Dave Barnhart's Academic Portfolio

Introduction to Ethics

Instructor: David Barnhart
Semester: Fall, 1492
Location: 241 Yoyoma Hall 8:00 AM
Course Website: http://www.institution.edu/barnhart/fall/rel2223
Office Hours: MWF 10-12:00
email: dbarnhart@university. edu
Office: 322 Poslethwaite Hall
phone:777-7777

Syllabus Contents:

1) Course Information, Course Description, Course Goals
2) Course Requirements
3) Honor Policy, Required Readings, Recommended Readings
4) Course Outline, Essential Dates
5) Course Schedule

Course Description:

This course will consist of three major sections. The first section will focus on the history of ethics. In this 5-week period, students will engage a selection of writers on ethics from Greek, medieval Europe, Asian, enlightenment, and postmodern cultures and perspectives. We will focus on some key questions, including how has "the good" been understood through the centuries? What roles have religion, politics, and technology played in the formation of ethical systems? How have these ethical systems in turn shaped the lives of people? How is ethics understood by individuals and cultures, and how is ethics transmitted to other generations and cultures?

The second section will focus on post-enlightenment critique of modern ethics. During this 4-week period, students will come to grips with the issues surrounding the discourse and debate of postmodernity. We will examine the theory of the social construction of reality, the viewpoint of the post-liberals, and the linguistic turn of discourse ethics.

The last third of the class will focus on contemporary issues in ethics. Students will have the opportunity to choose a contemporary issue in medical ethics, social policy, justice, sexuality and reproduction, linguistics, or some other current ethical question. During this 4-week period, class lectures and student presentation will be closely intertwined. Students will not be required to work as a group on the issue of their choice, but it is encouraged. All students are expected to make a brief presentation on their topic.

Course Goals:

Explore the history of ethical thought and ethical systems
Critically examine the ethical traditions of the past, and try out possible alternatives
Apply the ideas from modernity and postmodernity to contemporary ethical issues
Formulate a personal position on a contemporary ethical issue and be able to defend it
Practice public and civil discourse in an academic setting

Requirements:

Individual performance will be evaluated by the following criteria.

Class participation (20%) - Attendance and active engagement in discussion are essential parts of this class. Please let me know ahead of time if you are going to miss class, and keep your peers and potential group-members informed.

Two short papers (20%) - Two 4 -5 -page papers on an ethicist of your choice. The first half of the paper should focus on a key element of the ethicist's thought. For example, you might focus on the concepts of Apollo and Dionysus in Nietzsche. In addition, you will be expected to present your own critique of the idea - how helpful is the idea? What do you think motivated this way of thinking? Here you will need to show some critical thinking skills. This is not just an opinion piece!

One film review (10%) - There will be a variety of movies on reserve and suggested for rental to fulfill this requirement. Feel free to watch as a group! The review should be about 3 or 4 pages, and should address the following questions: what is the ethical issue(s) involved? What statement does the movie make about the issue? How do the aesthetic elements (setting, time period, cinematography) of the movie contribute to the message? Finally, is the statement the movie makes convincing? You should be sure to include reference to readings where appropriate. I am not so much interested in whether or not you like the movie or think the actors are good, though those things certainly affect the message one receives. I am more interested in how you see the movie attach to themes of cultural interest.

Presentation and paper (10% + 15%) - You will choose one ethical issue of contemporary interest, research it, develop an argument, and present it to the class. Presentations should be no more than 10 minutes, with an opportunity for equal time for class discussion and questions. You may choose to work individually or in a group on your presentation (though each member of the group will still be expected to deliver a part of the presentation). The idea here is to be able to articulate an argument, using concepts learned earlier in the semester, for civil discussion in class. Topics and ideas for presentation should be cleared with the me by at least the 6th week of class.

The paper will be a researched argument related to some aspect of your presentation topic. You may choose a narrower or wider focus to examine in your paper. It should be between 10 and 12 pages long, and should be turned in less than a week after your presentation.

Final exam (25%) - A written essay exam will include questions from the entire semester. (Hint: all Focus questions are potential exam questions!)

Honor System and Citing Research:

The institutional policy of the honor code will be strictly followed. Please cite all sources in your final paper by either footnoting or usmg professional standards (MLA, APA, etc.) The two short papers may use internal citation.

Required Readings:

Plato. Crito.
Aristotle. Nicomahean Ethics.
Kant. Metaphysics of Morals.
Kaufmann, Walter, ed. The Portable Nietzsche. New York: Penguin, 1982.
Benhabib. Situating the Self.
Selected readings from Nietzsche, Foucault, Mill, Aquinas, Augusting, Epictetus, Confucius, Niebuhr

Recommended Readings:

Bonhoeffer, Dietrich. Ethics. New York: McMillan, 1955.
Gudorf, Christine. Body, Sex, and Pleasure.
Kierkegaard, Soren. Works of Love. New York: Harper, 1962,
Niebuhr, Reinhold. An Interpretation of Christian Ethics. San Francisco: Harper, 1962.
Niebuhr, Reinhold. The Nature and Destiny of Man Vol.1 &2.. New York: Scribner's, 1964.
Singer, Peter. Rethinking Life and Death. New York: St. Martin's 1994.
Wuthnow, Robert. Meaning and Moral Order. Los Angeles: U. of California, 1987.

Basic Outline of the Course:

I. History of Ethics

A. Greek Tradition
B. Asian Traditions
C. Judeo-Christian Traditions
D. The Enlightenment

II. Critiques of Ethics

A. Nietzsche
B. The Germans and the Britons
C. Modern Christian critiques
D. Minority Voices

III. Contemporary Issues in Ethics

A. Postmodernity
B. Presentations

What is Due When

First short paper:
Second short paper:
Presentation:
Final Paper:
Exam:

Course Schedule:

Week One:

The Greek Tradition: (1) The Pre-Socratics (2) Plato (3) Aristotle
Readings: Crito, begin reading Nicomahean Ethics

Week Two:

Asian Traditions: (1) Lao-Tse (2) Confucius (3) Zen-Buddhism
Readings: continue reading NE

Week Three:

Judeo-Christian Traditions: (1) Jewish Ethics (2) Paul and Augustine (3) Aquinas and Aristotle revisited
Readings: finish NE
FIRST SHORT PAPER DUE

Week Four:

The Enlightenment: (1) The early Enlightenment (2) Kant (3) Enlightenment aftermath
Readings: Begin reading Metaphysics of Morals

Week Five:

Flex week: Here we will have an in-depth discussion of the readings and wrap up any loose ends. We will also begin to apply the traditions we have learned thus far to contemporary issues in ethics. Begin thinking about your presentations.
Readings: Continue Metaphysics of Morals

Week Six:

Nietzsche: (1) The Apollonian and Dionysian (2) Critique of Christian ethics (3) Nietzsche discussion.
Readings: Readings in The Portable Nietzsche
FILM REVIEW DUE

Week Seven:

The Germans and the Britons: (1) The Frankfurt School (2) Logical Positivists.
Readings: Begin reading Situating the Self

Week Eight:

Modern Christian Critiques: (1) Kierkegaard, Barth (2) Niebuhr, Bonhoeffer, Weil (3) Post-liberals, Feminists.
Readings: Situating the Self

Week Nine:

Other Voices: (1) Foucault (2) Feminism (3) Discourse Ethics
Readings: Catch-up week
SECOND SHORT PAPER DUE

Week ten:

Postmodernity
Readings: Arendt The Human Condition

Weeks eleven through thirteen:

STUDENT PRESENTATIONS

Readings: handouts TBA

Week Fourteen:

Exam: date
FINAL PAPER