ETHICS 111 - OLD ANNOUNCEMENTS
Thursday, February 18
IMPORTANT - I forgot to remind all of you today that there is an excellent Civic Engagement Project documentary/discussion this evening at 7 pm, FORUM 110, MJC EAST campus (until 9 pm). The event is FREE. The movie is "The Mask You Live In" about male identity today - the complicated nature of "being male." This counts as extra credit.
#1 - A PHILOSOPHY TUTOR is available to help you better understand the readings, prepare for quizzes and exams and to work on your HWs and/or paper. You can also visit me of course during my schedule office hours.
The philosophy tutor is Ryan Garrett - he's very approachable, patient, and sharp. Here are his hours at the Library and Learning Center (in the library on the MJC east campus):
Mondays: 11:30 am to 5 pm
Wednesdays: 11:30 am to 7 pm
You will need to call 209-575-6346 for an appointment during these times.
#2 - I will begin ANNOTATION/JOURNAL APPOINTMENTS starting NEXT WEEK. On Monday I will be posting an APPOINTMENT SCHEDULE (in 10 minute increments) on my OFFICE DOOR AT 120K FOUNDERS HALL (1st floor). You will have about 6-7 weeks to come and visit. What you need to do: a) Go to my office door sometime in the next month starting this monday; b) sign up for an open appointment that you can attend; c) come to your appointment! (Note: if you have to cancel an appointment do not email me. Simply go back to my door and cross off your name so that another student can take your spot!)
When you visit bring: a) all primary texts that we have read up to the date of your appointment (so early birds bring less and late birds bring more!); b) your journal - i expect to see at least two pages per week completed at the time of your appointment - again early birds vs late bird rule applies. I might ask you to comment on your annotations that you have made. At the conclusion of your appt we will decide on a fair grade for this part of the course.
I will post TWO WEEKS of appointments at a time on my door. Again you will have up to roughly 6 weeks to see me.
Tuesday, February 16
Grades are now posted - see the link below.
Thursday, February 11th
HW 2 is due next Wednesday, Feb, 17, 11:59 pm via turnitin.com. HW should be 1 to 2 pages in length and typed. Please answer ONE of the following questions for your homework: OPTION A) of the moral theories discussed thus far (divine command ethics and egoism) do any of these suffice for you as an "answer" to the fact-value puzzle? Be sure to briefly describe the fact-value puzzle in your answer; OPTION B) - summarize either Kahane or Ayn Rand's argument and then evaluate the argument you just summarized - what are the strengths, weaknesses, confusions therein?
Please see the reading assignment below - the readings have been updated.
An ONLINE ethics vocabulary quiz will be available for you to take on BLACKBOARD beginning Feb. 23
Wednesday, Feb. 3rd
My office hours are cancelled today due to an MJC meeting that I must attendTuesday, February 2nd
Facts versus Values: who decides the "Built-in Values" for Driverless Cars?
Sunday, January 31
Please see the reading schedule below. I have updated the reading assignments and topics.
There will be a short reading quiz on THURSDAY. The quiz will focus on the following topics/questions:
Thursday, January 21
HW 1 is due next week: Wednesday, 11:59 pm at www.turnitin.com . Please see the syllabus for ID# and password info for turnitin. Below are the instructions:
1. LENGTH: 1 to 1.5 pages in length, typed, 1.5 spacing, .7" margins, 12 pt font or smaller; ONE LINE for your name and HW title. Type up your HW on your computer and then UPLOAD it to the HW 1 folder on www.turnitin.com
2. HW: Answer ONE of the following questions:
Tuesday, January 19
There will be a SHORT READING/LECTURE quiz this Thursday. You do NOT need to bring a scantron. You will write your answers on the quiz. The quiz will cover the following:
1. The difference between OBJECTIVE and SUBJECTIVE
2. The difference between FACT and VALUE
3. The arguments (reasons) put forth by RUTH BENEDICT in favor of CULTURAL RELATIVISM. (cultural relativism is a TYPE of SUBJECTIVE argument that ethical "truths" are caused by cultures. Period. Just cultures. (this is a version of subjectivism because to say that ethics is caused by cultures is to say that ethics is caused by "awareness"/feelings of a group of people - ie, there is COMMON FEELING (ie, culture) that then "causes" ethical values or beliefs. I will ask you some questions regarding Benedict's REASONS or EVIDENCE in support of her view that cultural relativism is the basis for ethics.
NOTE: below, on the schedule page, I have posted an OUTLINE of the Ruth Benedict and Gilbert Harman readings. Both support cultural relativism. The outline is based on my reading and annotating of these assigned readings. You might find the outline to be helpful.
Thursday, January 14 - we will have a short (5-7 question) reading quiz on Tuesday or Thursday. It will be based on the a) the Ruth Benedict reading (pgs 33-37) and b) the difference between relativism and objectivism, or c) Scrooge, Stave I. The five minute quiz is open book and open note.
Tuesday, January 12 - Welcome to Philosophy 111, Ethics!
Be sure to check this page as well as the home page for updates on campus events and this course. When I update the schedule/assignments to the right I will also let you know in the announcements section. You can also see your grades, syllabi, and links to resources that will help you succeed in this class.
Thursday, February 18
IMPORTANT - I forgot to remind all of you today that there is an excellent Civic Engagement Project documentary/discussion this evening at 7 pm, FORUM 110, MJC EAST campus (until 9 pm). The event is FREE. The movie is "The Mask You Live In" about male identity today - the complicated nature of "being male." This counts as extra credit.
#1 - A PHILOSOPHY TUTOR is available to help you better understand the readings, prepare for quizzes and exams and to work on your HWs and/or paper. You can also visit me of course during my schedule office hours.
The philosophy tutor is Ryan Garrett - he's very approachable, patient, and sharp. Here are his hours at the Library and Learning Center (in the library on the MJC east campus):
Mondays: 11:30 am to 5 pm
Wednesdays: 11:30 am to 7 pm
You will need to call 209-575-6346 for an appointment during these times.
#2 - I will begin ANNOTATION/JOURNAL APPOINTMENTS starting NEXT WEEK. On Monday I will be posting an APPOINTMENT SCHEDULE (in 10 minute increments) on my OFFICE DOOR AT 120K FOUNDERS HALL (1st floor). You will have about 6-7 weeks to come and visit. What you need to do: a) Go to my office door sometime in the next month starting this monday; b) sign up for an open appointment that you can attend; c) come to your appointment! (Note: if you have to cancel an appointment do not email me. Simply go back to my door and cross off your name so that another student can take your spot!)
When you visit bring: a) all primary texts that we have read up to the date of your appointment (so early birds bring less and late birds bring more!); b) your journal - i expect to see at least two pages per week completed at the time of your appointment - again early birds vs late bird rule applies. I might ask you to comment on your annotations that you have made. At the conclusion of your appt we will decide on a fair grade for this part of the course.
I will post TWO WEEKS of appointments at a time on my door. Again you will have up to roughly 6 weeks to see me.
Tuesday, February 16
Grades are now posted - see the link below.
Thursday, February 11th
HW 2 is due next Wednesday, Feb, 17, 11:59 pm via turnitin.com. HW should be 1 to 2 pages in length and typed. Please answer ONE of the following questions for your homework: OPTION A) of the moral theories discussed thus far (divine command ethics and egoism) do any of these suffice for you as an "answer" to the fact-value puzzle? Be sure to briefly describe the fact-value puzzle in your answer; OPTION B) - summarize either Kahane or Ayn Rand's argument and then evaluate the argument you just summarized - what are the strengths, weaknesses, confusions therein?
Please see the reading assignment below - the readings have been updated.
An ONLINE ethics vocabulary quiz will be available for you to take on BLACKBOARD beginning Feb. 23
Wednesday, Feb. 3rd
My office hours are cancelled today due to an MJC meeting that I must attendTuesday, February 2nd
Facts versus Values: who decides the "Built-in Values" for Driverless Cars?
Sunday, January 31
Please see the reading schedule below. I have updated the reading assignments and topics.
There will be a short reading quiz on THURSDAY. The quiz will focus on the following topics/questions:
- The fact-value distinction: what is the supposed difference between facts and values. What challenges beset those who claim that values come from facts? What challenges beset those who claim that values and facts are "entirely separate"?
- What is "divine command ethics"
- What is natural law and its relation to divine law?
- Hobbes says that "all men are equal". In what way are we mentally and physically equal?
- What, for Hobbes, ultimately motivates humans to create laws? Is it love of God or something else?
- What is "egoism"?
Thursday, January 21
HW 1 is due next week: Wednesday, 11:59 pm at www.turnitin.com . Please see the syllabus for ID# and password info for turnitin. Below are the instructions:
1. LENGTH: 1 to 1.5 pages in length, typed, 1.5 spacing, .7" margins, 12 pt font or smaller; ONE LINE for your name and HW title. Type up your HW on your computer and then UPLOAD it to the HW 1 folder on www.turnitin.com
2. HW: Answer ONE of the following questions:
- a) Read the recommended reading, "A Defense of Ethical Objectivism" by Louis Pojman. Pojman argues against cultural relativism. Summarize Pojman's argument (focus on the "core" argument here) and then respond briefly. Do you agree or disagree?
- b) Read the required Aquinas reading (pages 21 to 31). Focus on "Question 91, p. 24" Here Aquinas begins with the argument against the idea of eternal (moral) law and then he argues that there does exist eternal (moral) law. What is his argument in support of eternal (moral) law? You may draw from other parts of this reading too if you wish. Summarize his argument and then respond briefly. Do you agree or disagree?
- NOTE: you may also write one paragraph on what YOU think is the "basis" of ethics in addition to A or B above.. You may substitute this for your response to A or B above or add it to your answers above
Tuesday, January 19
There will be a SHORT READING/LECTURE quiz this Thursday. You do NOT need to bring a scantron. You will write your answers on the quiz. The quiz will cover the following:
1. The difference between OBJECTIVE and SUBJECTIVE
2. The difference between FACT and VALUE
3. The arguments (reasons) put forth by RUTH BENEDICT in favor of CULTURAL RELATIVISM. (cultural relativism is a TYPE of SUBJECTIVE argument that ethical "truths" are caused by cultures. Period. Just cultures. (this is a version of subjectivism because to say that ethics is caused by cultures is to say that ethics is caused by "awareness"/feelings of a group of people - ie, there is COMMON FEELING (ie, culture) that then "causes" ethical values or beliefs. I will ask you some questions regarding Benedict's REASONS or EVIDENCE in support of her view that cultural relativism is the basis for ethics.
NOTE: below, on the schedule page, I have posted an OUTLINE of the Ruth Benedict and Gilbert Harman readings. Both support cultural relativism. The outline is based on my reading and annotating of these assigned readings. You might find the outline to be helpful.
Thursday, January 14 - we will have a short (5-7 question) reading quiz on Tuesday or Thursday. It will be based on the a) the Ruth Benedict reading (pgs 33-37) and b) the difference between relativism and objectivism, or c) Scrooge, Stave I. The five minute quiz is open book and open note.
Tuesday, January 12 - Welcome to Philosophy 111, Ethics!
Be sure to check this page as well as the home page for updates on campus events and this course. When I update the schedule/assignments to the right I will also let you know in the announcements section. You can also see your grades, syllabi, and links to resources that will help you succeed in this class.
- WEEK ONE: Syllabus, What is Philosophy? The Three Branches of Philosophy; PHILOSOPHICAL TOOLS: Mapping out the Space of Logical/Metaphysical Possibility; Genus/Species Definitions