Spring 2023 - PHIL 221 D100

Ethical Theory (3)

Class Number: 7168

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 4 – Apr 11, 2023: Mon, 12:30–1:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

    Jan 4 – Apr 11, 2023: Thu, 12:30–2:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    One of PHIL 100, 100W, 120, 120W, 121, 144, 150, 151, or 300.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

An examination of the major ethical theories, including deontology, consequentialism and virtue ethics. Applications of these theories and related topics in value theory may also be discussed.

COURSE DETAILS:

Ethical theory is the study of the underlying features of actions, persons, and states of affairs that make them moral right or wrong, good or bad. This course canvases some of the most prominent ethical theories in moral philosophy, including the divine command theory, utilitarianism, deontology, and virtue theory. We also spend some time thinking about theories of the good, including hedonism and desire satisfaction theory.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

PHIL 221 is a required course for the Philosophy Major. It may also be applied towards the Certificate in Ethics.

The aim of this course is two-fold. The first is to develop a working familiarity with the strengths and weaknesses of some of the most important views and theories in ethics. The second is to develop your writing and analytic skills by paraphrasing and evaluating various arguments, understanding their objections, and presenting good arguments for your views.

 

Grading

  • Two short papers (1000 words, 30% each) 60%
  • Weekly in-class assignments 30%
  • Attendance and participation 10%

NOTES:

Course delivery: in person.

REQUIREMENTS:

Written work for this course will be submitted via Turnitin, a third party service licensed for use by SFU. Turnitin is used for originality checking to help detect plagiarism. Students will be required to create an account with Turnitin, and to submit their work via that account, on the terms stipulated in the agreement between the student and Turnitin. This agreement includes the retention of your submitted work as part of the Turnitin database. Any student with a concern about using the Turnitin service may opt to use an anonymous identity in their interactions with Turnitin. Students who do not intend to use Turnitin in the standard manner must notify the instructor at least two weeks in advance of any submission deadline. In particular, it is the responsibility of any student using the anonymous option (i.e. false name and temporary e-mail address created for the purpose) to inform the instructor such that the instructor can match up the anonymous identity with the student.

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

  1. The Fundamentals of Ethics, 5th Edition (2020) by Russ Schafer-Landau. ISBN: 9780190058319
  2. The Ethical Life, 5th Edition (2020) edited by Russ Schafer-Landau. ISBN: 9780190058241

E-copies of both textbooks are available through the SFU Bookstore.


REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

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 philcomm@sfu.ca   More details on our website: SFU Philosophy

New elective grade policy : P/CR/NC, pilot project in place from Spring 2021 to Summer 2023. List of exclusions for the new policy. Specifically for Philosophy: 

  • Students can use a P or CR to satisfy any requirement for a major, joint major, honours, or minor in Philosophy (with the exception of Honours tutorials).
  • Students can use a P or CR to satisfy any prerequisite requirement for any PHIL course.
  • Students can use a P (but not a CR) to satisfy any requirement for the Ethics Certificate, or the Philosophy and Methodology of Science Certificate.
  • Philosophy Majors and Honours students can use a P (but not a CR) to satisfy any WQB requirement.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

SFU’s Academic Integrity website 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