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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "PH/RL 224-1"
COURSE NAME: "Living the Good Life: Religious and Philosophical Ethics"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Spring 2015
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:

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.
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.
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.
TEXTBOOK:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberCommentsFormatLocal BookstoreOnline Purchase
Eight Theories of EthicsG. GrahamRoutledge0415315883     
The Elements of Moral PhilosophyJ. Rachels-S. RachelsMcGraw-Hill Higher Education0078038243     
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberComments
A Short History of EthicsA. McIntyreRoutledge0415287480  
Christian Ethics: A Historical IntroductionJ.P. WogamanJohn Knox Press0664251633 Chapters I-IV
A Companion to EthicsH. Kushe-P. SingerBlackwell0631187855  
A Companion to BioethicsH. Kushe-P. SingerBlackwell1405163313  
Ethics: The FundamentalsJ. DriverBlackwell1405111542  
The Oxford Handbook of Ethical TheoryD. CoppOxford University Press0195325915  
A History of Western EthicsL.C. Becker-C.B. BeckerRoutledge0415968259  
Christian Ethics: A Very Short IntroductionD.S. LongOxford University Press0199568863   
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
2 written papers (1.500-2.0000 words ca.)20%
oral proficiency In-class oral activity and presentation. Students are examined singularly or small groups15%
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
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

January 19-21 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 26-28 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. Morality v. Religion: What is pious? Does morality depend on religion?; The Sophists (431-421 BC). Being good and being wise: can virtue be taught? Socrates v. the Sophists; cultural relativism and objectivism
Readings: Plato, Apology, Crito, Euthyphro; Plato, Gorgias; Gorgias, The Hencomium of Helen

February 2-4 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 9-11 Greek Ethics. Aristotle on pleasure (Hedonism) and virtue; Virtue Ethics; 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 16-18 Christian Ethics. Pre-Scholastic period to 1100 AC: Augustine (354-430): the problem of human freedom and the problem of evil. Scholasticism: Thomas Aquinas (1221-1274) on What is the meaning of life?
Readings: Augustine, The City of God (book XIV); Aquinas, Summa Theologica (XCIV)           

February 23-25 Renaissance. Being good and being successful: Niccolò Machiavelli (1469-1527); The Reformation. The question of man’s free will: Desiderius Erasmus (1466/69-1536) v. Martin Luther (1483-1546)    
Readings: Machiavelli, The Prince; The Discourses; Erasmus, On the free will; Luther, On the enslaved will 

March 2-4 REVIEW AND MIDTERM EXAM

March 9-11 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 16-18 Are there absolute moral rules? Immanuel Kant’s ethical doctrines   
Readings: I. Kant, Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Moral
          
March 23-25 Utilitarianism: Jeremy Bentham (1748-1842) and J.S. Mill (1806-1873); 
Readings: J. Bentham, Principles of morals and legislation; J.S. Mill, Utilitarianism;

March 30 Against conventional morality: Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900) and the death of God. 
Readings: Nietzsche, Will to power; Beyond the Good and the Devil      

April 1-13 Existentialism: Soren Kierkegaard (1813-1855) and Jean-Paul Sartre (1905-1980).    
Readings: S. Kierkegaard, Concluding unscientific postscript; J.-P. Sartre, Being and Nothingness           

April 15-20 20th century Analytic Moral Philosophy; Some features of contemporary ethics; What is bioethics? A historical introduction. Ethical theory and bioethics   

April 22-27 Bioethics. Study cases. Health care and drugs; Business ehtics, Euthanasia, Cloning and genetic engineering; the clash between ethics and religion                

April 29 CLASS REVIEW
May 2-8 FINAL EXAM