Philosophy 241: Ethics
Fall 2009
PRISM ID: 7143
T,TH 9:25-10:40am, Room 209
Professor: Tait Szabo
Office: 214
Office Hours: M 3-3:50pm, W 2-3:50pm, T and Th 2:25-3:50pm, and by appointment.
E-mail: tait.szabo@uwc.edu
Course Description: The purpose of ethics is to answer the question "how shall I live?" The course examines three
traditional answers or approaches to answering this question. The goals of the course will be accomplished through
discussion, writing, and close reading of a few classic texts of moral philosophy.
Prerequisites: There are no prerequisites for this class.
Recommended coursework: ENG 101 and/or ENG 102.
Associates Degree requirements: Humanities.
Required Texts:
Aristotle. Nichomachean Ethics. Trans. Terence Irwin. 2nd ed. Hackett, 2000.
Bentham, Jeremy, and John Stuart Mill. The Classical Utilitarians: Bentham and Mill. Ed. John Troyer. Hackett, 2003.
Kant, Immanuel. Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals. Trans. James W. Ellington. 3rd ed. Hackett, 1993.
Course Requirements and Assessment:
Proficiencies: The goal of the course is to teach students how to think and write critically about philosophical questions.
Students will learn how to analyze, synthesize, evaluate and interpret philosophical ideas, and to recognize fallacious and
inconsistent reasoning.
Assessment: A UW Colleges-wide assessment program has been put into place to enhance the quality and effectiveness
of the curriculum, programs, and services of the institution. The following areas of proficiency will be assessed because
they are of primary importance in the education of our students: Analytical Skills, Quantitative Skills, Communication Skills,
and Aesthetic Skills. For more information, go to Assessment Program. This class will not be assessed.
Class Participation and Attendance: Attendance will not be taken in this course. Participation, however, makes up 20% of
your final course grade, and it will be impossible to receive a good participation grade without good attendance.
Midterms and Final Exams: Students will take three in-class, non-cumulative, open-book exams, including the final exam.
Each exam will count for 20% of your final course grade.
Essay: Students will complete one three-part essay assignment that will count for 20% of your final course grade.
The three parts are: thesis statement and outline; rough draft; final draft. Further details will be provided,
including due dates.
Extra Credit: There will be no opportunities for extra credit.
Appointments and Office Hours: Please feel free to drop by my office during office hours. If you wish to see me outside these set
times I am always available by appointment. Email can be sent any time. Give me a day or two to answer. Please include the
phrase "PHI 241" in the subject line.
Policy Statements:
Academic Integrity: There is a zero-tolerance policy for academic misconduct. Academic misconduct may include: cheating,
plagiarism, aid of academic dishonesty, fabrication, lying, bribery, and threatening behavior. All incidents of academic
misconduct will be reported. Students who are found to be in violation of academic integrity may be subject to academic discipline.
Classroom Behavior: Students and faculty each have responsibility for maintaining an appropriate learning environment.
Those who fail to adhere to such behavioral standards may be subject to academic discipline. Professional courtesy and
sensitivity are especially important with respect to individuals and topics dealing with differences of race, culture, religion,
politics, sexual orientation, gender, gender variance, and nationalities. Class rosters are provided to the instructor with the
student's legal name. I will gladly honor your request to address you by an alternate name or gender pronoun. Please advise
me of this preference early in the semester so that I may make appropriate changes to my records.
Disabilities: If you qualify for accommodations because of a disability, please inform me in a timely manner (i.e. during the
first two weeks) so that your needs may be addressed.
Religion: I will make every effort to reasonably and fairly deal with all students who, because of religious obligations, have
conflicts with scheduled exams, assignments or required attendance. In this class, every effort will be made to accommodate
all students who, because of religious obligations, have conflicts with scheduled exams, provided they notify me well in
advance (at least two weeks) of the scheduled conflict. If an exam is scheduled on a religious holiday, affected students may
be provided with the opportunity for a makeup exam.
Class Schedule: The following is a tentative schedule of the course and may change if required.
You will be expected to have read the assigned reading by the time you attend the relevant class.
Important Dates:
September 2nd: First day of classes
September 7th: Labor Day (no classes)
October 6th: First Exam Study Guide for Aristotle
November 12th: Second Exam Study Guide for Kant
November 26th-27th: Thanksgiving (no classes)
December 1st: Essay First Draft due Essay Assignment
December 15th: Essay Final Draft due
December 15th: last day of classes
December 17th-19th and 21st-23rd: Final Exams
Final Exam: Dec. 22, 8:00am-10:00am
Section 1: Aristotle
Nichomachean Ethics: Books I and II (plus more if time permits)
Section 2: Kant
Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals: First Section; Second Section; Third Section, pages 49-50 (time permitting)
On a Supposed Right to Lie because of Philanthropic Concerns (if time permits)
Section 3: Mill
Utilitarianism: Chapters I-IV (plus Chapter V if time permits)