Ethics 105

Spring 2008

Instructor: Eric Lambert Location:

Email: elambert@kzoo.edu Office hrs: W 11:45-12:45

Office: HH 202

Texts:

The Practice of Virtue: Classic and Contemporary Readings in Virtue Ethics, ed. Jennifer

Welchman (Hackett)

The Classic Utilitarians: Bentham and Mill, ed. John Troyer (Hackett)

Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals, Immanuel Kant, trans. James W. Ellington

(Hackett)

The Plague, Albert Camus, trans. Stuart Gilbert

Course pack (available through coursepacks.com)

Course description

The objective of Ethics 105 is to become conversant with various influential moral theories in Western philosophy. Students will be introduced to the concepts, arguments, and criticisms animating classical and contemporary theories, and will be encouraged to view such positions historically, with a view to continuities and contrasts. You will reflect on questions concerning the nature of virtue, obligation, and value; what makes actions “right” or “wrong”; and differing approaches to moral reasoning and the justification of judgments. A chief goal of the course is to develop the ability to analyze and evaluate these theories, both in discussion and in your writing, and with regard both to primary texts and their application to contemporary phenomena.

So, during the first four weeks of class we will survey the foundational moral theories of Virtue Ethics (Aristotle), Deontology (Kant), and Utilitarianism (Mill). Then, after reading The Plague (Camus), we will spend the remainder of the quarter studying the contributions of Existentialism and Critical Social Theory to contemporary moral thought. Established shortly before WWII, these latter philosophical approaches illuminate – in distinctive ways – themes that will provide a background horizon to the course: namely, the centrality of empathy, communication, and reciprocal recognition to moral theory.

Grading

20% first exam

20% second exam

20% final paper (6-8 pp.)

10% peer review of rough draft of final paper (typed, min. 3-5 pp.)

10% participation

20% four (4) short papers (target length: 2 carefully written pages), worth 5% each

Attendance

Attendance is required. Since class meets only once a week, and since there are only ten weeks per quarter, each class session is important. For these reasons, two or more unexcused absences will result in 0.5 points being immediately subtracted from a student’s final grade (so if your final grade is 2.75 and you have three unexcused absences, you will receive a 2.25). Lateness should also be avoided. Since tardiness is (usually very) disruptive, excessive lateness (two or more times arriving late) will result in one unexcused absence.

Late papers/make up exams

Unless prior arrangements are made with the instructor, late papers will be marked down 0.5 points each day the paper is late, and exams that need to be made up will be marked down a full point. Late papers or make up exams will not be penalized only if prior arrangements are made, appropriate documentation is provided, and the reasons are consistent with Kalamazoo College policy.

Academic Integrity

Per the Kalamazoo College Honor System: “The term "plagiarism" includes, but is not limited to, the use, by paraphrase or direct quotation, of the published or unpublished work of another person without full and clear acknowledgment. It also includes the unacknowledged use of materials prepared by another person or agency engaged in the selling of term papers or other academic materials.” Simply put, do not plagiarize. If you are not sure what plagiarism consists of, talk to me. Plagiarized work will result – at minimum – in a failing grade for that assignment or exam, and possibly in a failing grade for the course.

Schedule of readings

Week 1

Apr 02: Introduction; Aristotle, The Practice of Virtue, 5-37

Week 2

Apr 09: Hume, The Practice of Virtue, 84-107

Jacqueline Taylor, The Practice of Virtue, 182-202

Nietzsche, The Practice of Virtue, 112-133

Week 3

Apr 16: Bentham, The Classical Utilitarians, 8-38

Mill, The Classical Utilitarians, 95-147

Week 4

Apr 23: Kant, Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals, 1-69

Onora O’Neill, “Between Consenting Adults” (CP)

Week 5

Apr 30: First exam

Camus, The Plague – Discussion; transition to contemporary thinkers

Week 6

May 07: Sartre, “Existentialism is a Humanism” (available free at website, marxists.org)

de Beauvoir, “Freedom and Others (available free at marxists.org)

Merleau-Ponty, “Freedom” (CP)

Week 7

May 14: Hegel, “Master-Slave Dialectic” (available free marxists.org)

Raymond Guess, “Suffering and Knowledge in Adorno” (CP)

Honneth, “Adorno to Habermas” (CP)

Week 8

May 21: Habermas, “On the Pragmatic, the Ethical, and the Moral Employments of

Practical Reason” (CP)

Habermas, “Communicative Reason” (available free at marxists.org)

Honneth, “The social dynamics of disrespect: situating Critical Theory today”

(CP)

Week 9

May 28: Honneth, “Integrity and Disrespect” (CP)

James, “The Moral Philosopher and the Moral Life” (CP)

Amery, “Torture” (CP)

Week 10

Jun 04: Second exam

Exchange and peer review of rough drafts of final paper

NOTE: The final paper will be due the week of June 9-12. Students are to deliver the final paper

to Humphrey House 202, no later than 4:00 pm. I will announce the exact due date

(which day of the week, that is) later in the quarter.