MH011 - Intro to Ethics -- Class Outline REVISED on Feb. 15

 

#       Date:             Topic:                           Readings and Written Assignment:              

1       Jan. 19          Introduction &Video

 

2       Feb. 2           Virtue &                       Materials to go with these readings

                              Character                     “Critical Overview of Ethical Frameworks,” pp. 5-20

                                                                  “Aristotle’s Virtue Ethics,” pp. 143-162

                                                                  “Letter from Birmingham City Jail”, King, pp. 185-196

                                                                 

3.      Feb. 9           Utilitarianism                 Materials to go with these readings

                                                                  “Utilitarianism,” Velasquez, pp. 209-216

                                                                  "From ‘Against Consequentialism,’” Grisez, p.217-218.

                             

4       Feb. 16         Categorical                   Materials to go with these readings

                              Imperatives                   “Rights,” (a good intro to Kant) Velasquez, pp. 255-268

                              (Duty)                          “Fundamental Principles of Metaphysics of Morals,”

                                                                  Kant, pp. 221-230.

GROUP ASSIGNMENTS:

 

         9:00 class:                                                         10:30 class:

         #1:  Orisa, Jeff, Chris, Louis                            #1:  Kristin, Chris, Evan, Justin

         #2:  Dalila, Bryan, Jungmin, John        #2:  Miguelina, Girard, Mike, Brittany

         #3:  Steve, Tally, Marisa, Jed                          #3:  Emily, Tim, Anthony

         #4:  Andrew, Merritt, Elyse                             #4:  Tom, Marisa, Kat

 

                             

5       Feb. 23         Egoism & Self              No Class Meeting--I will be out of town.

                                                                 

The following readings are not covered in other MH011 sections.   Because these readings are stand alone, I have made them and the corresponding written assignment optional.  If you hand in this “Egoism & Self” assignment (by next class (March 2)), I will use its grade to replace a lower written assignment grade or to fill a missed assignment grade.

 

                                                                  Materials to go with these 2 Egoism & Self  readings

                                                                  “Unselfishness Trap,” Browne, in class or on web:

                                                                     http://harrybrowne.org/articles/UnselfishnessTrap.htm

                                                                  “Why Act Morally?” Singer, pp. 119-123

 

 

6       Mar. 2           Relativism                     Everyone hands in 1-page on Relativism questions--Mar. 2.

                                                                  Students can also hand in Egoism & Self write-up--Mar. 2.

                                                                   Materials to go with these Relativism readings

                                                                  “A Defense of Moral Relativism,” Benedict, pp. 125-130

                                                                  “Trying out One’s New Sword,” Midgeley, pp. 131-134

                                                                  “Problem with Relativism,” Hospers, 135-137

                                                                 

7       Mar. 16         Moral                           Materials to go with these readings

                              Education                     “The Child as Moral Philosopher,” Kohlberg, pp.33-48

                                                                  Moral Orientation and Moral Development,” Gilligan,

                                                                  pp. 49-55

 

8       Mar. 23         Frontline                       Material to go with film given in class

                              Film                              Ethical Theories Applied to Company Fraud

        

9       Mar. 30         Presentations                Instructions for Group Presentation

                              by groups                     GROUP PRESENTATIONS

        

10     Apr. 6           Reflections                    Take-home Final Exam instructions given in prior class

                              on Course                    Revisit “A Critical Overview of …” pp. 5-20

 

         Apr. 13                                             Hand in FINAL EXAM by April 13 in my mailbox in Fulton 520, Accounting Department office.