Download PHIL 2101 A - Carleton University

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FYSM 1209 : Contemporary Moral, Social and Religious Issues
Carleton University, 2008-09
Meeting time: Mondays & Wednesdays, 10:05-11:25 a.m.
Instructor:
Office:
Office hours:
Telephone:
Email:
WebCT:
Gordon Davis
Paterson Hall, 3rd floor, rm. 3A51 (in the Philosophy Dept.)
Mondays 3:00-4:30, or by appointment
520-2600, ext. 2217
[email protected] (* Use this only for the most urgent
questions or requests; otherwise, please email me via WebCT.)
Regular visits to the course website (on WebCT) are required. At a
minimum, you are expected to check for general announcements that
will usually be posted on a Thursday or Friday. You are also
encouraged to contribute comments to the discussion page, where
some debates arising in class are continued.
REQUIRED TEXTS (for purchase):
1. Plato, Defence of Socrates, Euthyphro, Crito, D. Gallop trans. (Oxford:
Oxford University Press, 1999). *
2. Wilfrid J. Waluchow, The Dimensions of Ethics: An Introduction to Ethical
Theory (Peterborough: Broadview Press, 2003).
3. The Brief Penguin Handbook (available at the Carleton bookstore).
Except for # 3, these books are to be purchased at Haven Books (43 Seneca St., on the
SE corner of Seneca and Sunnyside, 2 blocks east of the main entrance to campus).
* In September and October, you should bring your copy of Plato to class.
OTHER REQUIRED READING (available on reserve in the library or on the web):
1. Michael Specter, “The Dangerous Philosopher” (on web–see our WebCT site)
2. Excerpts from Plato‟s Republic (TBA, on reserve and on web–see WebCT)
3. Excerpts from P. Singer (ed.), A Companion to Ethics (Oxford: Blackwell,
1991) (TBA, on reserve)
4. Excerpts from Mary Wollstonecraft, Vindication of the Rights of Woman
(TBA, on web – linked to our WebCT site)
(N.B. Guidelines for citing these texts will be provided on WebCT.)
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
In this course we will discuss a range of difficult and sometimes divisive issues that
are of increasing importance in contemporary society. In many ways these issues
affect, and are affected by, the various conceptions of human rights that are advocated
and debated in modern societies. These issues concern decisions about life and death
(abortion, euthanasia, capital punishment, war), the selection and modification of new
lives and future generations (genetic screening, genetic engineering, cloning,
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transhuman modification), the scope of duties to assist others (poverty at home and
abroad, international development), social justice (political and economic inequality,
equity through affirmative action, systemic gender or race bias), the scope of
individual rights in society (free speech vs. censorship, drug use, political and
economic rights), instruments of social or political change (civil disobedience,
political violence), instruments of social order and stability (education and
propaganda, the penal system), issues in individual conduct and personal relations (in
relation to, e.g., balancing family life and wider obligations, sexual conduct, tolerance
of differences, promotion of diversity), and many more.
Before discussing these issues in detail, we will survey two traditions of moral
philosophy arising out of very different cultural contexts: the tradition deriving from
the ancient Greek philosophers Socrates, Plato and Aristotle and the tradition deriving
from a particular branch of ancient Buddhist ethics. One purpose here is to introduce
a few general methods of approaching philosophical argument; another is to introduce
the broad question of what values may underlie appeals to human rights, both then
and now (e.g. justice vs. happiness); another is to bring into the discussion of current
issues the question of how to conceive of human rights in multicultural contexts – e.g.
modern contexts where „Western‟ and „Eastern‟ cultures make contact in a single
society. Though our starting points are ancient, the objective will be to apply – as
well as contest the application of – these ancient ideas to contemporary debates.
At the point where contemporary societal concerns and deeper theoretical issues come
together, we face the classic questions of philosophical ethics, questions such as: Is
there a „best‟ or „ideal‟ kind of life for humans? How should we define, and how can
we attain, „happiness‟ or „well-being‟? What is the significance of other people‟s
happiness or well-being to our own? What do we owe to others? Which „others‟
matter? (Do the relevant „others‟ include animals?) What counts as a „person‟? Do
individual lives have definite beginnings and endings? Is „goodness‟ to be found in
our motives or in the results of actions or policies? Do practical or moral principles
reflect truths about our nature as human beings? Are there any universal moral
truths? If so, do they translate into definite principles or guidelines for politics and
public policy? In particular, how can legal rights best reflect the demands of moral
rights? If there are not any universal moral truths, how might this affect our approach
to politics and public policy? What would it mean to speak of „human rights‟ in that
case? Does the discourse of human rights need to be protected against such
philosophical challenges?
In evaluating the theories that attempt to answer these questions, we will consider –
and debate – how best to apply methods of logical and philosophical argument; and
we will also try to apply these methods to our discussions of contemporary issues.
Another course objective is to familiarize ourselves with the views of certain major
philosophers, both historical and contemporary. However, we shall try to adapt their
methods of argument and conceptual frameworks so that we can tackle these issues on
our own terms, rather than relying heavily on the verdicts of a few major philosophers
or other writers. In some cases, the novelty of the issues – and/or their unprecedented
importance in contemporary society – compels us to take this approach.
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TENTATIVE SCHEDULE OF TOPICS:
(N.B. the order and/or timing of topics may change – normally w/ advance notice.)
FALL TERM
(Readings for weeks 2-6 will be from Plato (the Defence of Socrates / Euthyphro
collection and Republic; readings for weeks 6-12 will include selections from all of
the primary required texts, as well as a few short readings available on the web.)
Week 1 (Sept. 8 & 10)
Intro / overview / contemporary moral dilemmas
Week 2
Methods of argument in philosophy / Socratic methods
Week 3
The life and death of Socrates / Rights in ancient times
Week 4
Socrates and Plato on justice and happiness
Week 5
Gandhi and human rights outside the „Western‟ context
Week 6
„Eastern‟ ideas about moral duty: Gandhi / Buddhism
(* Weds., Oct. 15: Essay # 1 due)
Week 7
Buddhist ethics / The place of rights in ethical theories
Week 8
Comparing ethical theories, new and old / Presentations
Week 9
Presentations (Problems in applied ethics)
Week 10
Presentations
Week 11
Presentations
Week 12 (Nov. 24 & 26)
Review of theories / Presentations
Week 13 (Dec. 1)
Review of theories
Dec. 1: Topics announced for take-home exam (Essay # 2) – due Dec. 19
(Papers are to be deposited in the Philosophy Dept. essay box by 4:15 p.m.)
WINTER TERM
Week 14
New theoretical approaches: feminist ethics / Women‟s rights
Week 15
The development of feminist ethics, from Wollstonecraft to present
Week 16
War, conflict and the history of human rights abuses
Week 17
Theories of „just and unjust war‟ / Military intervention
Week 18
Presentations (interdisciplinary topics)
Week 19
Presentations (interdisciplinary topics)
Week 20
Presentations (interdisciplinary topics)
Week 21
The challenge from relativism: the role of religion, culture and society
(Wk. 21: Essay # 3 due)
Week 22:
Moral relativism: objections and defences
Week 23
Social and political philosophy (state neutrality and human rights)
Week 24
Ethics in an era of globalization: new problems
Week 25
The role of moral philosophy and ethical theory in public policy
End of term: Essay # 4 due
EVALUATION (w/ weight of assignments as percentage of total mark):
Essay # 1 (on Plato‟s ethics and theory of knowledge)
Essay # 2 (take-home exam, on comparing ethical theories)
Essay # 3 (research paper, on applied ethics or interdisc. topic)
Essay # 4 (topics incl. religion and cultural relativism)
Presentation (on applied ethics/interdisc. topic–incl. written work)
Participation
Other reading assignments
10 %
10 %
25 %
10 %
25 %
10 %
10 %
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(* Essays that are significantly beyond the word limit will be returned unmarked and
will have to be resubmitted, usually within 1-2 days.)
(** Do not put your name on the essay; use your student number for identification.)
More will be said in class about the components of the mark for presentations and
participation.
Essays are evaluated in terms of the following: clarity of thesis statement (and other
„signposting‟), logical and effective use of argument, due consideration of objections
(with effective replies), balanced essay structure, effective use of relevant readings
(with full and consistent citations), effective writing style (including basics such as
grammar, spelling and punctuation, as well as clarity in wording and phrasing), and
originality in thesis and/or arguments.
More will be said in class about these expectations and their role in how the essays are
evaluated. A point to be emphasized here, though, concerns „originality‟. There are
two different senses in which essays should be „original‟. In one sense, „originality‟
involves coming up with ideas and arguments that are novel (or outside the norm for
this level); this can be quite difficult, and those earning the highest marks generally do
well on this score, while good essays may show only a modest degree of originality in
this sense. In another sense, an essay is „original‟ when it is a student‟s own work –
i.e. own composition – and when any ideas in it that derive from the work of others
are duly credited in citations of these sources. In this sense, „originality‟ is not a
component of the mark, but is simply an absolute minimum requirement. If any part
of an essay – apart from explicit quotations – is not original in this sense, the student
has committed the serious offence of plagiarism.
UNIVERSITY POLICY ON PLAGIARISM:
According to the Undergraduate Calendar‟s definition (in section 14 of “University
Regulations”), it constitutes plagiarism “to use and pass off as one‟s own idea or
product work of another without expressly giving credit to another.” It is the
responsibility of each student to understand this definition, and to avoid both
committing plagiarism and aiding/abetting plagiarism by other students. Penalties for
plagiarism are decided by the Dean‟s office, and can range from an automatic zero on
the assignment to suspension or expulsion from the university.
OTHER POLICIES:
Presentation of essays: Essays must be typed or printed with a computer printer, using
double spacing, one inch margins, and a font size of 12. „Times New Roman‟ is the
preferred font; „(New) Century Schoolbook‟ and „Arial‟ are also acceptable. * NB:
Pages must be numbered.
Methods of citation in essays: I accept either MLA or APA style, provided you stick
to one of these; however, I add some requirements of my own, which you must
observe regardless of which style you use. These will be mentioned in class and on
WebCT. Refer to the Penguin handbook for how to use the MLA & APA styles.
(There will be some preliminary discussion of these citation styles in class.)
(cont…)
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Collaboration with other students: An essay may not be submitted as the joint work of
two or more students (or as a „group project‟ of any kind). If you share ideas with
others in the class, and/or proofread for one another, bear in mind that the same rules
apply (as above) regarding plagiarism.
Extensions: Extensions will be granted only upon presentation of a medical
certificate. Requests based on conflicts with other coursework will not be granted.
Submission of essays: Essays are to be handed in either at the beginning of class, on
the due date, or by 4:15 that day in the Philosophy Dept. essay box. If you‟re more
than 15 minutes late for class that day, please put your essay in the essay box, and
leave us in peace. (Also note: (i) Essays sent via email will not be accepted; (ii) Do
not slide essays under my office door. See also the departmental rules # 1-4 below.)
Late submissions of essays: Late submissions will lose 5 % per weekday late.
There are also departmental and/or university rules regarding:
1. The essay box in the department. If you are submitting an essay via the Philosophy
essay box, it must be deposited there by 4:15 p.m. in order to be stamped as received
on that day. Essays deposited after 4:15 p.m. will be stamped as received on the
following business day.
2. No faxing of assignments. It is Department policy that work transmitted to the
Department by fax will not be accepted.
3. No binders. Essays should not be enclosed in plastic or other binders except at the
specific request of the instructor. Binders may not be put in the essay box at any time.
4. Keep a copy of all assignments. It is Department policy that it is every student‟s
responsibility to keep a copy of each essay submitted to a Philosophy course. If an
essay gets lost, whether in the hands of the student, the instructor, or anyone else in
the Department, it is the student‟s responsibility to provide another copy.
5. Deferrals for term work. The instructor cannot authorize extensions beyond the last
day of classes. Before the end of term, you can apply to the Registrar to defer the
final deadline for term work, who may or may not grant such a request, depending on
the reason for the request.
6. Accommodation for disabilities (see below).
7. Accommodation for pregnancy (see next page).
8. Accommodation for religious observance (see next page).
For Students with Disabilities:
Students with disabilities needing academic accommodations are required to contact a
coordinator at the Paul Menton Centre (520-2600, ext. 6608) to complete the
necessary letters of accommodation. The student must then make an appointment to
discuss their needs with the instructor at least two weeks prior to the first class or ITV
test. This is to ensure sufficient time is available to make the necessary
accommodation arrangements.
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For Religious Observance:
Students requesting academic accommodation on the basis of religious observance
should make a formal, written request to their instructors for alternate dates and/or
means of satisfying academic requirements. Such requests should be made during the
first two weeks of class, or as soon as possible after the need for accommodation is
known to exist, but no later than two weeks before the compulsory academic event.
Accommodation is to be worked out directly and on an individual basis between the
student and the instructor(s) involved. Instructors will make accommodations in a
way that avoids academic disadvantage to the student.
Students or instructors who have questions or want to confirm accommodation
eligibility of a religious event or practice may refer to the Equity Services website for
a list of holy days and Carleton‟s Academic Accommodation policies, or may contact
an Equity Services Advisor in the Equity Services Department for assistance.
(Consult www. carleton.ca/equity or an Equity Advisor (ext. 5622) for Policy and list
of Holy Days.)
For Pregnancy:
Pregnant students requiring academic accommodations are encouraged to contact an
Equity Advisor in Equity Services to complete a letter of accommodation. The
student must then make an appointment to discuss her needs with the instructor at
least two weeks prior to the first academic event in which it is anticipated the
accommodation will be required. (Contact Equity Services (ext. 5622 or
www.carleton.ca/equity) to obtain letters of accommodation.)
Also note:
1. HELP WITH WRITING ESSAYS is available through the Writing Tutorial
Service, located at 229 Paterson Hall (tel. 520-6632 or see
www.carleton.ca/wts).
2. OTHER ACADEMIC HELP is available through the Student Academic
Success Centre, including academic advising, help with study skills and other
kinds of tutorial help (see www.carleton.ca/sasc/).