Text: Steven Cahn, Ethics (Oxford University Press)

Syllabus Philosophy 17a Spring ‘18 Introduction to Ethics Mr. Greenberg

Requirements

Read all assigned material before attending class.
Attend every class meeting. Absences will be excused only on the basis of written documentation on professional stationery of a doctor or a professional similarly qualified to state that you could not attend the class.
Each two unexcused absences will deduct ½ grade, i.e. a “+” or a “-“, from your final grade for the course.
The class will be taught as a seminar. Seminar PRESENTATIONS: At each class at which you have previously been designated as a presenter (depending on class size, approximately once every three weeks) present your understanding of the assigned material. Submit a typed copy of your presentation (2 typed written pages) to the instructor at the beginning of the class. Be prepared to explain to the instructor and to the class items in your presentation that the instructor or the class may ask about. Each presentation, including your answers to questions about the presentation, will be graded by the instructor and figured into your final grade for the course. Failure to make a presentation will receive a failing grade unless excused on the basis of documentation as required in 2. above.
Become familiar with the portions of the contents of the book that have been assigned. You may be called upon to demonstrate your understanding of the contents, and your answer will be graded. Bring your book to class so that you can deal with the contents in detail and demonstrate your comprehension of the contents.
Complete 4 in-class quizzes. There will be no make-up for any unexcused absence from an exam. As in 2. and 4 above, absences will be excused only on the basis of documentation.
Grades on your presentations will constitute three-quarters of your final grade; grades on your quizzes will constitute one-fifth of your final grade, and the last one-twentieth of your final grade will consist of an overall judgment of your comprehension of the philosophical material.
Make any request for special accommodation for a documented disability or religious practice before the time of the requested accommodation.
Observe university policy on academic integrity.
Use of any electronic or recording device in the classroom,including a computer or a cell phone, is prohibited. All such devices must be turned off and put away out of reach while the class is in session. The presentations in 4. above may not use any such device.

The course is a survey of some of the main problems in ethical or moral theory from ancient philosophy to recent philosophy: the possibility of the objectivity of moral judgments, the role of reason in ethical theory, the role of desire in ethical theory, and the theoretical-ethical nature of human action.The seminar format will consist in direct instruction, class participation, and written work. For this 4 credit course the dean’s office expects you to give it at least 9 hours of study a week. It is hoped you will get from the course knowledge of philosophical skills, techniques, and terms in ethical theory. Grades will be based on the instructor’s evaluation of your verbal and written display of your comprehension of the material that is presented in class through instruction and in the texts.

Assigned Reading

All readings from Cahn, Ethics

Instruction Week by Week

Week Plato: Euthyphro

Week IIPlato: Republic, Bk. I

Week III Aristotle

Week IV1st Quiz; Hume

Week VKant

Week VIMill

Week VII2nd Quiz; G. E. Moore

Week VIIIRoss

Week IXStevenson

Week XMackie; 3rd Quiz

Week XIWilliams

Week XIIHarman

Week XIIINagel; 4th Quiz