PHL 359

PHL 359: History of Ethics

Spring 2011 Tues. Thurs. 3:30–4:45 pm Prof. Stephens DHHC 212

office hours: Tues. Thurs. 12:50 to 3 pm and by appointment

office: DHHC 116 phone (with voicemail): 280-2632 stphns at creighton.dot edu

Description

This course is an examination of the history of Western ethical theory from the ancients to contemporary philosophers. The guiding theme is the controversy of eudaimonism versus anti-eudaimonism. We will begin with a close study of what is probably the single most influential book of eudaimonist virtue theory in the history of Western philosophy–Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics. Next we will turn to the anti-teleological eudaimonist reaction of Epicurus to Aristotelian ethics. To supplement Epicurus we will study a short part of the magnificent poem by the Roman Epicurean Lucretius. The meticulously systematic ethics of the Stoics, the arch-rivals of the Epicureans, will occupy us next. After the recess we will tackle the anti-eudaimonist, sentimentalist theory of David Hume and then Immanuel Kant’s deontology. We will discuss F. W. Nietzsche’s scathing critique of his moralist predecessors in his On the Genealogy of Morality. We will end the course with G. E. Moore’s analysis of the “naturalistic fallacy” and his utilitarianist moral intuitionism will sharply contrast with Nietzsche.

Required Texts

Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics; translation, glossary, & introductory essay by Joe Sachs (Focus, 2002). ISBN 1-58510-035-8.
Epicurus, Letter to Menoeceus, The Principal Doctrines, The Vatican Collection of Epicurean Sayings.
David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals; edited by J. B. Schneewind (Hackett, 1983) ISBN 0-915145-45-6.
Immanuel Kant, Foundations of the Metaphysics of Morals, trans. by L. W. Beck (Library of Liberal Arts, 2nd ed. 1989) ISBN 978-0023078255.
John Stuart Mill, Utilitarianism, edited by George Sher (Hackett, 2001) ISBN -087220-605-X.
Friedrich Nietzsche, On the Genealogy of Morality; translation & notes by M. Clark and A. J. Swensen (Hackett, 1998) ISBN 0-87220-283-6.
G. E. Moore, Principia Ethica (1903) http://fair-use.org/g-e-moore/principia-ethica.
William O. Stephens, How to Write Philosophy Papers ($4 at the Philosophy Dept.)

Course Requirements and Percentage of Final Grade*

Four exams = 11% each
First two papers (1500 to @1800 words each) = 14% each
Third paper (2000 to @2300 words) = 14%
Class participation = 14%

Standards of Evaluation for Letter Grades

F “Failure – no credit” (< 60% average)

Extreme lack of clarity or lack of coherence of argument or expression of thought.
Disregard for the requirements of the assignment.
Irrelevant use or failure to use relevant course readings.
Submission of another’s words or thoughts as if they were your own, whether in the form of plagiarism or failure to acknowledge the source of an idea.
Extremely infrequent class attendance with no participation in discussions.

D “Work of inferior quality, but passing” (60 to < 68%)

Unclarity or incoherence of argument or expression of thought.
Failure to satisfy the requirements of the assignment.
Poor or inadequate understanding or use of relevant course readings.
Improper acknowledgment or citation of the sources of your ideas.
Infrequent class attendance with little participation in discussions.

C “Satisfactory work”

Basic clarity and coherence of argument and expression of thought.
Satisfaction of the assignment’s basic requirements.
Fair or adequate understanding of the major views and theories in the relevant course readings and the arguments presented in support of those views and theories.
Minimally clear and coherent evaluation of the views and arguments in the relevant course readings.
Minimally proper acknowledgment and citation of the sources of your ideas.
Generally consistent class attendance with occasional participation in discussions.
73% to < 78% average for a C+; 68% to < 73% average for a C.

B “Noteworthy level of performance” Demonstrates all of the qualities of satisfactory work plus:

Good, above average clarity and coherence of argument and expression of thought.
Clear, logical organization of the essay's introduction, body, and conclusion.
Clear, detailed, and accurate understanding of the major views and theories in the relevant course readings and of the arguments in support of those views and theories.
Good attempt to provide argumentative support for your evaluation of the views, theories, and arguments presented in the relevant course readings.
Regular, consistent class attendance with regular, good participation in discussions.
83% to < 88% average for a B+; 78% to < 83% average for a B.

A “Outstanding achievement and an unusual degree of intellectual initiative” Demonstrates all of the qualities of noteworthy performance plus:

Excellent, superior clarity and coherence of argument and expression of thought.
Clear, rigorous, and cogent argumentative support for your evaluation of the views, theories, and arguments presented in the relevant course readings.
Originality and creativity of interpretation, explanation, argumentation, or criticism.
Superior class attendance with excellent, thoughtful, and insightful participation in discussions.
88% and higher.

Participation & Attendance

Class participation includes comments and questions in class discussions, posts on the BlueLine discussion forum, and talking with the instructor about course material outside of class. Daily, punctual attendance is expected. Two tardies count as one absence. Five (or more) absences will earn an AF (F due to excessive absence). Each absence fewer than five will incrementally lower one’s class participation grade. On the other hand, actively, orally contributing comments and questions in class discussions and on the BlueLine discussion forum raise one’s class participation grade. Both the quality and the quantity of remarks are recorded. Since we will be closely attending to the readings in our class discussions, it is important that everyday you bring to class your book (or photocopy). If the instructor finds it necessary to give short pop quizzes called “quizlets” (typically ten true/false items) on the assigned reading at the beginning of class, the scores of quizlets will figure into the participation grade. If class participation shows that everyone is conscientiously doing the readings, then quizlets should not be necessary.

A necessary condition for a class absence being counted as excused due to illness (or emergency) is email notification or phone call to (402) 280-2632 informing Prof. Stephens BEFORE class begins (at 3:30 pm) the day of the absence. Ordinarily, email (or telephone) notification of illness (or emergency) preventing a student from attending class, given prior to that class, is also sufficient for that absence to count as excused. But this is ultimately up to the discretion of Prof. Stephens.

Papers and Submission Policies

Papers should be submitted on time. By a “paper” I mean thin sheets made from wood pulp, stapled together, with printing on them, NOT an electronic file on a storage device or an email attachment. Early submissions are much appreciated. Requests for extensions must be made at least three (3) weekdays prior to the due date. Papers submitted after the due date (or granted extension date) will be penalized 5 points (= half a letter grade) per weekday late. If the paper has not been received by the instructor within a week after its due date, then the student must withdraw from, or will receive an F for, the course. Students should discuss their paper topic with Prof. Stephens at least a week before it is due so that he can approve the proposed plan for the paper. Follow closely the guidelines in How to Write Philosophy Papers. You can get additional help at the Writing Center (Creighton Hall, 1st floor).

On the cover page print your NAME, the COURSE number, section, and name, the name (properly spelled) of your PROFESSOR, a clever and descriptively accurate TITLE of your paper, and the WORD COUNT (exclude from this word count the words on your cover and Works Cited pages). Include a WORKS CITED page at the end.

Academic Honesty Statement

All students are expected to model academic honesty and integrity in all their work for this course. Students are required to produce their own original work, ideas, arguments, and sentences in their papers and on their exams. Students may NOT work with others, and may NOT borrow from others, in writing their papers or essays. Citations on papers should follow the guidelines in How to Write Philosophy Papers. If you cheat on an exam, then you will receive at minimum a zero on that exam. If you plagiarize any part of a paper, then you will receive a zero on that paper. If the instructor judges a case of cheating or plagiarism to be flagrant, the student will get an F for the course. See the Creighton College of Arts & Sciences Academic Honesty Procedures.

Keep in Contact with the Instructor throughout the Course

If you have any problem that hinders you from attending class, doing the assigned reading, studying for the exams, or writing your papers, please come see me or call me or send me e-mail or leave me a note in my mailbox or under my office door. Whatever happens, it is your responsibility to keep in contact with me. Failure to do so usually has unhappy consequences.

Schedule of Assignments

Jan. 13	Introduction
Jan. 18	Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics Book 1 (1–21)
Jan. 20	NE Book 2 (21–36), Book 3 Chapters 6–12 (48–58)
Jan. 25	NE Book 4 (59–79)
Jan. 27	NE Book 6 (102–118), Book 8 Chapters 1–3 & 9 (143–148, 154–155)
Feb. 1	university closed — class canceled
Feb. 3	NE Book 9 Chapters 4, 7–9 (167–169, 171–177); Book 10 Chapters 6–9 (190–200)
Feb. 8	Exam #1 Review Guide for Exam #1
Feb. 10	Epicurus, Letter to Menoeceus, The Principal Doctrines, The Vatican Collection of Epicurean Sayings
Feb. 15	Epicurus continued
Feb. 17	Lucretius, Book I introduction and selections from On the Nature of Things Paper #1 is DUE
Feb. 22	The Stoics Reader, trans. with intro. by B. Inwood & L. P. Gerson: Texts 101–103 (113–157), Text 110 (162–164)
Feb. 24	Aristotle on “Woman” and Aristotle, Politics Book I, Chapters 1–2
	The Stoics Reader: Later Stoics: Musonius Rufus, Seneca, Epictetus, Texts 126–150 (177–205)
March 1	finish Rufus, Seneca, Epictetus
March 3	Exam #2 Review Guide for Exam #2
	SPRING RECESS
March 15	Seneca, On Anger selections
March 17	Hume, An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals, §§ I–III (13–34). Schneewind’s Intro. (1–10)
March 22	Hume, An Enquiry §§ V–VI (38–61)
March 24	Hume, An Enquiry §§ VII–IX, Appendix I: Concerning Moral Sentiment (61–88) Paper #2 is DUE
March 29	Kant, Foundations of the Metaphysics of Morals, Preface, 1st §, 2nd § to [416] (3–33). Beck’s Intro. (vii–xxvi)
March 31	Kant, Foundations, 2nd § [416] to end [445] (33–63)
April 5	Exam #3 Review Guide for Exam #3
April 7	Mill, Utilitarianism Chapters I–II (1–26)
April 12	Mill, Utilitarianism Chapters III–IV (27–41)
April 14	Mill, Utilitarianism Chapters V (42–64) and Nietzsche, On the Genealogy of Morality, Preface, First Treatise (1–33). Clark’s Intro. (vii–xxxiv)
April 19	Nietzsche, Genealogy, Second Treatise (35–66)
April 21	class canceled
April 26	G. E. Moore, selection from Principia Ethica Paper #3 is DUE
April 28	J.-P. Sartre, “Existentialism is a Humanism” from Existentialism and Human Emotions, New York: Carol Publishing, 1990, pp. 9–51
May 5	1:00 pm (Final) Exam #4 Review Guide for Final Exam

* The instructor reserves the right, at his discretion, to make minor changes to this syllabus during the course including scheduling of due dates and assignments, and very minor changes to requirements.