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PHI 204    ISSUES IN ETHICS AND SOCIAL PHILOSOPHY

Instructor: David Makinster, Greenfield Community College

Fall 2006, Tuesdays & Thursdays, 2:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.

Course Description (from the GCC catalogue) Explores contemporary ethical issues which confront the individual and society as a whole. Through philosophical, journalistic, and literary selections, the student examines such topics as personal integrity, racism, poverty, gender equity, and violence. Students consider classical, non-western, and feminist perspectives.

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AGENDA/OBJECTIVES

“People quarrel because they do not know how to argue.” (Chinese aphorism)
“Few men think, yet all men hold opinions.” (Bishop Berekley)
”Many people would rather die than reason. In fact, millions are preparing to do just that.” (Bertrand Russell, just prior to WWII)

In an increasingly fragmented and quarrelsome society, we have an urgent need for constructive dialogue.  The purpose of this course is to gain skills that empower us to carry on constructive dialogue, and to find humane solutions to divisive issues. 

Through readings, movies, anime, discussion and group projects, we will explore contemporary ethical issues, and explore ways to promote constructive dialogue.

• What is a "moral issue," and what makes it distinct from political, legal and religious issues?
• Is the idea of “moral truth” useful? How do we distinguish moral truth (if it exists) from opinion? Are some opinions more reasonable or useful than others?
• What kinds of reasoning and evidence can dialogue understand moral issues?
• How can we learn to promote constructive moral dialogue in the face of deeply-held disagreements?
• Is there a perspective beyond “good vs. evil?”

REQUIRED BOOKS

1. A PRACTICAL COMPANION TO ETHICS, Weston (Oxford)
2. WHAT’S WRONG? APPLIED ETHICISTS AND THEIR CRITICS, Boonin and Oddie (Oxford)

You will also receive handouts, and we will view several films.

HOW TO CONTACT ME

Email: anta.baka@gmail.com
Voicemail: 1-800-My-Yahoo (mailbox #4139 67 9346) Listen to the prompts.
Snail mail: PO Box 2771, Amherst, MA 01004-2771

Office at GCC: N317. Phone = 413-775-1265

SNOWLINE = 413-775-1010.

***   This syllabus is not a contract, and may be changed without prior notice.   ***

METHOD OF EVALUATION

At my discretion, I may raise your grade for the course because of improvement, regular attendance, quality participation, or outstanding work on a particular assignment. In general, extra credit is not an option.

· You will write a short paper on some topic from each of the major themes we are studying: moral ambiguity, killing, sex, and race. You will be expected to apply the strategies for constructive dialogue we are studying. If you choose, you may submit a short story, play, storyboard, manga, or some other format instead of an essay, if you get my approval first.  (3 @ 15% each = 45% of your grade)

· You will write a “term paper.” The paper will be on a topic of your own choosing, but in keeping with the themes of the course. You must decide on your topic by mid-semester, and submit a topic proposal for approval.  Your proposal should list at least three sources you will use for research, other than Wikipedia or other encyclopedias. You may (with my permission) do a project of some sort instead of the term paper (story, play, screenplay, performance piece, etc.).  (30% of your grade)

· You will have a final exam, essay format, that covers the entire course. I will provide study questions in advance. (25% of your grade)

BASIC EXPECTATIONS

• You are responsible for knowing and abiding by all GCC requirements explained in your Student Handbook 2005-2006.
• Plan to attend class regularly. If you must miss class, speak to me, preferably in advance, about making up the work. Undue, unexcused absence can lead to a grade of "F."  If you arrive after I have taken attendance, it is your responsibility to make sure I count you as present.  Please refer to the ATTENDANCE EXPECTATIONS section of this
• Plan to submit work on time. If this is ever impossible, speak to me about it. Allowances can be made for legitimate reasons, but I reserve the right to penalize for lateness, up to ½ a grade point per day per assignment.
• Although substance is more important than style, if your work is illegible or otherwise unacceptable in form, you may be asked to resubmit it.
• I may, at my discretion, require an oral examination over some part of the material, for a particular student, if warranted by uneven or anomalous performance.
• If you choose to drop the course, you must do the required paperwork to avoid an "F."
• If you need to take an "I" for the course, you MUST discuss this with me before the end of the semester. Failure to do so may result in an "F" for the course.
• Cheating, including plagiarism, will result in an automatic "F"…FOR THE COURSE. Please refer to your GCC Student Handbook 2005-2006 for more information on academic honesty/academic offences. The GCC Student Handbook defines plagiarism as follows: The college accepts the definition of plagiarism by the Modern Language Association as the “act of using another person’s ideas or expressions in your writing without acknowledging the source...” Other academic offenses consist of dishonesty, fraud, cheating, disruption of teaching or any other activity which adversely affects the academic process.”
• In order to avoid class disruption, please turn off cell phones and beepers during class time, and do not leave class to answer cell phone calls. If you are on-call for work and therefore need an exception, please talk to me. It goes without saying that iPods and similar devices should be left home.
• If you do not understand any part of these rules, or are unsure of your current status in relation to them, it is YOUR responsibility to ask me for clarification.
• If you have any special needs regarding health or learning, please let me know ASAP. Self-disclosure is voluntary, but would help me to address your needs.

ATTENDANCE EXPECTATIONS

· No penalty will be applied for “excused” absences, when legitimate reasons for missing class are evident.  Legitimate reasons can typically include illness, court appearances, transportation mishaps, family crisis, abduction by space aliens, and cosmic apocalypse. I may request documentation.

·  Unexcused absences will result in a deduction from your final grade at the rate of 0.25 grade points per absence.

· Arriving late will treated in the same way as an absence  - no penalty with a legitimate reason, possible penalty for unexcused tardiness with the penalty varying (at my discretion) based on how late you arrive. In general, you are better off coming late than not at all.

CALENDAR - Fall 2006 (subject to change as needed)<

DATE	TOPIC	ASSIGNMENTS
9/7	Introduction to the course
9/12 9/14 9/19	Beyond “moral dualism.”  Strategies for making progress.	Read: · Unno, “Mother Teresa and Hitler” · Weston (entire)
9/21	Film: “Rashomon”
9/26	Discussion: Moral ambiguity and the “Rashomon effect”	Handout
9/28	Some talking points from major schools of ethical thought	Handout
10/03	Modern Myths: “Trigun” and the problem of innocence in a violent world.	Handout
10/05	Discussion – Summary - Review	Handouts
10/10	Guest speaker: Molly A. Martin, Sociologist and Genocide Scholar – “The persistence of genocide.”
10/12 – 11/02	What’s wrong with killing? Or allowing to die? War, euthanasia, Abortion & infanticide Non-human life,  allowing the poor to die Capital punishment	Movie options: * Sometimes In April, * Whose Life is it Anyway? Read Boonin & Oddie, Part 1 entire, plus Part 5 (#23) and Part 6 (#25)
11/07 – 11/28	What’s wrong with sex? Adultery, Prostitution, Pornography Harassment policies – what is an offence? GLBT issues, Same-sex marriage The “traditional” family	Movie option: * Human Trafficking Read Boonin & Oddie, Part 2 entire, plus Part 3 (#12 and #14)
11/23  --  THANKSGIVING BREAK – no classes
11/30 – 12/12	What’s wrong with race relations? (continued) Affirmative action Reparations for slavery Authentic blues Racial profiling Hate crimes	Movie options: * Seige * (excerpts) Blues Brothers 2000/Amazon Women on the Moon Read Boonin & Oddie, Part 4 entire, plus handout
12/14	Modern Myths: “Evangelion,” the boundary of the ego and the meaning of life.	Handout
Final Exam Week = 12/19 -12/21 --  Exact date/time/location to be announced.