PHILOSOPHY 331F (SPRING 1997): CLASSICAL ETHICAL THEORIES
Mon-Fri 11-12:30 in Cupples I, rm. 207
Instructor: Joel Anderson Phone: 935-7147 Email: anderson@artsci.wustl.edu
Office: Busch Hall 103 Office hours: M 3:30-4:30, F 12:30-1:30, and by appointment.
Teaching Assistant: Johann Klaasen
TEXTS FOR THE COURSE:
Available at Mallinckrodt:
Plato, Meno, trans. Grube (Hackett)
Plato, Republic, trans. Grube (Hackett)
Aristotle, Nichomachean Ethics, trans. Ostwald (Bobbs-Merrill)
Hume, Hume's Ethical Writings, ed. MacIntyre (Notre Dame)
J.S. Mill (and Jeremy Bentham), Utilitarianism and Other Essays, ed. Ryan (Penguin)
Kant, Critique of Practical Judgment, trans. Beck (Bobbs-Merrill)
Course Packet: Two copies of the additional course readings will be placed on reserve in Olin Library. Should you choose, you may photocopy those readings for your own use.
There will regularly be handouts in class regarding assigments. If you are unable to pick them up in class, it is your responsibility to make sure that you get a copy. Copies will be available in the slot marked "331" in the Philosophy Dept. office (Busch 225), on your left as you walk in. If you are not in class to pick up graded assignments, they will be available in the same slot, usually in an envelope designated for that assigment.
EVALUATION
Five Discussion Essays (35%) During five sessions this semester, the class will be divided into small groups for discussion. For each of these sessions, you will have to write a "discussion essay" of 1-2 pages, answering assigned questions. These discussion essays will form the basis for the discussion in the groups. If you turn in a discussion essay but are absent for the small group discussion, your grade on the assignment will be reduced by one full letter grade. If you come to class without a completed essay, you will be placed in a separate group, and you will receive a "D+/C-". Late discussion essays will not be accepted without a serious excuse.
Three Short Papers (45%) You will be required to write three papers of 1000-1200 words (about four pages each). One paper must be on Plato or Aristotle; one must be on Hume or Mill; and one must be on Kant. They will typically build on the discussion essays that you write. You may choose to write four papers, in which case the best three grades will count.
Final Paper (20%) This paper is meant to be a complete reworking of one of the short papers, and must be 1500-2000 words (appox. 6-8 pp.) in length. The grade will partly be a function of how well you have improved the paper from the earlier version.
Class participation This is based on your regular contribution to the discussion of readings and issues raised in them, as well as your ability to demonstrate having read the texts carefully. Although no formal grade is given here, this may be decisive in cases where you are a half-point below or above a cut-off point.
Ground Rules:
Word counts are strictly enforced. Grades on late assignments will be one full letter grade (10%) if turned in after the beginning of the class period on which they are due, and one further grade for each further 24-hour period it is late. Excuses should be documented (e.g., a doctor's note). You are expected to follow the University policy on academic integrity, printed in the Course Listings. If you do not do your own work for this course (if you copy a paper from a someone, piece something together from published work, or turn in something you wrote for another class) you may fail the course and be subject to University disciplinary action. Aside from being unethical, plagiarism can jeopardize your future far more than a low grade. If, in the course of the semester, you find yourself with your back to the wall and are tempted to take a shortcut of this sort, come and talk to me. We may be able to work something out.
Grading Scale: (These are cut-off points, i.e., you must be at or above that score.)
A+ = 97.5 A = 92.5 A- = 89.5 B+ = 86.5 B = 82.5 B- = 79.5
C+ = 76.5 C = 72.5 C- = 69.5 D+ = 66.5 D = 62.5 D- = 59.5
Pass/Fail students must earn at least 69.5 points to pass.
SCHEDULE OF MEETINGS AND ASSIGNMENTS
M 1/13 Introduction to class; lecture on Plato's Meno
F 1/17 Discussion of Meno; lecture on Plato's Republic
M 1/20 NO CLASS !!!! (DR. KING DAY)
F 1/24 Discussion of Plato's Republic, Books I-II & 433a-445e (from Bk. IV).
Questions for Discussion Essay #1 distributed.
M 1/27 Small group discussion of Plato's Republic; 473d-480 & Books VI-VII & 576b-592b.
Discussion Essay #1 Due.
F 1/31 Discussion of Iris Murdoch, "The Sovereignty of Good over Other Concepts."
Guidelines for Short Paper #1 distributed.
M 2/3 Lecture on Aristotle
Short Paper #1 Due.
F 2/7 Discussion of Nicomachean Ethics, Books I-II
M 2/10 Discussion of Nicomachean Ethics, Book III.i-v & Book VI
Questions for Discussion Essay #2 distributed.
F 2/14 Small group discussion
Discussion Essay #2 Due.
M 2/17 Discussion of Martha Nussbaum, "The Discernment of Perception: An Aristotelian Conception of Private and Public Rationality"
Guidelines for Short Paper #2 distributed.
F 2/21 Lecture on Hume
Short Paper #2 Due.
M 2/24 Discussion of Treatise, Bk. III (MacIntyre edition, 183-252).
Questions for Discussion Essay #3 distributed.
F 2/28 Small group discussion of Annette Baier, "The Contemplation of Character"
Discussion Essay #3 Due.
MARCH 3 AND 7: NO CLASS (SPRING BREAK)
M 3/10 Discussion of Treatise, II.iii.3 (MacIntyre edition, pp. 177-82)
Guidelines for Short Paper #3 distributed.
F 3/14 Discussion of Enquiry, §§ 1-4 (p. 35-59) and Appendix I (pp. 124-32)
Short Paper #3 Due.
M 3/17 Lecture on Hobbesian and Social Contract Approaches
Discussion of Leviathan, Books 13-15 and David Gauthier, "Three against Justice: The Foole, the Sensible Knave, and the Lydian Shepherd"
F 3/21 Lecture on John Stuart Mill
Discussion of Bentham, An Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation, pp. 65-97.
M 3/24 Discussion of Utilitarianism, ch. I-II (pp. 272-98)
Questions for Discussion Essay #4 distributed.
WEDNESDAY 3/26 Discussion of Utilitarianism, ch. III-IV (pp. 298-338)
F 3/28 Small group discussion
Discussion Essay #4 Due.
M 3/31 Discussion of Bernard Williams, "A Critique of Utilitarianism"
Guidelines for Short Paper #4 distributed.
F 4/4 Lecture on Kant
Short Paper #4 Due.
M 4/7 Discussion of Critique of Practical Reason, ch. 1
F 4/11 Discussion of Critique of Practical Reason, ch. 2
Questions for Discussion Essay #5 distributed.
M 4/14 Small group discussion of Critique of Practical Reason, ch. 3
Discussion Essay #5 Due.
F 4/18 Discussion of Christine Korsgaard, "Creating the Kingdom of Ends"
Guidelines for Short Paper #5 distributed.
M 4/21 Discussion of George Herbert Mead, Mind, Self, and Society, §§19-21 (pp. 144-73); and "Fragments on Ethics" (pp. 379-89).
F 4/25 NO CLASS (THIS CLASS IS RESCHEDULED FOR WED., MARCH 26)
BUT: Short Paper #5 is due at NOON in Busch 225
The final paper is due on Wednesday, May 7 at noon in Busch 225.