Spring 2019 - PHIL 120W J100

Moral Problems (3)

Class Number: 3245

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 3 – Apr 8, 2019: Tue, 5:30–8:20 p.m.
    Vancouver

  • Exam Times + Location:

    Apr 23, 2019
    Tue, 7:00–10:00 p.m.
    Vancouver

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

A critical examination of a range of questions and problems we confront as moral agents, such as: the nature and scope of our moral responsibilities, the source of our moral and civil rights, and the role of moral emotions, like resentment, love and forgiveness. Students with credit for PHIL 120 may not take this course for further credit. Writing/Breadth-Humanities.

COURSE DETAILS:

This is an introductory course in ethical theory; ethical reasoning; and moral problems. This course involves exposing students to some of the main ethical theories and moral issues. We will consider several ethical theories, including utilitarianism and deontology. We will also apply these theories and associated relevant moral concepts that they generate, to a host of ethical problems. This allows us to take the measure of the character and utility of these theories (and to see the limits of these theories!). But also students will get an opportunity to appreciate the moral challenges we face as a society and as human race. These include familiar issues as the morality of employment equity; the morality of punishment; the moral issues concerning our exploitation of the natural environment (in the form of climate change) and the moral issues concerning our treatment of non human animals. We will also discuss not so familiar moral issues in immigration (is Canada morally required to open its borders or required to keep those who reside without authorization?) and indigenous/settler relations. That is, the moral issues arising from the residence and citizenship of persons seeking to co-exist with Indigenous Nations seeking to realize their moral claims to land, self-determination, and justice.

This is a writing-intensive course. Students will have the opportunity to improve their writing abilities and to develop effective communication skills. The ability to write clearly and persuasively is a skill that will serve students well in university and beyond. To this end, students will hand in low-stakes writing assignments over the course of the semester as well as write and revise two argumentative essays. All students will be required to submit their essays to turnitin.com, in order to check for plagiarism and (possibly) for anonymous peer review.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

  1. Recognizing and explaining key concepts, articulating their meaning and placing them in their appropriate context
  2. Identifying key arguments placing them in their appropriate context with respect to authorship
  3. Reconstructing and critically analyzing key arguments for soundness and validity
  4. Articulating the key themes found within the class in a well structured essay
  5. Critically comparing various theories showing their strengths and weaknesses and critically extending arguments to novel cases and problems not found within the text

    PHIL 120W may be applied towards the Certificate in Liberal Arts, the Writing Requirement, and the Breadth-Humanities Requirement.
The course is strongly recommended for students intending to pursue a Philosophy Major or Minor (especially with the Law and Philosophy concentration), or the Certificate in Ethics.

Grading

  • First paper 25%
  • Second paper 25%
  • Midterm exam 20%
  • Final exam 25%
  • Participation (measured via attendance and four short 300 word reflection pieces) 10%

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:

Simon Blackburn, Being Good: A Short Introduction to Ethics, Oxford Press

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:

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

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS