Spring 2013 Ethics Syllabus

Syllabus

Goals of the Course

1. Understand, integrate, and critically assess theories from a wide range of disciplines on the nature of ethics (e.g. philosophy, moral psychology, anthropology, biology).
2. To use this integrated understanding to gain insights on the nature of racism, international justice, and political and religious difference.
3. Acquire the analytic and expressive skills central to the philosophical study of ethics.

Course Description

This introductory ethics course surveys traditional ethical theories using both primary and secondary philosophical literature, and major contemporary research in moral psychology, anthropology, and biology. Throughout the course we consider applied ethical problems, such as the nature of racism, international justice, and political and religious difference. In addition to standard readings, we read Jonathan Haidt's The Righteous Mind, Franz de Waal, Morally Evolved, Peter Singer and others on international justice and obligations to the poor. The course also addresses ethical issues in political and religious difference. Total expected study time: 85 hours. Total pages: 754.

Reading List for Spring 2013 Florence Course Version

• Ariely, Dan. 26 May 2012, Why We Lie. Wall Street Journal (New York).
• Aristotle. Nichomachean Ethics, Books 1-3. [Internet Clasics Archive]. 19 August 2010.
• Cooper, David. 1993. Chapter 1: Introduction to Philosophical Ethics. Value Pluralism & Ethical Choice, 1-26. New York: St. Martin's Press.
• ________. 1993. Chapter 5: Cognitive and Moral Development. Value Pluralism & Ethical Choice, 75-91. New York: St. Martin's Press.
• de Waal, Franz. 2006. Morally Evolved: Primate Social Instincts, Human Morality, and the Rise and Fall of "Veneer Theory". in Primates and Philosophers , editors Stephen Macedo and Josiah Ober , 1-59. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.
• Eco, Umberto. Fall 2002. When the Other Appears on the Scene. Cross Currents 52, no. 3: 19-30.
• Haidt, Jonathan. 2012. The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion. New York: Pantheon.
• Hinman, Lawrence. 2003. Chapter 8: Justice. in Ethics: A Pluralistic Approach Lawrence Hinman. United States: Tompson Wadsworth.
• Korsgaard, Christine M. 2006. Morality and the Distinctiveness of Human Action . in Primates and Philosophers, editors Stephen Macedo and Josiah Ober, 98-120. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.
• Mill, John Stuart. Utilitarianism. Batoche Books, Kitchener 2001. [1]. Accessed: 11 November 2012.
• Rachels, James and Stuart Rachels. 2012. Chapters 6-10: Social Contract Theory, Utilitarianism, Kantianism. in The Elements of Moral Philosophy James Rachels and Stuart Rachels, 82-146McGraw Hill.
• Singer, Peter. 2002. Chapter 1: A Changing World. One World Peter Singer. Australia: Yale University Press.
• Singer, Peter. 1975. Chapter 1: About Ethics. Practical Ethics, 1-15.
• ________. 1975. Chapter 2: Equality and Its Implications. Practical Ethics, 14-39.
• Singer, Peter. 2002. Chapter 2: One Atmosphere. One World Peter Singer, 14-50. Australia: Yale University Press.
• ________. 2002. Chapter 5: One Community. One World Peter Singer. Australia: Yale University Press.
• ________. 2006. Morality, Reason, and the Rights of Animals. in Primates and Philosophers, editors Stephen Macedo and Josiah Ober, 140-61. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.
• Singer, Peter. 1975. Rich and Poor. Practical Ethics, 14-39.

Assessment

Students configure an individual "grading scheme" for their work in the course. The mandatory elements include: quizes in most classes throughout the term, a significant formal writing component, and a final exam. Students also choose from a wide range of assignments including addition research and writing, journals, experiential or service learning.