Course Description

(Fulfills the civic responsibility requirement.) An exploration of how
philosophical analysis can be a foundation for thinking clearly about moral
issues. Problems approached analytically include such widely debated issues as
abortion, euthanasia, the death penalty, homosexuality, pornography, reverse
discrimination, business ethics, sexual equality, and economic equity.
Students may receive credit for only one of the following courses: HUMN 300 or
PHIL 140.

Course Introduction

PHIL 140 Course Introduction

Philosophy 140 Contemporary Moral Issues introduces the student to moral philosophy, first, by examining some perennial problems of moral philosophy itself; second, by looking at some standard theories of moral philosophy; and finally, by applying these theories to current moral issues. Throughout, the emphasis is on logical skills in argument.

This course consists of five themes:

Theme 1: Philosophy and Philosophical Argument
Theme 2: Ethics and Ethical Issues
Theme 3: Ethical Theories
Theme 4: Contemporary Ethical Issues I: Ethics of Destruction
Theme 5: Contemporary Ethical Issues II: Justice

Formulating strong logical arguments is an essential part of philosophy. In both the exams and writing assignments, you will be expected to develop an argument format that clarifies the issues, recognizes distinct conclusions and premises, and requires you to contend with objections and arguments for both sides. Good philosophical writing also emphasizes conceptual clarity and a sense of definition, supported by precise grammar and syntax. This usually requires rewriting and polishing a text several times.

Virtual Week

Our virtual week goes from Monday through Sunday. Weekly assignments are due Sunday at midnight CET (Central European Time).

Contacting Sergia

I can be reached at the following e-mail address: shay@faculty.ed.umuc.edu. I usually return e-mail within 48 hours (if not less).

Submitting Assignments

Please submit your assignments in Rich Text Format (.rtf), Word, Portable Document Format (.pdf), or plain text when they are due. Post them to the Assignments folder in the designated area. Please keep copies of all assignments that you send me and all that I return to you with my comments. If you revise an assignment, please send your original with my comments, along with the revised assignment, in the same e-mail. Advise me that you have revised the assignment and tell me what you did to improve the original.

Technical Help

Help is available at 1-800-807-4862 or by email at webtycosupport@umuc.edu. Have your login ID, password, and your class and section numbers when you call or include them in your e-mail. Include information about your browser , system or any other details you think are relevant. Copy and paste the actual error notices that pop up for even better service.


Final Exams

All UMUC-Europe courses have a proctored mid-term examination during Week 7 of the DE Term. Please look at the following site for more information concerning exam procedures: http://www.ed.umuc.e du/de/deprocexam_procedures.html. We will also have an online take-home exam at the end of the course. Preparation materials and policy information about this final exam will be provided during the second half of the DE Term.


A Successful Online WebTycho Student

...is one who reads the materials thoroughly before responding, participates regularly, engages the material and others with enthusiasm and courtesy, schedules time to do the work, asks for help when it is needed, interacts with others in the class, is self-motivated, turns in well-drafted, proofed assignments, and keep copies of all work and my responses in case of an emergency.

Course Goals/Objectives

The goal of this course is to prepare you for mature discussion of current contemporary moral issues, to include:

• a facility in logical argumentation
• knowledge of the main ethical theories and their strengths and weaknesses
• application of these theories to an informed discussion of current moral issues

• distinguish argument from opinion
• construct arguments in support of a position, including responses to objections
• demonstrate knowledge of the following ethical theories by applying them to contemporary moral issues:
  
  • utilitarianism
  • deontology
  • social contract theory
  • feminist ethics
  • virtue ethics
• demonstrate critical knowledge of the moral issues covered
• demonstrate in writing your mastery of two moral issues
  

Course Materials


James Rachels (2003). Elements of Moral Philosophy, 4th ed. McGraw-Hill, ISBN 0072476907

James Rachels (2002). The Right Thing to Do: Basic Readings in Moral Philosophy, 3rd ed. McGraw- Hill, ISBN 0072476915

Grading Information

Grading Criteria:

Online participation*	20%
Group debate	10%
Midterm examination	20%
Issue Paper	30%
Final examination	20%

*  You can earn 10 points for every 6-week-long period of class (this applies only during regular class weeks, not during exam or, obviously, break weeks). In other words, you can earn 10 points the first 6 weeks + 10 points the second 6 weeks = 20 points total. Promptness and quality of postings count toward participation grade. Points will be subtracted for unexcused lateness (1 point per assignment) and for poor quality (numerous grammar and spelling mistakes and/ or failure to address assignment objectives).

Grading Scale:

A	90-100 points
B	80-89 points
C	70-79 points
D	60-69 points
F	0-59 points

Project Descriptions

Course writing

Every week students will be asked to produce a short paper (at least a half page) in response to the reading assignments. This exercise is intended to engage you with the text and help you become comfortable with philosophical discourse.

The main project for this class is the completion of a 10 page paper dealing with a major contemporary issue. In the paper you should provide more depth and detail than is possible in class discussions or exams. The paper should be in the form of an argumentative essay  in which you do the following:

• clarify the question and the main concepts
• state your argument and support its premises
• raise the main objections to your position
• answer those objections
• summarize your general thesis

• clarity and consistency in using the argumentative format
• knowledge of the issue
• use of materials both within and outside the class assignments
• exactness of writing, in both grammar and formatting
• correct documentation

Course Schedule

Week	Readings, Assignments, and Due Dates
1	Introductions
2	Theory: 1)What is Morality? (read pp. 1-15 in "Elements") 2) Opinion vs. Argument (read pp. 20-28 in "Right")
3	Theory: Cultural Relativism and Subjectivism (read pp. 16-47 in "Elements" and pp. 59-63 in "Right") Issue: Homosexuality (read pp. 128-153 in "Right") GROUP DEBATE WORK BEGINS
4	Theory: Religion and Ethics (read pp. 48-62 in "Elements" and pp. 44-49 in "Right") Issue: Abortion (read pp. 97-113 in "Right")
5	Theory: Psychological and Ethical Egoism (read pp. 63-90 in "Elements") Issue: Race (read pp. 264-281 in "Right") ISSUE PAPER TOPICS DUE
6	Theory: Utilitarianism (read pp. 91-101 in "Elements" and pp. 64-75 in "Right") Issue: Animal Rights (read pp. 190-203 in "Right")
7	PROCTORED MIDTERM EXAM WEEK
8, 9	BREAK
10	Theory: Utilitarianism (continued) (read pp. 102-116 in "Elements") Issue: Euthanasia (read pp. 175-189 in "Right") GROUP DEBATES BEGIN
11	Theory: Deontology (read pp. 117-129 in "Elements" and pp. 76-81 in "Right" Issue: Economic Equity (read pp. 154-174 in "Right") ISSUE PAPER 1ST DRAFT DUE
12	Theory: Deontology (continued) (read pp. 130-140 in "Elements") Issue: Capital Punishment (read pp. 231-247 in "Right")
13	Theory: Social Contract Theory (read pp. 141-159 in "Elements" and pp. 50-58 in "Right") Issue: Civil Disobedience (read pp. 282-305 in "Right") GROUP DEBATES END
14	Theory: Feminist Ethics (read pp. 160-172 in "Elements" and pp. 82-94 in "Right") Issue: Sexual Equality (read pp. 255-263 in "Right") ISSUE PAPERS DUE
15	Theory: Virtue Theory (read pp. 173-190 in "Elements" and pp. 37-43 in "Right") Conclusion
16	ONLINE FINAL EXAM WEEK

Additional Information

Policy Statement for Phil 140

1) Participation: As mentioned in "Grading Information," class participation will be evaluated on the basis of the frequency and quality of your contributions to our online discussions. The UMUC- Europe website states, "students are expected to access their WebTycho classroom-on-the-web frequently, three or more times per week. Reading and responding to topics in the class conferences is the very essence of Web-based distance education." Check it out here: http://www.ed.umuc.edu/de/aboutde. html

2) Late assignments: Students will lose 5 points from their overall course grade for every day an assignment is late, unless a reasonable excuse has been provided in advance. If there are special circumstances that effect a student's performance or access to a computer (such as illness, family issues, job conflict, or TDY), students should contact me as soon as possible so that we can discuss an appropriate and fair extension.

3) Plagiarism: Copying someone else's work is not allowed (and is illegal!). Please read the University College Catalog statements on Academic Integrity and Academic Dishonesty here. If students do not comply, I will have to use the UMUC procedures for dealing with cheating.

Academic Policies
Academic Policies are not course specific and are therefore created and housed separately from this syllabus. You may access and print Academic Policies from the Syllabus sub-menu in your classroom.