Philosophy 101: Ethics & Social Issues

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ADMINISTRATIVE

• Section 1 Syllabus: Ethics & Social Issues Syllabus
• Section 1 Final Exam: December 18, 10:15-12:15

FINAL EXAM AND PREPARATION

Final Exam Format:

• Multiple Choice: Pick 13/24 questions [4 points each]
• Essay: Pick 3/40 questions [15 points each]
• (Grading emphasis on the quality of the argument.)

Note:

Preparation for Final Exam

Select 3 out of the following 40 and write 1-2 pages, for 15 points each.

• Essay Questions For Final Exam

ASSIGNMENTS

Presentations:

• Presentation Description and Directions
• Criteria for Grading Presentations

Argument Structure:

• Preparing for an Argument Structure
• Creating an Argument Structure
• Argument Structure Example
• Questions for Grading Argument Structures

Final Essay:

• Argumentative Essay Guidelines

OVERHEADS

Week 1: Introduction to Ethics and the Ethical Process

• Applied Vs. Theoretical Ethics
• Statements: Factual, Value/Prescriptive and Moral
• Different Types of Prescriptive Statements
• Emotivism
• Steps in the Ethical Process

Week 2: Types of Statements and Arguments

• Resources For Ethical Decisionmaking
• Resources Pyramid
• Examples of Different Types of Statements
• Arguments and Components
• From "Is" to "Ought to" Reasoning

Week 3 : Identifying Moral Arguments & Sources of Disagreement

• Finding the Missing Premise
• Uncovering Value Judgments
• Finding the Missing Premise: Practice 2
• Answers to Practice 2
• Uncovering Assumptions: The Mirror Method -- Example
• Finding the Level of Disagreement

Week 4: Ethical Theories: Relativism and Universalism

• Ethical Relativism Vs. Universalism
• Ethical Cultural Relativism
• Divine Command

Week 5 : Universalist Ethical Theories

• Utilitarianism
• Kantian Ethics: Deontology
• Ross' Deontology
• Natural Law Ethics
• Virtue Ethics

Week 13: Pain/Pleasure, Ethics and Human Control

• Human Life and Struggle to Control

Week 15: Wrapping Up