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M. Cahn,
P. Markie
Ethics:
History, Theory, and Contemporary Issues
Theaetetus by Plato
The Stoic Philosophy of Seneca: Essays and Letters
Plato
Aristotle
Epicurus
Epictetus
Seneca
Justin the Martyr
Peter Abelard
Thomas Aquinas
Thomas Hobbes
David Hume
Immanuel Kant
J.S. Mill
John Dewey
G.E. Moore
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| time & place |
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Tuesday & Thursday, 12:00 - 1:15
Mendocino Hall, Room 3013
Office Hours: Tuesday and Thursday, 2:45-3:15
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| description |
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Introduction to Ethics
CSUS Catalog Description: This course allows students to develop an understanding and appreciation of ethics in a broad sense. Units: 3.0. General Education Area C3: Introduction to the Humanities.
Description for my section: When we strive to live as ethical individuals, or struggle to promote a more ethical society, upon what foundation do we secure our principles? Do we primarily use reason to deduce them from some deeper, more fundamental set of philosophical principles, themselves similarly deduced? Or do we primarily inherit our ethical principles from theological tradition as revealed truths rather than reasoned truths? If the answer is both, then where and how do these methods intersect? Can ‘revealed’ ethical principles be analyzed rationally? Do ‘reasoned’ philosophical principles involve faith-based presuppositions (e.g., belief that the universe is truly a ‘reasonable’ and ‘objectively real’ place)?
In this course we will examine these and related questions by surveying the works of several major thinkers in philosophical ethics, from the Classical and Hellenistic periods through the 20th Century. Along the way, we’ll apply our analyses to several present-day ethical controversies which we will examine within the context of our readings. |
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| requirements |
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Our work will primarily be lecture
and discussion, so both careful attention to the readings and class
participation will be crucial for a lively course. Please bring texts
to class.
NB: Anyone who misses 2 lectures in the first 2 weeks of class will be administratively dropped per CSUS policy. This is to make room for serious students who are attempting to add.
There
will be two examinations--one take-home mid-term and one in-class
final--as well as several homework assignments and short answer quizzes. All written work must comply with Philosophy Department guidelines, which can be found here. The departmental grading policy for written work can be found here. |
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| texts |
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M. Cahn, P. Markie, Ethics: History, Theory, and Contemporary Issues (4th Ed.) Oxford University Press (2008): ISBN: 0195335961
Theaetetus by Plato, Penguin Books (1987): ISBN: 0140444505
The Stoic Philosophy of Seneca: Essays and Letters . Moses Hadas, trans. W. W. Norton & Company (1968): ISBN: 0393004597
These are available at the university bookstore. Other readings will be made available for viewing or download here. |
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| grading |
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| Class
participation: |
15% (2 unexcused absences = 0%) |
| HW & Quizzes: |
25% |
| Mid-term
exam: |
25% |
| Final
exam: |
35% |
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Academic Standards: All sources in papers must be cited and given appropriate credit. The author of any information from the Internet must be given credit; using such information without indicating the
source constitutes plagiarism, as it would with print publications. Students are allowed to discuss lectures and even assignments with each other, but they must do their own work. Students are required to read the University policy on academic honesty, which can be found here. |
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| Students with Disabilities: If you have a documented disability and require accommodation or assistance with assignments, tests, attendance, note taking, etc., please see the instructor during the first week of the semester so that appropriate arrangements can be made to ensure your full participation in class. Also, you are encouraged to contact the Services for Students with Disabilities (Lassen Hall) for additional information regarding services that might be available to you. |
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| lecture schedule - summary view |
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| Week 01: 1/24 |
Introduction:
Plato |
Plato: Theaetetus |
| Week 02: 1/31 |
Plato: Theaetetus |
Plato: Republic 6, 7 |
| Week 03: 2/07 |
Aristotle |
Aristotle |
| Week 04: 2/14 |
Aristotle |
Aristotle |
| Week 05: 2/21 |
Epicurus, Epictetus |
Seneca |
| Week 06: 2/28 |
Seneca |
Justin, First Apology |
| Week 07: 3/06 |
Abelard's Ethics |
Abelard's Ethics |
| Week 08: 3/13 |
Aquinas |
Aquinas: On Virtue |
| Week 09: 3/20 |
SPRING RECESS |
SPRING RECESS |
| Week 10: 3/27 |
Hobbes- MIDTERM OUT |
Hume |
| Week 11: 4/03 |
Hume - MIDTERM BACK |
Kant |
| Week 12: 4/10 |
Kant |
J.S. Mill |
| Week 13: 4/17 |
Nietzsche |
Nietzsche |
| Week 14: 4/24 |
G.E. Moore |
Relativism I |
| Week 15: 5/01 |
Relativism II |
Relativism II |
| Week 16: 5/08 |
Wrap up |
Review Day |
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| lecture schedule - detailed view |
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'D'
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Website download |
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'E'
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Ethics:
History, Theory, and Contemporary Issues by M. Cahn, P.
Markie |
| 1/24 |
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Introduction; pre-Socratic Philosophy, the sophists, overview of Plato |
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HELENISTIC PHILOSOPHICAL ETHICS |
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Plato |
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Theory of knowledge: Theaetetus |
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| 1/31 |
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Plato |
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Theory of knowledge: Theaetetus |
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Theory of knowledge: Republic, Books 6-7 (E, 96-107) |
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Aristotle |
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Nicomachean Ethics, Books 1-3, Book 5 (E, 124-151) |
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Nicomachean Ethics, Book 6 (E, 151-157), Books 8-10 (E, 161-177) |
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| 2/14 |
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Aristotle |
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Wrap-up |
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| 2/21 |
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Epicurus |
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"Letter to Menoeceus" & "Leading Doctrines" (E, 178-183) |
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Epictetus |
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"Enchiridion" (E, 183-194) |
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Seneca |
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"On the Shortness of Life" |
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| 2/28 |
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Seneca |
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"Letter 92: The Happy Life" |
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EARLY CHRISTIAN PHILOSOPHICAL THEOLOGY |
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Justin Martyr |
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"First Apology" (D) |
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MEDIEVAL THEOLOGICAL AND PHILOSOPHICAL ETHICS |
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| 3/06 |
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Abelard |
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Ethics (D) |
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| 3/13 |
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Thomas Aquinas |
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The role of philosophy in theology; a discussion of The Good. |
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Summa Theologica, I, qq.1,5,6 (D) |
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Virtue, Natural Law |
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Summa Contra Gentiles (selections, E, 202-217) |
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SPRING RECESS |
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EARLY MODERN PHILOSOPHICAL ETHICS |
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| 3/27 |
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Hobbes |
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Morality, self, and the social order |
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Leviathan (selections, E, 218-228) |
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Hume |
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Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals (selections, E, 255-279) |
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MID-TERM EXAM DISTRIBUTED |
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| 4/03 |
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Hume (continued) |
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Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals (selections, E, 255-279) |
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Kant |
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Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysics of Morals (selections, E, 280-318) |
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MID-TERM EXAM COLLECTED |
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Kant (continued) |
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Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysics of Morals (selections, E, 280-318) |
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19th & 20th CENTURY PHILOSOPHICAL ETHICS |
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J.S. Mill |
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Utilitarianism (E, 327-361) |
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| 4/17 |
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Nietzsche |
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On the Genealogy of Morals (E, 362-394) |
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| 4/24 |
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G.E. Moore |
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Principia Ethica (selections, E, 423-429) |
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Relativism Part I |
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Allan Wood, "Relativism" (D) |
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J.L. Mackie, "Relativism and the Claim to Objectivity" (D) |
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Richard Brandt, "Relativism and the Ultimate Disagreements about Ethical Principles" (D) |
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All readings here in one file. |
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| 5/01 |
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Relativism Part II |
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Gilbert Harman, "The Nature of Morality" (E, 625-635) |
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Alasdair MacIntyre, "Moral Disagreements" (D) |
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James Rachels, "The Challenge of Cultural Relativism" (E, 651-658) |
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| 5/08 |
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Wrap up & Review |
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Additional Information
Satisfies Area C3: Intro to the Humanities
Learning Objectives:
- Develops a comprehensive understanding and appreciation of the cultural heritage in the humanities.
- Focuses on ideas and values of various cultures and traditions as expressed in their philosophies.
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