Theology 192 - Epperson
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"Encounter" by M.C. Escher
CSUS
SPRING 2007

Philosophy 2:
Philosophical Ethics

Syllabus

Michael Epperson
Office: Sequoia Hall #312
278-4535


Raphael The School of Athens 1510-11 Fresco Vatican, Stanza della Segnatura, Rome
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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

Tuesday & Thursday , 1:30 - 2:45
HMB-202
Office Hours: Tuesday and Thursday, by Appointment

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description

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
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.

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.

grading
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Class participation: 15% (2 unexcused absences = 0%)
HW & Quizzes: 25%
Mid-term exam: 25%
Final exam: 35%
lecture schedule - summary view
Tues   Thurs  

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
lecture schedule - detailed view
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'D' =
Website download
'E' =
Ethics: History, Theory, and Contemporary Issues by M. Cahn, P. Markie

1/30   Introduction; pre-Socratic Philosophy, the sophists, overview of Plato
     
    HELENISTIC PHILOSOPHICAL ETHICS
     
2/01   Plato
    Theory of knowledge: Theaetetus
     
2/06   Plato
    Theory of knowledge: Theaetetus
     
2/08   Plato
    Theory of knowledge:Republic, Books 6-7 (E, 96-107)
     
2/13   Aristotle
    Nicomachean Ethics, Books 1-3, Book 5 (E, 124-151)
     
2/15   Aristotle
    Nicomachean Ethics, Book 6 (E, 151-157), Books 8-10 (E, 161-177)
     
2/20   Aristotle
    Wrap-up
     
2/22   Epicurus
    "Letter to Menoeceus" (E, 178-183)
    Epictetus
    "Enchiridion" (E, 183-194)
     
2/27   Seneca
    "On the Shortness of Life"
     
3/01   No class
     
3/06   Seneca
    "Letter 92: The Happy Life"
     
    EARLY CHRISTIAN PHILOSOPHICAL THEOLOGY
     
3/08   Justin Martyr
    "First Apology" (D)
     
    MEDIEVAL THEOLOGICAL AND PHILOSOPHICAL ETHICS
     
3/13   Thomas Aquinas
    The role of philosophy in theology; a discussion of The Good.
    Summa Theologica, I, qq.1,5,6 (D)
     
3/15   Thomas Aquinas
    (continued)
     
3/20   Thomas Aquinas
   

Virtue, Natural Law

    Summa Contra Gentiles (selections, E, 202-217)
     
3/22   Thomas Aquinas
    Virtue, Natural Law
    Summa Contra Gentiles (selections, E, 202-217)
     
    EARLY MODERN PHILOSOPHICAL ETHICS
     
3/27   SPRING BREAK
     
3/29   SPRING BREAK
     
4/03   Hobbes
    Morality, self, and the social order
    Leviathan (selections, E, 218-228)
   
MIDTERM EXAM DISTRIBUTED
     
4/05   Hume
   

Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals (selections, E, 244-269)

     
4/10   Hume
   

Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals (selections, E, 244-269)

    MIDTERM EXAM COLLECTED
     
4/12   Kant
    Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysics of Morals (selections, E, 270-308)
     
4/17   Kant (continued)
    Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysics of Morals (selections, E, 270-308)
     
    19th & 20th CENTURY PHILOSOPHICAL ETHICS
     
4/19   J.S. Mill
    Utilitarianism (E, 317-351)
     
4/24   Nietzsche
    Beyond Good and Evil (selections, E, 352-354)
    On the Genealogy of Morals (selections, E, 355-357)
    Twilight of the Idols (selections, E, 358-360)
     
4/26   Dewey
    American Pragmatism
    The Quest for Certainty (selections, E, 373-386)
     
5/01   Dewey (continued)
    The Quest for Certainty (selections, E, 373-386)
     
5/03   G.E. Moore
    Principia Ethica (selections, E, 413-418)
     
5/08   Relativism Part I
    Allan Wood, "Relativism" (D)
    J.L. Mackie, "Relativism and the Claim to Objectivity" (D)
    Richard Brandt, "Relativism and the Ultimate Disagreements about Ethical Principles" (D)
     
    All readings here in one file.
     
5/10   Relativism Part II
    Gilbert Harman, "The Nature of Morality" (E, 625-635)
    Alasdair MacIntyre, "Moral Disagreements" (D)
    James Rachels, "The Challenge of Cultural Relativism" (E, 651-658)
     
5/15   Review
     
    FINAL EXAM
     
TBA   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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