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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "PH 235-1"
COURSE NAME: "Ethics"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Fall 2025
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Annette Merle Bryson
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: TTH 4:30 PM 5:45 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES:
OFFICE HOURS:
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
What is right and wrong, good and bad? How do we know? How can we argue over ethical issues? This course introduces students to ethical thinking by studying both concrete ethical issues and more abstract ethical ideas and theories. Students will examine philosophical debates over issues such as free speech, genetic engineering, and friendship, explore the meaning of ideas like “duty,” “virtue,” and “happiness,” and analyze the arguments of philosophers like Aristotle, Kant, and Singer.
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 philosophical views, and we will apply moral thinking to moral questions in our everyday lives. Topics will include sexual morality, transformative experiences, and abortion. 
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. 25%
Quizzes You will be expected to take a quiz at least once a week. All quizzes will be posted to Moodle and will be taken at home. 25%
PapersAll students must turn in papers that engage the readings of this courses. Students may decide whether to submit two, three, or four papers, but the combination of papers must total a minimum of 4,000 and a maximum of 7,000 words.25%
Final Exam Any material discussed in readings or in class during the semester is eligible to appear on the exam.25%
   

-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 preliminary and is subject to change. It is intended to give you guidance in what may be covered during the semester. I reserve the right to modify, supplement, and make changes as the course needs arise. 

 

 

Class schedule and topics

 

Week 1: Welcome to class; Introduction to ethics and to each other

  Russ Shafer-Landau, “Introduction,” The Fundamentals of Morals

Week 2: Understanding Morality

  Michael Zimmerman & Ben Bradley, “Intrinsic vs Extrinsic Value,” Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy

  The Trolley Problems (handout)

  Plato, Euthyphro 

Week 3: Intentions and Moral Permissibility

  Just War Theory (to be provided)

  Elizabeth Anscombe, “Mr Truman’s Degree”

  T.M. Scanlon, “When Do Intentions Matter to Permissibility?”

  Alison McIntyre, “Doctrine of Double Effect,” Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy

 

Moral Theory

Week 4: Consequentialism

  Comments on moral theories, in general, and utilitarianism, in particular (to be provided)

  J.S. Mill, “In Defense of Utilitarianism” (excerpt)

  Russ Shafer-Landau, “Consequentialism: its Difficulties”

  Robert Nozick, “The Experience Machine”

 Week 5:  Deontological ethics 

     Comments on deontological accounts (provided)

  Kant, “The Moral Law and the Autonomy of the Will” (excerpt)

  Onora O’Neill, “A Simplified Account of Kant’s Ethics”

             W.D. Ross, “What Makes Right Acts Right?” 

Week 6: Virtue ethics

      Comments on virtue ethics (provided)

  Aristotle, Nichomachean Ethics (excerpt)

  Rosalind Hursthouse, "Virtue Ethics"

  Martha Nussbaum, “Non-Relative Virtues: An Aristotelian Approach” (excerpt)      

Week 7: Feminist Ethics

  Comments on feminist approaches to ethics (provided)

  bell hooks, Ch. 2, “Feminism: A Movement to End Sexist Oppression,” Feminist Theory from Margin to Cente

  Alison Jaggar, “Feminist Ethics"

  Hilde Lindemann, “What is Feminist Ethics?”

 

Morality and Our Lives: Some Case Studies

Week 8: Euthanasia

  Robert Young, “Voluntary Euthanasia,” Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy

  James Rachels, “Active and Passive Euthanasia”

  Philippa Foot, “Euthanasia”

  Dan Brock, “Voluntary Active Euthanasia”

Week 9:   Sexual morality

  Annette Bryson, “Reflections on Sexual Morality” (document provided)

  Alan Goldman, “Plain Sex”

  Vincent Punzo, “Morality and Human Sexuality”

  Igor Primoratz, "Sexual Morality: Is consent Enough?"

 Week 10:  Sexual morality: Consent

  Annette Bryson, “Reflections on Consent” (handout)

  Amy Allen, "Feminist Perspectives on Power"

  Rebecca Whisnant, "Feminist Perspectives on Rape"

 Week 11: Abortion

  Comments on abortion (provided)

  Annette Bryson, “Reflections on Abortion” (handout)

  John Noonan, “Abortion is Morally Wrong”‘

  Mary Anne Warren, “On the Moral and Legal Status of Abortion”

 Week 12: Abortion

  Judith Jarvis Thomson, “A Defense of Abortion”

  Don Marquis, “Why Abortion is Immoral”

  Margaret Little, “The Moral Permissibility of Abortion”

 Week 13: Abortion

  Shannon Dea, “Fetal Life, Abortion and Harm Reduction”

  Alison Jaggar, “Abortion Rights and Gender Justice Worldwide"
[Additional reading TBD]

 

 Week 14: Wrapping up and final exam preparation