PHILOS 120 - Introduction to Ethics - Andrew Jones-Cathcart
| Course: | Introduction to Ethics |
|---|---|
| Professor: | Andrew Jones-Cathcart |
| Email: | andrew.jones-cathcart@canyons.edu |
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Introduction
Note: This is not a complete syllabus. It contains learning outcome information, as well as information about the textbook and the course content. The full syllabus will be available when the class begins.
PHILOS 120, INTRODUCTION TO ETHICS
Dr. Andrew Jones-Cathcart
College of the Canyons
Philosophy Department
Note: Although students should usually contact me through the Canvas messaging feature contained within the course, should problems arise please contact me at andrew.jones-cathcart@canyons.edu
(SENDING E-MAIL TO MY CANYONS.EDU ADDRESS, MAKE SURE YOU SPECIFY YOUR NAME, CLASS, AND SECTION NUMBER SOMEWHERE IN YOUR E-MAIL OR SUBJECT LINE.)
"Men are born ignorant, not stupid. They are made stupid by education."
-Bertrand Russell
Course Description
This course introduces students to ethics, the philosophical study of morality. Ethics seeks to understand what morality is and how we ought to go about making moral decisions. For these reasons, an introductory course in ethics tries to answer the following sorts of questions:
- What makes an action or a person moral?
- Are there objective moral values on which we can all agree, or do moral values depend entirely on our culture, history, or personal preference?
- Can it ever be right or wrong to judge someone else? Do others have the right to judge us?
- Can any decision be absolutely right or wrong?
- Do I have ethical responsibilities to other people? Do others have ethical responsibilities to me?
- Is it ever right to be selfish?
- Do we have a responsibility to future generations? Does it matter what happens after we die?
- Do animals have rights? Do we have a duty to act in certain ways toward them?
- Do the consequences of an action make it right? (Do the ends justify the means?)
- Is an action right because it is commanded by God?
- Can one be moral without God?
- What is the relationship between law and morality?
This course attempts to answer these sorts of questions through the use of lectures, classroom discussions, critical writing and readings. To this end, we shall study the key concepts and theories in ethics in detail. These concepts and theories include, but are by no means limited to, relativism, egoism, utilitarianism, deontological ethics, natural law, and virtue-based ethics. Studying these concepts and theories will give us a general framework for coming to grips with particular issues of interest to contemporary ethicists. Specific issues typically dealt with in this course include terrorism, pornography, censorship, abortion, euthanasia, capital punishment, job discrimination, and animal or environmental rights.
Our main goal is not necessarily to discover the right answers to particular moral problems, e.g. whether or not abortion is morally justifiable; instead, we shall strive to gain a more heightened, reflective awareness of what is at stake when we are faced with moral problems and to learn how we might go about justifying the kinds of choices we might decide to make in response to these challenging moral problems.
Required Texts
Sandel, Michael. Justice: What is the Right Thing to Do? Farrar, Straus and Giroux. 2010. 978-0374532505
Other readings will be accessible as on-line links.
Overall Student Learning Outcome
Identify important moral problems, articulate the morally significant aspects of such problems, and apply philosophical concepts from major ethical theories in order to analyze the strength of competing solutions to such problems.
Course Objectives:
1) Describe the basic method of inquiry used in philosophy, and apply this method in the investigation of the problems of moral philosophy.
2) Evaluate the adequacy of competing moral theories.
3) Articulate and offer justification for their moral reasoning on contemporary ethical issues that are prominent in the newspapers, media, and the culture at-large.
4) Employ philosophical concepts from major ethical theories in order to analyze and evaluate viewpoints and assumptions.
Course Description
See above.
What to Expect in this Course
See above.
Types of Assessments
Generally, we will have several timed tests consisting of written and multiple-choice questions, as well as various written assignments, including discussions.
Textbook Information
See above.
Additional Resources
Canvas
This course can be accessed on the first day of class via Canvas at https://coc.instructure.com. Log into Canvas using your CanyonsID single sign-on:
- CanyonsID Username is your COC student email address (Ex: username@my.canyons.edu)
- CanyonsID Password is your COC student email password
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Online Education
Check out the Online Education website for more information on a variety of topics that can help you be a successful online student such as: exam proctoring, learning styles, computer skills, and tips for student success. If this is your first online course, feel free to take our online learning readiness assessment to assess your skills.
The Learning Center (TLC)
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Academic Accommodation Center (AAC)
College of the Canyons AAC provides educational services and access for eligible students with documented disabilities who intend to pursue coursework at COC. A variety of programs and services are available which afford eligible students with disabilities the opportunity to participate fully in all aspects of the college programs and activities through appropriate and reasonable accommodations. For more information on their services visit the Academic Accomodation Center website.
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Management of Stress and Mental Health
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Also, the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline number is now 988. All students at COC are encouraged to enter that phone number in their cells. You can call it when you, or someone you know, is having thoughts of suicide or is in severe distress.
You can also now use the Crisis Text Line: Just text "Courage" to 741741. Someone will get back to you immediately. Its free, 24/7, and confidential.
Veterans Resource Center
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Library
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Last updated: 05/21/2021 Sub#: 12