PHL 250-C: Philosophical Foundations for Ethical Understanding

Fall 2011              M W F 12:30 – 1:20 pm       Prof. Stephens        DHHC 212

office hours:  M W F 1:30 to 3:15 pm and by appointment

office: DHHC 209       phone (with voicemail): 280-2632      email: stphns at creighton dot edu

Course Description

An introduction to ethical reasoning, analysis of moral arguments, and methods of evaluating conflicting judgments of right and wrong, virtuous and vicious, good and bad.  We will study cultural relativism, subjectivism, the relationship between morality and religion, and the concept of selfishness.  The normative theories of utilitarianism, Kantian deontology (theory of duty), the theory of natural law, social contract theory, and virtue ethics will be our chief focus in the first half of the course.  Informed by the philosophical principles, moral concepts, and normative theories learned in the first half of the course, we will apply our moral reasoning to, focus our moral sensibilities on, and strive to construct defensible ethical evaluations of, eating animals.

Required Texts

• James & Stuart Rachels, The Elements of Moral Philosophy (6th edition). Boston, MA: McGraw Hill, 2010.  ISBN 978-0-07-338671-3.
• Jonathan Safran Foer, Eating Animals. New York, NY: Little, Brown & Co., 2009.  (2010 paperback edition ISBN 978-0316069885.)
• J. M. Coetzee, The Lives of Animals. Princeton University Press, 1999.  ISBN 0-691-07089-X.
• John Corvino, “Why Shouldn’t Tommy and Jim Have Sex?” on BlueLine under “Lessons”
• Kristin Johnston Largen, “A Christian Rationale for Vegetarianism” on BlueLine under “Lessons”
• Thomas Nagel, “What Is It Like to Be a Bat?” on BlueLine under “Lessons”
• Jan Narveson, “A Defense of Meat Eating” on BlueLine under “Lessons”
• Mark Rowlands, “Contractarianism and Animal Rights” on BlueLine under “Lessons”
• Peter Singer, “All Animals are Equal” on BlueLine under “Lessons” 
• W. O. Stephens, How to Write Philosophy Papers: A Manual for Beginning Philosophy Students (Creighton Philosophy Department, $4)
• Stephen H. Webb, “The Diet of Christian Vegetarianism” on BlueLine under “Lessons”

Optional Text

• Lori Gruen, Ethics and Animals: An Introduction. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press, 2011.  ISBN 978-0521717731.

Requirements* and Course Grade Calculations

• 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.
• Very poor class attendance with no participation in discussions.

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

• 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.
• Poor class attendance with little or no 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 presented 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 consistent, excellent, and thoughtful participation in discussions.  
• 88% average or higher.

Class Participation and Attendance

Regular and punctual class attendance is a necessary but not sufficient condition for a good class participation grade.  Eight (8) or more absences (the equivalent of two and a half weeks) will result in an AF (failure due to excessive absence) for this course.  Each absence fewer than eight will incrementally lower your class participation grade.  You are responsible for all material discussed and all announcements made in every class. If you miss a class, it is your responsibility to find out what you missed.  Being tardy twice counts as one absence.  There are two kinds of activities that count as “participation”: inside of class and outside of class.  Inside of class participation is raising your hand to be called on and making comments about the reading or the discussion, or asking questions about the reading or my lecture, or responding to questions I raise or comments made by other students.  Outside of class participation includes (a) philosophical conversations with Prof. Stephens outside the classroom, and (b) philosophically substantive posts to the BlueLine Discussion Forum for the course.  You cannot really learn how to do philosophy by merely listening. You also need to actively think out loud orally inside or outside of class and in BlueLine posts.   Both quality and quantity of oral and electronic remarks count; I record both.  Since we will be closely attending to the readings in our class discussions, it is important that every day you bring to class your book containing or photocopy of that day’s reading assignment.

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 12:30 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.

Electronic Devices

Quizlets and the Habit of Using a Good Dictionary

To encourage you to do the assigned reading faithfully before each and every class, Prof. Stephens will sometimes, without prior announcement, at the beginning of class, give a small “pop” quiz on the reading assignment.  These quizlets are usually about ten true/false items.  If you are late to class or absent, then you miss the quizlet, get a zero for it, and cannot retake it.  To compensate for a missed quizlet you can boost your participation in class or in the discussion forum, since quizlets count in the class participation component of the course grade.  Sometimes Prof. Stephens rewards students for bringing their books to class by giving an open-book quizlet.  Get into the habit of using a dictionary to look up every word you are not 100% certain you understand the exact meaning of, in each and every sentence you read, in every single reading assignment.  Prof. Stephens has been known to put vocabulary questions on quizlets.  Every college student ought to own a good dictionary and make a habit of using it.  You cannot understand what an author writes unless you understand each and every word in every sentence of that author’s essay.

Thesis Defense Paper Specifications

Students will choose their thesis defense paper topics in consultation with Prof. Stephens.  Students are responsible for getting their paper topics approved by Prof. Stephens well before their papers are due and no later than Nov. 7.  Students should get their hands on the How to Write Philosophy Papers manual.  Read it closely and carefully follow all its guidelines in writing your paper.  The finished, polished, carefully edited, and meticulously proofread paper should be 1600 to approximately 1900 words in length.  (You are permitted to exceed 1900 words within reason, but please don’t abuse this latitude.)  Papers of fewer than 1600 words will receive a zero (F).

For help finding information specific to your paper topic, go to http://reinert.creighton.edu/services/instruction/rap/rap.htm and complete the form with details of your paper assignment.  Our terrific librarians can assist you.

Submission Policy and Late Penalty

Either hand your paper to Prof. Stephens in person or deliver your paper to his office in the Classical & Near Eastern Studies Department suite, second floor west of the DHHC.  “Your paper” means a hard copy, that is, thin, 8½ by 11" rectangular sheets made from wood pulp, stapled together in the upper left hand corner, with 12 point font, dark, easily legible print on them.  An electronic file on a storage device or an email attachment is ordinarily not acceptable.  Approval for submitting your paper electronically must be explicitly granted by Prof. Stephens.  Late papers will be penalized ten (10) points (one full letter grade) per weekday late.  Early submissions are very welcome!

Academic Honesty Statement

Keep in Contact with the Instructor throughout the Course

Wed. Dec. 14, 8–9:40 am Final Exam

*Prof. Stephens reserves the right, at his discretion, to make minor changes to this syllabus during the course including due dates, assignments, and requirements.

last updated 8 December 2011
Copyright © 2011 William O. Stephens