PHIL 152: Recent Ethical Theory

Class Meetings: MW 12:00-1:15pm, DH 208

May

All assignments are due on the dates indicated in RED.
All readings will be discussed in class during the week indicated in this schedule.
All assigned readings should be completed IN ADVANCE of discussion in class.

Have Fun!

Week	Date	Day	Classroom Events
January
1	26	Mon	Course preview and student introductions.
1	28	Wed	Philosophical Ethics Review Read: Material in "Ethics: The Basics" Folder, SacCT
February
2	2	Mon	Section I/ Contemporary Normative and Meta-Ethics Moral Theory and Concepts Read: Frankena, “The Concept of Morality,” Baier, “Extending the Limits of Moral Theory,” Held, “Moral Subjects: the Natural and the Normative.”
2	4	Wed	Continued.
3	9	Mon	Read: Kagan, “The Structure of Normative Ethics,” Rawls, “The independence of Moral Theory.”
3	11	Wed	Continued.
4	16	Mon	Why Meta-Ethics Matters Read: Olafson, “Meta-Ethics and the Moral Life,” Taylor, “The Function of Meta-Ethics” (Reply to Olafson).
4	18	Wed	Continue.
5	23	Mon	Read: Mothersill, “Moral Philosophy and Meta-Ethics,” Sumner, “Normative Ethics and Meta-Ethics,” Macklin, “Moral Progress.”
5	25	Wed	Continued.
March
6	2	Mon	Section II / Non-Cognitivisms Moral Skepticism and Error Theory: Ooops… Read: Mackie, from Ethics (1977), Tolhurst, “The Argument from Moral Disagreement” Essay #1 On Normative and Meta-ethics, due Monday at noon (submit in SacCT).
6	4	Wed	Continued.
7	9	Mon	Emotivism: Ouch, bad….Mmmmm, good. Read: Ayer, “Critique of Ethics and Theology,” Harrison, “Can Ethics Do Without Propositions?” Blackstone, “Objective Emotivism”
7	11	Wed	Continued.
8	16	Mon	Intuitions: Seems to me…. Read: Strawson, “Ethical Intuitionism,” Fuss, “Conscience,”
8	18	Wed	Continued.
9	23	Mon	Read: Audi, “Kantian Intuitionism,” McNaughton, “An Unconnected Heap of Duties,”
9	25	Wed	Continued.
10	30	Mon	BREAK
April
10 (cont.)	1	Wed	BREAK
11	6	Mon	Section III/ Cognitivisms Let’s be Reasonable: Do we have to? Read: Korsgaard, “Skepticism about Practical Reason,” Singer, “Freedom from Reason,” Phillips, “Why Be Reasonable?” Essay #2 On Forms of Non-Cognitivism, Due Monday at Noon (submit in SacCT).
11	8	Wed	Continued.
12	13	Mon	Objectivity and Moral Prescriptions: So it is written… Read: Wellman, “Emotivism and Objectivity,” Hare, “Objective Prescriptions,” Ehman, “Moral Objectivity”
12	15	Wed	Continued.
13	20	Mon	Read: Tannoch-Bland, “From Aperspectival Objectivity to Strong Objectivity,” Sen, “Positional Objectivity”
13	22	Wed	Continued.
14	27	Mon	Moral Realism and Moral Senses: Oh, there it is… Read: Dancy, “Two Conceptions of Moral Realism,” Foot, “Moral Realism and Moral Dilemma,”
14	29	Wed	Continued.
May
15	4	Mon	Read: Werner, “Ethical Realism,” Postow, “Werner’s Ethical Realism,” Werner, “Ethical Realism Defended.”
15	6	Wed	Continued.
16	11	Mon	Review and...
16	13	Wed	Closure. Week 17 (Exam Week) Essay #3 On Cognitivisms, Due Monday, May 18th at noon. Time certain deadline, no extensions, no exceptions.

Last updated: 01/22/2009