Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Fall 2020 - URB 647 G100

Urban Ethics (4)

Class Number: 8133

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 9 – Dec 8, 2020: Thu, 5:30–9:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Opens an active, informed dialogue on moral and ethical subjects, which demand the attention of urban professionals. Course material is organized around enduring and contemporary questions about the good city and ethical practice.

COURSE DETAILS:

Ethics are rules or standards that govern the conduct of a person or the members of a group, whether defined by professional status or along other social lines. Urban professions such as planning, architecture, and research are guided by formal codes of professional ethics; the remainder of urban professions are guided by less formal systems and understandings of ethical conduct. Beyond professional conduct, this course tackles ethics in urban lives, attempting to “out” the often-tacit cultural norms and assumptions about what constitutes a moral and ethical (urban) life for dissection and structured consideration using a range of tools from professional and scholarly ethics and moral philosophy.

What is the city good for? What is the good city for? What is the city for good? This course will open an active, informed dialogue on moral ethical matters which demand the attention of urban professionals in the course of fulfilling their professional responsibilities in a context of “conflicting values, incompatible loyalties, and subtle temptations from a variety of sources” (Gerou, 2008, p.32). The challenges of violent and other forms of conflict, surging inequality, environmental and social crisis, demographic and technological change, and global exchange and competition demand an adept flexibility in addressing specific challenges and opportunities in different unique pieces of the city that may never seem to add up to any coherent whole urban project with any inherent value. Course material is organized around key enduring questions about the good city, utopian and distopian visions, justice, pluralism, rationality, and action. Working both independently and in groups, students will also be introduced to ethical dilemmas in areas such as urban public space, multiculturalism, poverty and gentrification, and the right to the city, and will use tools and frameworks presented in class to devise – and act out – solutions.

Grading

  • Attendance and active participation 15%
  • Readings and discussion 15%
  • Case study 20%
  • Ethics scenarios skits 40%
  • Reflections journal 10%

NOTES:

This course will be offered in a synchronous format. Details to be discussed during first class meeting, online via sfu.canvas.ca

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

All course readings will be made available online via SFU Library. Including:

Sennett, R. 2018. Building and Dwelling: Ethics for the city. London: Penguin.

Fitz, A., Krasny, E. (eds) 2020. Critical Care: architecture and urbanism for a broken planet. Architeckturzen Wien. 


Graduate Studies Notes:

Important dates and deadlines for graduate students are found here: http://www.sfu.ca/dean-gradstudies/current/important_dates/guidelines.html. The deadline to drop a course with a 100% refund is the end of week 2. The deadline to drop with no notation on your transcript is the end of week 3.

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).