Phil 102B S12: Schedule and Syllabus

Philosophy 102B: Introduction to Philosophy: Values

Spring 2012

CRN 44559 TTH 5:00-6:20 PM Location: H-104

Instructor Information  

Dr. Ian M. Duckles
Email: imduckles@gmail.com
Office Hours: TTH 4:30-5:00 in H-104

Course Objectives: My goal in this course is to briefly introduce you to some of the major, western ethical theories, and then explore in some detail how these ethical theories apply to contemporary problems that confront us as human beings and as citizens of the world. My hope is that this will lead you to see the importance and relevance of ethical inquiry, and the ways in which such inquiry helps you to lead an authentic and meaningful human existence.

Methodology: In an effort to make the class more effectively reflect your own interests, much of the course will be designed by the students. After the introductory material is covered in the first few weeks, students will then vote on which topics they want to read about and discuss next. Our text has eight topics from which to choose. 

Texts: There is only one text for the class, and all readings are from it. The text is:

Contemporary Moral Problems, 9th edition. James E. White ed. Thomson-Wadsworth, 2009. 
Reading assignments can be found on the schedule. You can also use the 8th edition of the text. Special accommodations for users of the 8th edition will be presented in class. 

Schedule: All readings can be found in Contemporary Moral Problems 9th edition. James E. White ed. Thomson-Wadsworth, 2009. Page numbers refer to this edition. Reading assignments are subject to change and are expected to be completed for the day on which they are assigned.

Week 1: Introduction

Tuesday, January 24: Introduction
Thursday, January 26: Aquinas, "The Natural Law" (pp. 29-30)

Week 2: Introduction

January 31: Hume, "Morality is Based on Sentiment" (pp. 31-34)
February 2: Mill, "Utilitarianism" (pp. 38-44)

Week 3: Introduction

February 7: Extra Day
February 9: Kant, "The Categorical Imperative" (pp. 47-52)

Week 4: Introduction

February 14: Aristotle, "Happiness and Virtue" (pp. 53-61)
February 16: Extra Day

Week 5: Introduction

February 21: Review
February 23: FIRST EXAM

Week 6: Drugs and Liberty

February 28: Introduction to Drugs; Mill, "On Liberty" PDF Download
March 1: Dworkin, "Paternalism" PDF Download

Week 7: Drugs and Liberty

March 6: USDEA, "Speaking Out Against Drug Legalization" (pp. 289-298) PDF Download
March 8: Szasz, "The Ethics of Addiction" (pp. 281-288)

Week 8: Drugs and Liberty

March 13: Shapiro, "Addiction and Drug Policy" (pp. 298-304)
March 15: Extra Day

Week 9: Exam 2

March 20: Review for Exam
March 22: Exam 2

Week 10: War and Terrorism

March 27: Douglas P. Lackey, "Pacifism" (pp. 406-418)
March 29: Lackey Continued

Week 11: SPRING BREAK!!

April 3: NO CLASS!!
April 5: NO CLASS!!

Week 12: Food and Food Policy

April 10: Introduction of Paper Topic, Watch Film in Class
April 12: Continue film, discuss food and food policy

Week 13: War and Terrorism

April 17: William V. O'Brien, "The Conduct of Just and Limited War" (pp. 419-431)
April 19: O'Brien Continued

Week 14: War and Terrorism

April 24: Laurie Calhoun, "The Terrorist's Tacit Message" (pp. 431-437)
April 26: Louise Richardson, "What is Terrorism?" (pp. 437-442)

Week 15: War and Terrorism

May 1: Claudia Card, "Questions Regarding a War on Terrorism" (pp. 442-446)
May 3: David Luban, "The War on Terrorism and the End of Human Rights" (pp. 447-454)

Week 16: War and Terrorism

May 8: Extra Day
May 10: In-Class Peer Editing (Bring two copies of your rough draft to class)

Week 17: Finals Week

May 15: Review for Final
May 17: FINAL EXAM (Final Paper Due)

Assignments: Your grade in the course will be based on your performance on three types of assignments:

  1. Weekly Quizzes: Almost every week there will be a quiz at the beginning of class on the material we covered the previous week. These quizzes will collectively be worth 20% of your grade. These quizzes cannot be made up if missed.
  2. Class Participation: This is worth 10% of your grade and is based on attendance and participation in class activities. Student who are very tardy or who leave early will be considered absent.
  3. Exams: In addition to the first midterm, there will be an exam for each unit covered in class. Each exam will count the same for a total of 40% of your grade in the course.
  4. Final Exam: The final exam will be comprehensive, and count for 20%
  5. Final Project: All students will complete a final project during the last few weeks of the course. Though this project is only worth 10% of your grade, failure to complete the project will result in an F in the course. More details about the project will be announced in class and on this site at a later date.  

Grade Scale:

    ≥ 90 = A
    ≥ 80 = B
    ≥ 70 = C
    ≥ 60 = D
    < 60 = F

Academic Policies

Student Responsibility to Drop/Withdraw: It is the student’s responsibility to officially add, drop, or withdraw from the course stated in the class schedule. Failure to do so can result in a failing grade.

Class Attendance: A student may be disenrolled from the course after two absences; however, a student will be disenrolled from the course after eight absences without exception. ATTENDANCE IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR THIS PARTICULAR COURSE.

Tardiness/Early Departure: If a student arrives unreasonably late or leaves early without notifying the instructor before the event, then that student will be considered absent for that class session.

Professionalism: It is assumed that students will conduct themselves in a professional manner with a positive attitude. An open mind is one of the most important tools required for success in academia. If a student is negative and feels as is there is nothing of value to be gained by the college experience or this course, he or she will not do well in this course.

Academic Integrity and Conduct: Mesa College students are bound by the Student Code of Conduct, Policy 3100.  In this course, cheating, plagiarism, disruptions of instructional activity, fraud and/or lying will result in, at a minimum, a grade of “F” for the assignment/test with no make up permitted.  Any of these infractions may result in an “F” for the course as well and formal disciplinary action by the Dean of Student Affairs as described in the code (as published in the catalog or online).

Accommodations for Students with Disabilities: Students with disabilities who may need accommodations in this class are encouraged to notify the instructor and DSPS. DSPS can be found at http://www.sdmesa.edu/dsps/ or they can be contacted by phone at 619-388-2780.

TEN TIPS FOR SUCCESS IN THIS COURSE (Thanks to Professor June Yang):

  1. Be optimistic about your ability to learn from the textbook, the instructor, and each other.
  2. Do all homework. It will be collected every time, and spot-checked.
  3. Do all assigned reading.
  4. If you find you fall behind in your understanding, contact the instructor.
  5. Be prepared to spend at least two hours per hour spent in class in order to master this material. If you do not, you probably will not receive a grade of C or better.
  6. Have confidence in your ability to do the work.
  7. Use all resources at your disposal.
  8. Remember that you are gifted with more education and intelligence than many persons on this planet. If you try, you are sure to get it, or at least most of it!
  9. Remember that we are all here to learn.
  10. Remember that you are being trained, or acquiring a skill. Studying, like anything else, is a craft, i.e. an activity. No one is born a good student; we must all transform ourselves into excellent students.
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