HUM 4561 Ethics and Humanities

Professor Rogerson

Fall '03

TR 9:30-10:45
 

Course Description:
 

This is a course in Ethical Theory. We will concentrate upon finding the best set of high level ethical principles which will tell us, in a range of cases, what we should and should not do. Since it is a course on "theory" we will not look in detail at so-called "applied" ethical problems such as abortion and capital punishment.

Further, our concentration will be on what is sometimes called "social ethics." This is say that we are most interested in principles which attempt to adjudicate between completing, self-interested persons in a society. We will not be as concerned with so-called "private" ethics or morality -- telling us how to conduct our private life.

Grades, Exams and Notes:
 

• The graded work for the course will consist two in class essay exams (one mid-term and a final) and one 6-8 page paper. Each piece of work will be graded equally.
• Students are expected to attend regularly and to be prepared by reading the assignments in advance.
• Arrangements will be made for exam make-ups only on the basis of a weighty excuse (typically medical). Students should request special arrangements before the exams whenever possible.

 

Grading Scale:
 

92-100 A

89-91 A-

86-88 B+

82-85 B

79-81 B-

76-78 C+

72-75 C

69-71 C-

66-68 D+

62-65 D

59-61 D-

0-58 F

PHI 3601 Ethics

HUM 4561 Ethics and Humanities

Professor Rogerson

Fall '03

TR 9:30-10:45
 

Text: Ethical Theory, Louis P. Pojman
 
 

CALENDAR

Text:Ethical Theory, Louis P. Pojman

CALENDAR

1/9Intro

1/14-1/16Ethical Relativism, pgs. 15-20 & 33-38 / Class cancelled (1/16)

1/21-1/23Ethical Relativism, pgs. 38-62 / Ethical Egoism, pgs. 63-90

1/28-1/30Ethical Egoism, pgs. 90-109 / Value, pgs. 115-127 

2/4-2/6Value, pgs. 134-150 / EXAM 2/6

2/11-2/13Utilitarianism pgs. 155-192

2/18-2/20Utilitarianism, pgs. 192-224

2/25-2/27Kantianism, pgs. 251-294

3/4-3/6Kantianism, pgs. 294-318

3/11-3/13Morality, Self -Interest, pgs. 537-559

3/18-3/20Morality, Self-Interset, pgs. 559-595

3/25-3/27Religion and Ethics, pgs. 597-606 / Class Cancelled (3/27) 

4/1-4/3Religion and Ethics, pgs. 606-625 / Sociobiology, pgs. 627-647 

4/8-4/10Paper Due 4/8 / Sociobiology, pgs. 647-681

4/15Concluding Remarks

Final exam: 4/22 Tues @ 9:30