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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "PH/RL 224"
COURSE NAME: "Living the Good Life: Religion and Philosophical Ethics"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Summer Session I 2024
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Firmin Rene DeBrabander
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS: MTWTH 11:00 AM 1:00 PM
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 participation 30%
Midterm 30%
Final Paper 40%

-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:
ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS AND EXAMINATION POLICY
You cannot make-up a major exam (midterm or final) without the permission of the Dean’s Office. The Dean’s Office will grant such permission only when the absence was caused by a serious impediment, such as a documented illness, hospitalization or death in the immediate family (in which you must attend the funeral) or other situations of similar gravity. Absences due to other meaningful conflicts, such as job interviews, family celebrations, travel difficulties, student misunderstandings or personal convenience, will not be excused. Students who will be absent from a major exam must notify the Dean’s Office prior to that exam. Absences from class due to the observance of a religious holiday will normally be excused. Individual students who will have to miss class to observe a religious holiday should notify the instructor by the end of the Add/Drop period to make prior arrangements for making up any work that will be missed. The final exam period runs until ____________
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

 

Week 1

5/20- Introduction

5/21- For today, read Aristotle’s Nicomachean EthicsBook I (pages 1-23)

5/22- Rd.Nicomachean Ethics, Book I (finish) and Book II (all)

5/23- RdNicomachean Ethics, Book III (pages 52-72)

 

Week 2

5/27- Rd.Nicomachean Ethics,Book III (finish) and Book VIII (all)

5/28- Rd.Nicomachean Ethics,Book IX and X (pages 260-273 and 286-302only)

5/29-Rd. Seneca “Consolation to Helvia”

5/30-Rd. Seneca “On the Shortness of Life”

 

Week 3

6/3- Rd. Seneca “On Anger, Book 3”

6/4-Rd. Seneca “On the Tranquility of the Mind”

6/5-Midterm

6/6- Rd.St Paul, the Misunderstood Apostle(pages 1-16 and 50-60)

 

Week 4

6/10-Rd.St Paul, the Misunderstood Apostle(pages 60-100)

6/11-Rd.St Paul, the Misunderstood Apostle(pages 100-125)

6/12-Rd.Tao te Ching(poems 1-40)

6/13-Rd.Tao te Ching(poems 41-81)

 

Week 5

6/17-Rd.Teachings of the Compassionate Buddha(pages 29-50)

6/18-Rd.Teachings of the Compassionate Buddha(pages 50-72)

6/19- Rd.Teachings of the Compassionate Buddha(pages 96-108 and 130-141)

6/20- Summary discussion

6/21-Final Exam