PHIL 305

Contemporary Moral Issues Syllabus Fall 2007

Professor

Dr. Renée Smith

Office

EHFA 282

Office Phone

349-2083

Office Hours

Tuesday & Thursday, 11:15-12:30, 2:15-3:00, and by appointment when necessary

Email

rsmith@coastal.edu

Web Page

http://ww2.coastal.edu/rsmith

Course Description

The focus of this course will be to develop and practice critical thinking skills within the framework of examining several contemporary moral issues. We will begin with a few fundamental techniques of critical thinking and an overview of the major ethical theories. Then, using these techniques and theories, we will address several moral issues that have become the focus of contemporary political debate. These will include the moral controversies relating to abortion, euthanasia, capital punishment, cloning, same-sex marriage, and war and terrorism. Students must be willing to critically examine their own beliefs with the overarching goal of developing and holding only well-reasoned and well-informed moral opinions.

Student Learning Outcomes

Students successfully completing this course will

1. Understand the main ethics theories (cultural relativism, subjectivism, divine command theory, egoism, utilitarianism, Kantian ethics, theory of justice, natural and duty-based rights theories, and virtue ethics) including arguments for and against them and their strengths and weaknesses.

2. Know how to apply ethical theories to address moral issues.

3. Recognize appeals to ethical theories in defense of moral positions.

4. Distinguish relevant from non-relevant moral and non-moral facts.

5. Understand the use of thought experiments, arguments and objections in discussions of ethics.

6. Summarize and evaluate arguments.

7. Defend a moral position.

8. Contribute to public understanding of a moral issue.

9. Critically and objectively discuss moral issues.

10. Form well-reasoned and well-informed moral opinions.

Texts

Boss, Analyzing Moral Issues, 3^rd ed (required)

Rachels, The Elements of Moral Philosophy, 9^th ed. (required)

Format

This course will be a combination of lecture, discussion, and student presentations. Students will be expected to do daily assigned readings prior to coming to class and to participate actively in discussion. Attendance is required. After completing the theory portion of the course, students will present/discuss an assigned moral issue or article to the class following guidelines that will be provided. Students will complete assignments described below including a poster presentations to be presented in class, at a public session during finals week, and at Celebration of Inquiry (February 2008).

Requirements and Grading

20%	Take-Home Midterm Exam
20%	Quizzes and participation
20%	10 short homework assignments
20%	5-7 page paper
20%	Take-home final

Grading Scale

A: 100-91; B+: 89-87; B: 80-86; C+: 79-77;C: 70-76; D+: 69-67; D: 60-66; F: 59-0

Grading on Written Assignments

40% Content (accuracy, completeness, reference to the reading, etc.)

40% Presentation (grammar, organization, clarity, punctuation, etc.)

20% Excellence (effort, originality, insight, etc.)

Absences	Absences will be excused with the appropriate documentation, e.g. a doctor’s note, etc. or with my (advanced) approval. *Do not assume that because you tell that me you will be (or were) absent that your absence will be excused.
Disabilities	Any student eligible for and needing academic accommodations because of a disability is requested to speak to me no later than the second week of class. If you suspect that you may have a learning disability, please contact Counseling Services 349-2307.
Code of Conduct	Campus Code of Conduct and Academic Responsibility will be enforced. Please refer to the Student Handbook or see me if you have questions about these policies. In particular, cheating and plagiarism are grounds for failing the course.
Make-up Exams and Assignments	These will only be provided to students providing an acceptable excuse for missing the exam. Make-up exams must be completed as soon as possible after the missed exam. Late assignments will be marked down a full letter grade for each day they are late.
Attendance, Participation, Preparedness	All students are expected to attend class, participate in discussion, and complete the assigned readings on time. I will periodically take roll to monitor attendance. Unexcused absences (UA) will affect your final grade as follows: 2 UA, lowered one increment (e.g. from a B to a B-); 3 UA, lowered a full grade (e.g. B- to C-); 4 UA, you will fail the course. [NB. Being physically present (in the room) is not sufficient for attendance. You may be marked absent if you consistently sleep in class, read the paper, etc.]
Your Other Responsibilities	Everyone in the class is expected to act responsibly and respectfully at all times. Doing philosophy requires examining what we believe and why we believe it. Obviously, we are not all going to agree about everything. It is important distinguish between the person offering a particular view and the view itself. The latter may be criticized, but not the former.
	Philosophy is hard. Realize that you will get out of this class only as much as you put into it. Since what we are doing really depends on critically, openly and objectively discussing moral issues and the readings, you have a responsibility to your classmates to be prepared and to participate. Don’t let them down!
	All email correspondence must be Ø Constructed in the English language and adhere to basic rules of grammar, punctuation and spelling. Ø Signed with your first and last name and indicate which course you are taking from me. Ø Appropriately formal.
	Also, please Ø Arrive to class on time, Ø Turn off cell phone and pagers during class, Ø If you must leave the classroom during class, do so with as little disruption as possible, Ø Don’t read the newspaper or surf the web during class, and Ø Come see me if you are having trouble with the material!
A Few of my Responsibilities	I see my responsibilities including, but not limited to, Ø Coming to class prepared and using class time well. Ø Constructing assignments that are appropriate for this level course and that reflect the course learning objectives. Ø Treating students and guests respectfully and fairly. Ø Returning assignments quickly (within two weeks). Ø Being available outside of class for assistance with the course materials. Ø Encouraging student-centered learning. Ø Helping students understand and find interest in the content of the course. Ø Clearly explaining the requirements, assignments and grading criteria. Ø Conveying the importance and methodology of using reason/thinking philosophically to resolve/understand moral issues.