Fall 2020 - PHIL 421W D100
Advanced Topics in Ethical Theory (4)
Class Number: 8364
Delivery Method: Remote
Overview
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Course Times + Location:
Sep 9 – Dec 8, 2020: Fri, 9:30 a.m.–1:20 p.m.
Burnaby
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Instructor:
Sam Black
samuelb@sfu.ca
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Prerequisites:
two 300 level PHIL courses; it is strongly recommended that students have taken some prior course in moral theory.
Description
CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:
A highly focused, advanced examination of a selection of topics in normative or meta-ethics. May be repeated for credit. Writing.
COURSE DETAILS:
Selected Topics: Egoism And The Impersonal
[Note: this course is to be taught concurrently with PHIL 822.]
In response to the Covid-19 outbreak, Dan Patrick, a 69-year-old Lt Gov of Texas recently described his willingness to risk his survival in exchange for restarting the economy. “That doesn’t make me noble or brave or anything like that,” he added. “I just think there are lots of grandparents out there in this country like me.” Not all grandparents agreed. Meanwhile, in the rest of the world, people beat pots and pans in an effort to acknowledge health care workers for appearing to go “beyond the call of duty” in their response to the virus.
The utilitarian moral theory that once dominated Anglo-American philosophy might support the notion that imposing large risks on seniors and health care workers for the sake of the common good is just business as usual. Over the last 50 years, however, ethics has struggled on a variety of fronts to accommodate two intuitions: first, individuals are not just cannon-fodder for promoting the common good, and second, there are impersonal moral duties. A synthesis remains elusive.
In this course, we examine a range of issues arising from the attempt to accommodate the considerations that make life worth living for individuals with impersonal obligations. Since we will focus on both principles of distributive justice, as well as norms for individual choice the course spans topics in both political and moral philosophy. Topics will include:
- The justification for partial concern
- Identifying thresholds for partial concern
- Moral contractualism versus utilitarianism
- The limits of equalizing luck in life chances
- The nature of supererogation
Students are expected to contribute to online class discussion and to read 2-3 papers each week. They will need to synthesize these readings to complete their final research paper. Note that since this is a seminar, which requires your contribution, you are expected to participate online in real time.
COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:
PHIL 421W may be applied towards the Writing Requirement (and the upper division Writing Requirement for Philosophy Majors). This course may be repeated for credit if the topic is different.
The general aim of the course is for students to learn how to:
- Identify a thesis and its supporting arguments in philosophical materials and other relevant sources
- Engage with those arguments in respectful discussion with peers
- Construct written arguments
- Conduct independent research
- Engage with the moral foundations of the law and policy using philosophical arguments and methods
This course counts toward the Certificate in Ethics, and the minor and major degrees in Law and Philosophy.
Grading
- Three short assignments (from a total of four, max 1 per week, due prior to class; the first due no later than week 4 and the last due no later than week 11, 600 words max) 15%
- One short research paper (1200 words, prior to Lect. Week 8, which can be a polished and shortened draft of your final paper) 25%
- One longer research paper (4000 words, due prior to last day of term in Week 13) 50%
- Participation (comprising both attendance and contribution to online class discussion or office hour discussion) 10%
NOTES:
Course delivery: remote, synchronous. Online presence is required during scheduled time.
REQUIREMENTS:
No Nonsense Paper Policy:
In the interest of preserving a level playing field I will ask to speak with students submitting late papers without prior arrangement or a doctor's note. This course is governed by SFU’s policy on Academic Dishonesty.
Materials
MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:
Remote learning for this semester requires a computer or tablet, camera, microphone, and internet access. Headsets are advisable but not necessary. Students have access to free Office 365 or Adobe Creative Cloud found here https://www.sfu.ca/itservices/remote-study-work-resources.html. If students do not have reliable access, they should inform their instructor and contact the IT desk to see if a loaner computer can be arranged. There is one computer lab on campus for limited access. Classes will be conducted on Zoom. It is recommended that students use broadband wired or wireless (3G or 4G/LTE) internet connection, with bandwidth of at least 1.5Mbps (upload and download).
REQUIRED READING:
All materials will be available online from the Library.
Department Undergraduate Notes:
Thinking of a Philosophy Major or Minor? The Concentration in Law and Philosophy? The Certificate in Ethics? The Philosophy and Methodology of Science Certificate?
Contact the PHIL Advisor at philmgr@sfu.ca More details on our website: SFU Philosophy
Registrar Notes:
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS
SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating. Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.
Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community. Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html
TEACHING AT SFU IN FALL 2020
Teaching at SFU in fall 2020 will be conducted primarily through remote methods. There will be in-person course components in a few exceptional cases where this is fundamental to the educational goals of the course. Such course components will be clearly identified at registration, as will course components that will be “live” (synchronous) vs. at your own pace (asynchronous). Enrollment acknowledges that remote study may entail different modes of learning, interaction with your instructor, and ways of getting feedback on your work than may be the case for in-person classes. To ensure you can access all course materials, we recommend you have access to a computer with a microphone and camera, and the internet. In some cases your instructor may use Zoom or other means requiring a camera and microphone to invigilate exams. If proctoring software will be used, this will be confirmed in the first week of class.
Students with hidden or visible disabilities who believe they may need class or exam accommodations, including in the current context of remote learning, are encouraged to register with the SFU Centre for Accessible Learning (caladmin@sfu.ca or 778-782-3112).