Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Fall 2020 - PHIL 421W E100

Advanced Topics in Ethical Theory (4)

Moral Psychology

Class Number: 3979

Delivery Method: Remote

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 9 – Dec 8, 2020: Mon, 4:30–8:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • 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: Moral Psychology

[Note: this course is to be taught concurrently with PHIL 824.]  

This course will examine a variety of issues involving the moral status of our mental lives. Topics include: Identification, psychological harmony, motivation, love, moral worth, boredom, and contempt. Readings will focus on recent work and modern classics from English-language Analytic philosophy. We will not be discussing work in empirical or social psychology (no fMRI studies, no purely descriptive psychological work) but instead focus on work in normative ethics that concerned with human psychology.

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.

By the end of the course, students will be able to:         

  • Identify and reconstruct philosophical arguments
  • Grasp the complexities of particular psychological concepts and how they’re relevant to morality
  • Engage meaningfully with contemporary philosophical writing on topics in moral psychology
The course is excellent preparation for: graduate school in philosophy, public policy degrees, law school, or business school, or for anyone intending to participate in public debates on domestic policy.

This course counts toward the Certificate in Ethics, and the minor and major degrees in Law and Philosophy.

Grading

  • Students are required to do a short (< 10 minutes) presentation of one of the readings 25%
  • When not presenting, students will complete a short reading response each week 25%
  • An abstract of the final paper 10%
  • A final paper (3,000-4,000 words) 40%

NOTES:

Course delivery: remote, synchronous. Online presence is required during scheduled time. Attendance and participation in weekly online discussion is required.

Materials

MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:

In order to complete this course, students must have access to a computer or other internet accessing device that permits streaming video, word processing and teleconferencing with Zoom.

REQUIRED READING:

Papers will be distributed as PDF files.

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).