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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "PH/RL 224-1"
COURSE NAME: "Living the Good Life: Religion and Philosophical Ethics"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Spring 2024
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Annette Merle Bryson
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: TTH 10:00 AM 11:15 AM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES:
OFFICE HOURS:
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
What it is to do the right thing, or to be a good person? Where do ethical ideas and standards come from? And why should we be ethical at all? This course introduces students to ethical thinking by studying both concrete issues and more abstract theories, religious and non-religious. Students will explore ideas like “virtue”, “duty”, “conscience”, and “perfection,” philosophers like Plato, Aquinas, and Kant, and religious traditions like Christianity, Islam, and Buddhism, alongside concrete issues in areas such as medicine, war, sex, and the environment.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

This course offers a systematic introduction to moral theory, aimed at equipping students with the concepts and tools needed to analyze moral problems and develop their own moral thinking. We will explore some important moral philosophers and their views, we will explore the relation between morality and religion, and we will apply moral thinking to moral questions in our everyday lives.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:

By the end of this course, you will have gained: 

• a better understanding of some of the moral issues of current relevance and the ways in which we might examine them;
• a better understanding of the basic questions of ethics, and of the range of philosophical answers that have been given;
• a better understanding of some of the moral issues of current relevance and the ways in which we might examine them;
• a better understanding of the shortcomings and strengths of these various approaches to answering these fundamental questions; 
• a refinement of your own critical reasoning and argumentative skills; 
• a refinement of your capacities to recognize and assess philosophical arguments;
• an enhancement of the conceptual tools we need to develop and defend our own philosophical views;
• a refinement of your abilities to defend and express philosophical positions in a clear, well-reasoning way through both writing and conversation; 
• the (re)discovery of the joy of philosophical inquiry! 
TEXTBOOK:
NONE
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Class ParticipationYou will receive a participation grade at the end of the semester reflecting your class attendance as well as your preparedness, contribution to in-class discussion, and participation in smaller group activities. 20%
Quizzes You will take a quiz once a week. Our quizzes will typically be taken-home, open-book quizzes taken on Moodle but some may be in class.20%
First Written AssignmentThis written assignment will be a “take-home” assignment of 900-1200 words, written in response to one of a selection of questions which I will provide.20%
Second Written AssignmentThis written assignment will be a “take-home” assignment of 900-1200 words, written in response to one of a selection of questions which I will provide.20%
Final Exam Any material discussed in readings or in class during the semester is eligible to appear on the exam.20%

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course.
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:

You are expected to attend class.
ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.
STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.
SCHEDULE

Note: This syllabus is intended to give the student guidance in what may be covered during the semester and will be followed as closely as possible. However, the professor reserves the right to modify, supplement and make changes as the course needs arise.

Week 1: Introduction to Philosophical and Religious Ethics

Tues:   Introduction to the course and to each other 😊

Thur:  What is ethics? What is moral reasoning? What is the role of moral theory 

            Reading:Russ Shafer-Landau, "Introduction" 

 

Week 2: Morality and a Life Worth Living

Tues:   The immoralist's challenge

            Reading: Plato, Republic, Book II (excerpts)

Thur:   What kind of life is worth living? 

            Reading: [To be determined]

 

Week 3: Living a Meaningful Life

Tues:   What is a meaningful life? 

            Reading: Richard Taylor, “The Meaning of Life”

Thur:   Why does it matter to life a meaningful life? matter?

            Reading: Susan Wolf, “Meaning in Life and Why it Matters”

 

Week 4: Living a Meaningful Life

Tues:   Is life absurd?

            Reading: Thomas Nagel, "The Absurd" 

Thur:   Is life absurd without religion?  

            Reading: William Craig, “The Absurdity of Life without God”

 

Week 5: Morality and Religion

 Tues:   Relating morality to the divine (some Ancient Greek perspectives)

            Reading: Plato, Euthyphro 

Thur:   Relating morality to the divine (some Christian, Islamic, Judaic perspectives)

            Reading: Robert Merrihew Adams, “A New Divine Command theory”

 

Week 6: Natural Law

Tues:   Natural Law

            Reading: Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica (selections)

Thur:   Natural Law

            Reading: Christine de Pizan, Book of the City of Ladies (selections)

 

Week 7: Moral Theory: Virtue Ethics

Tues:   Virtue Ethics

            Reading: Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics (selections)

Thur:   Virtue Ethics

            Reading: David Wong, “Chinese Ethics”

 

Week 8: Moral Theory: Utilitarianism 

Tues:   Utilitarianism

            Reading: John Stuart Mill, Utilitarianism (selections); Harriet Taylor Mill (selections)

Thur:   Act vs. Rule vs. Motive Utilitarianism

            Reading: [To be determined]

 

Week 9: Moral Theory: Utilitarianism & Virtue Ethics 

Tues:   Chinese Virtue Ethics

            Readings: David Wong, “Chinese Ethics” (excerpt); Charles Goodman, “Ethics in Indian and Tibetan Buddhism” (excerpt)

Thur:   Hindu Virtue Ethics; African Virtue Ethics

            Reading: [To be determined]

 

Week 10: Moral Theory: Deontological Accounts

Tues:   Kantian Deontology

            Reading: Immanuel Kant, The Good Will and the Categorical Imperative (excerpts)

Thur:   Pluralist Deontological Accounts

            Reading: W. D. Ross, What Makes Right Acts Right? (except)

 

Week 11: Feminist Ethics

Tues:   Feminist Ethics

            Reading: Alison Jaggar, “Feminist Ethics”

Thur:   Feminist Ethics

            Reading: Hilde Lindemann, “What is Feminist Ethics?”

 

Week 12: Feminist Virtue Ethics & Feminist Consequentialism and Deontology

Tues:   Feminist Virtue Ethics

            Reading: [To be determined]

Thur:   Feminist Consequentialist & Deontological Ethics

            Reading: [To be determined]

 

Week 13: Metaethics

Tues:   The status of morality

            Reading: [To be determined]

Thur:   The status of morality

            Reading: [To be determined]

 

Week 14: Wrapping up