previous Class: ______

Notes on Dorsey (no summary needed; just a question) ______

Dorsey Ch. 2: ______

Dorsey Ch. 3: ______

Oct. 29:

Comments on Previous Class: ______

Notes on Dorsey (no summary needed; just a question) ______

Dorsey Ch. 4: ______

Dorsey Ch. 5: ______

Nov. 5:

Rewrites (option) of first paper due (Important: See instructions in “Suggestions for Papers”)

Outline of second paper due by e-mail (see instructions in “Suggestions for Papers”)

“Writing Strategies” (read again)

“Suggestions for Papers” (read again)

Comments on Previous Class: ______

Notes on Dorsey (no summary needed; just a question) ______

Dorsey Ch. 6: ______

Appendix: No need to read this, but, if your papers are on the topic of a posteriori rationalism (the thesis that it is a substantive (not a conceptual) fact about morality that it is never practically permissible to perform a morally impermissible action), then you should read this appendix.

Nov. 12:

Possible class for Skype discussion with Dorsey or Holton

Nov. 19: Thanksgiving Break. No class.

Nov. 26

Rough drafts due to partner (no copy to me; see instructions in “Suggestions for Papers”)

Paper Presentation ______

Comments on two papersdue by e-mail (with copy to me; see instructions in “Suggestions for Papers”) within three days.

Dec. 3 (last class, may be a bit longer than usual)

Paper Presentation ______

Dec. 10 (no class): Final version of paper due by e-mail.