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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY
COURSE CODE: "PH/RL 224"
COURSE NAME: "Living the Good Life: Religious and Philosophical Ethics"
SEMESTER & YEAR:
Spring 2014
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SYLLABUS
INSTRUCTOR:
Tiziana Provvidera
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS:
MW 3:00 PM 4:15 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS:
45
CREDITS:
3
PREREQUISITES:
OFFICE HOURS:
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COURSE DESCRIPTION:
The purpose of this course is to examine the historical, literary and philosophical background of some of the most relevant moral topics of Western Civilization. The course illustrates the relevance of philosophical queries on moral concepts in order to understand the importance of a historical account of ethics.
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SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
Ethical questions and moral theories will be analysed and discussed such as the concepts of fate, fortune, providence, human freedom, relationship to the environments, biotechnologies, issues in genetics. These concepts constitute one of the fundamental philosophical problems about human destiny in general and about human actions in particular, involving both social and political as well as theological issues.
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LEARNING OUTCOMES:
Through a careful reading of the primary texts that defined the moral thought from antiquity to the contemporary age, students will discover and explore what might be considered the foundations of our ‘social living’, and therefore of ourselves, towards a more rational understanding of the meaning and position of man in this world.
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TEXTBOOK:
| Book Title | Author | Publisher | ISBN number | Library Call Number | Comments | Format | Local Bookstore | Online Purchase |
| Eight Theories of Ethics | G. Graham | Routledge | 0415315883 | | | | | |
| course reader Spring 2014 | T. Provvidera | aaaa | aaaaa | | | | | |
| TThe Elements of Moral Philosophy | James Rachels-Stuart Rachels | McGraw-Hill Higher Education; 7th edition (2012) | 978-0073386713 | | | | | |
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REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
| Book Title | Author | Publisher | ISBN number | Library Call Number | Comments |
| A short history of Ethics | A. McIntyre | Routledge | aaaaaa | | |
| Christian Ethics: a Historical Introduction | J.P. Wogaman | John Knox Press | 0664251633 | | |
| A Companion to Ethics | H. Kushe-P. Singer | Blackwell | 0631187855 | | |
| A Companion to Bioethics | P. Singer | Blackwell | 0631197370 | | |
| Ethics: The Fundamentals | J. Driver | Blackwell | 1405111542 | | |
| The Oxford Handbook of Ethical Theories | D. Copp (ed.) | Oxford University Press | 9780195325911 | | |
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GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
| Assignment | Guidelines | Weight |
| 2 written papers | (1.500-2.0000 words ca.) | 20% |
| oral proficiency | In-class oral activity and presentation. Students are examined singularly or small groups | 15% |
| midterm exam | | 20% |
| final exam | | 30% |
| class participation | | 15% |
-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 is mandatory
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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.
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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.
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SCHEDULE
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January 13-15 What is Ethics? A definition of Ethics and Moral Sciences. Is ethics compatible with faith? Greek Ethics. Pre-Socratics (550-430 BC)
Readings: Extracts from Pre-Socratic philosophers
January 20-22 Greek Ethics. The virtues at Athens; Socrates (470/69-399 BC): The nature of the virtues; Socrates and the State; Socrates and Athenian Democracy: his trial and death. The standard as the self (egoism); Morality v. Religion: What is pious?; The Sophists (431-421 BC). Being good and being wise: can virtue be taught? Socrates versus the Sophists; Relativism and objectivism.
Readings: Plato, Apology, Crito, Euthyphro; Plato, Gorgias; Gorgias, The Hencomium of Helen
January 27-29 Greek Ethics. Plato (428/7-348 BC): Plato’s theory of forms, the allegory of the cave; What is justice? Justice as a virtue; The ideal State
Readings: Plato, Phaedrus, Republic and VII letter
February 3-5 Greek Ethics. Aristotle on pleasure (Hedonism) and virtue; Hellenistic and Roman Ethics: Stoicism, Epicureism, Skepticism (IV-I BC) and the crisis of Greek civilization.
Readings: Aristotle, The Nicomachean Ethics; Epicurus, Letter to Menoeceus; Seneca, Moral Letters
February 10-12 Christian Ethics. Pre-Scholastic period to 1100 AC: Augustine (354-430) and the problem of human freedom. Scholasticism: Thomas Aquinas (1221-1274) on What is the meaning of life?
Readings: Augustine, The City of God; Aquinas, Summa Theologica
February 17-19
Renaissance. Being good and being successful: Niccolò Machiavelli (1469-1527); The Reformation. The question of man’s free will: Desiderius Erasmus (1466/69-1536) versus Martin Luther (1483-1546)
Readings: Machiavelli, The Prince; The Discourses; Erasmus, On the free will; Luther, On the enslaved will
February 24-26 REVIEW AND MIDTERM EXAM
March 3-5 Modern moral thought. Is humanity naturally good? Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) and Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778); John Locke (1632-1704); Human feeling as the source of ethics: David Hume (1711-1776)
Readings: T. Hobbes, Leviathan; J.-J. Rousseau, The Social Contract; D. Hume, Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals
March 10-12 Immanuel Kant’s ethical doctrines
Readings: I. Kant, Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Moral
March 24-26 Utilitarianism: Jeremy Bentham (1748-1842) and J.S. Mill (1806-1873);
Readings: J. Bentham, Principles of morals and legislation; J.S. Mill, Utilitarianism;
March 31 Against conventional morality: Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900) and the death of God.
Readings: Nietzsche, Will to power; Beyond the Good and the Devil
April 2-4 Existentialism: Soren Kierkegaard (1813-1855) and Jean-Paul Sartre (1905-1980).
Readings: S. Kierkegaard, Concluding unscientific postscript; J.-P. Sartre, Being and Nothingness
April 7-9 20th century Analytic Moral Philosophy; Some features of contemporary ethics; What is bioethics? A historical introduction. Ethical theory and bioethics
April 14-16 Bioethics. Study cases. Cloning, sexual reproduction and genetic engineering; the clash between ethics and religion
April 23 CLASS REVIEW
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