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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
Friedrich Nietzsche
John Dewey
G.E. Moore
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| time & place |
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Tuesday & Thursday , 1:30 - 2:45
HMB-202
Office Hours: Tuesday and Thursday, by Appointment |
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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 Hellenistic period 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.
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 (3rd Ed.) Oxford University Press (2005): ISBN: 0195178408
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:
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25% |
| Mid-term
exam: |
25% |
| Final
exam: |
35% |
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| lecture schedule - summary view |
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1/30 |
Introduction:
Plato |
2/01 |
Plato:
Theaetetus |
2/06 |
Plato: Theaetetus |
2/08 |
Plato: Republic 6, 7 |
2/13 |
Aristotle |
2/15 |
Aristotle |
2/20 |
Aristotle |
2/22 |
Epicurus, Epictetus |
2/27 |
Seneca |
3/01 |
No class |
3/06 |
Seneca |
3/08 |
Justin, First Apology |
3/13 |
Aquinas |
3/15 |
Aquinas |
3/20 |
Aquinas |
3/22 |
Aquinas: On Virtue |
3/27 |
SPRING BREAK |
3/29 |
SPRING BREAK |
4/03 |
Hobbes |
4/05 |
Hume |
4/10 |
Hume |
4/12 |
Kant |
4/17 |
Kant |
4/19 |
J.S. Mill |
4/24 |
Nietzsche |
4/26 |
Dewey |
5/01 |
Dewey |
5/03 |
G.E. Moore |
5/08 |
G.E. Moore |
5/10 |
Relativism I |
| 5/15 |
Relativism
II |
5/17 |
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 |
| 1/30 |
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Introduction; pre-Socratic Philosophy, the sophists, overview of Plato |
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HELENISTIC PHILOSOPHICAL ETHICS |
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| 2/01 |
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Plato |
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Theory of knowledge: Theaetetus |
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| 2/06 |
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Plato |
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Theory of knowledge: Theaetetus |
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| 2/08 |
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Plato |
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Theory of knowledge:Republic, Books 6-7 (E, 96-107) |
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| 2/13 |
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Aristotle |
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Nicomachean Ethics, Books 1-3, Book 5 (E, 124-151) |
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| 2/15 |
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Aristotle |
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Nicomachean Ethics, Book 6 (E, 151-157), Books 8-10 (E, 161-177) |
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| 2/20 |
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Aristotle |
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Wrap-up |
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| 2/22 |
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Epicurus |
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"Letter to Menoeceus" (E, 178-183) |
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Epictetus |
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"Enchiridion" (E, 183-194) |
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| 2/27 |
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Seneca |
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"On the Shortness of Life" |
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| 3/01 |
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No class |
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| 3/06 |
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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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| 3/08 |
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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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| 3/13 |
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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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| 3/15 |
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Thomas Aquinas |
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(continued) |
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| 3/20 |
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Thomas Aquinas |
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Virtue, Natural Law |
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Summa Contra Gentiles (selections, E, 202-217) |
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| 3/22 |
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Thomas Aquinas |
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Virtue, Natural Law |
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Summa Contra Gentiles (selections, E, 202-217) |
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EARLY MODERN PHILOSOPHICAL ETHICS |
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| 3/27 |
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SPRING BREAK |
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| 3/29 |
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SPRING BREAK |
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| 4/03 |
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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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MIDTERM EXAM DISTRIBUTED |
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| 4/05 |
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Hume |
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Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals (selections, E, 244-269) |
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| 4/10 |
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Hume |
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Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals (selections, E, 244-269) |
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MIDTERM EXAM COLLECTED |
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| 4/12 |
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Kant |
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Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysics of Morals (selections, E, 270-308) |
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| 4/17 |
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Kant (continued) |
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Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysics of Morals (selections, E, 270-308) |
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19th & 20th CENTURY PHILOSOPHICAL ETHICS |
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| 4/19 |
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J.S. Mill |
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Utilitarianism (E, 317-351) |
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| 4/24 |
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Nietzsche |
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Beyond Good and Evil (selections, E, 352-354) |
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On the Genealogy of Morals (selections, E, 355-357) |
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Twilight of the Idols (selections, E, 358-360) |
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| 4/26 |
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Dewey |
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American Pragmatism |
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The Quest for Certainty (selections, E, 373-386) |
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| 5/01 |
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Dewey (continued) |
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The Quest for Certainty (selections, E, 373-386) |
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| 5/03 |
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G.E. Moore |
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Principia Ethica (selections, E, 413-418) |
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| 5/08 |
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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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| 5/10 |
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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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| 5/15 |
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Review |
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FINAL EXAM |
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| TBA |
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3:00 - 5:00, Mendocino Hall, 3009 |
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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