0% found this document useful (0 votes)
13 views3 pages

PHIL 3000: Ethics Course Overview

Uploaded by

jmorales82
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
0% found this document useful (0 votes)
13 views3 pages

PHIL 3000: Ethics Course Overview

Uploaded by

jmorales82
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Philosophical Ethics (PHIL 3000, Section number R08)

Fordham University, Fall 2024

Professor: Yanai Sened

E-mail: ysened@[Link]

Office: B21 (Collins: philosophy department building, floor -1, corner office to the right)

Phone: 646 662 2542 (more available by text than call, email always preferrable)

Office hours: Monday, Thursday, 10:30-11:30

Class Times: Monday, Thursday, 8:30am-9:45am

Course Description:

Ethics concerns the question that every person must ask themselves: How should I live my life?
There are many ways to go about answering this question, and we will explore some of
philosophy’s main approaches to it:

- Good actions with good consequences


- Principles for a right life
- The virtues of a good person

For the final part of the class, we will take a look at some texts concerning applying ethics to
more concrete situations, as well as meta-ethical texts that consider the discussion of ethics
itself.

Course goals:

- Students will learn major philosophical approaches to discussing ethics.


- Students will get to know several major philosophical figures and texts.
- Students will learn philosophical discussion and writing, including individual research.
- Students will learn to formulate opinions on philosophical questions

Texts: These must be available to you, digitally or physically, for the classes in which they are
discussed.
- Aristotle. Nicomachean Ethics. Trans. Martin Ostwald. New York: Macmillan, 1962;
0-02-389530-6.
- Kant, Immanuel. Groundwork of the Metaphysic of Morals. Trans. H.J. Paton.
Harper, 1964; 0-06-131159-6.
- Mill, John Stuart. Utilitarianism. Indianapolis: Hackett, 2001; 0-87220-605-X

Assessment: Participation 30%


4 in-class quizzes 2.5% each = 10%
1 Short paper 15%
1 Longer paper 30%
Final exam 15%

Readings: You are expected to go through readings with their accompanying reading guides
(when available) as assigned ahead of every class. Class participation will often require access to
completed reading guides.
Participation: You are required to attend each class (with 2 unexcused absences, excused ab-
sences are subject to Fordham policies). In class, you will be expected to participate in discus-
sions, this is crucial to acquiring philosophical skills. If you are in need of a special exception
from this duty, come speak to me.
In-class quizzes: These will summarize each topic as we finish it, as well as rehearse old topics.
They will comprise of relatively simple knowledge questions, and are meant to improve retention
and verify understanding at the basic level.
Turning in papers: All papers must be submitted via blackboard. An appropriate assignment
will be open for them. * * Warning * * plagiarism and use of LLMs or other automatic text gen-
erators for your papers is forbidden and seen as a severe ethics offense by Fordham University. I
include usage of Grammarly, because it tends to produce lower quality work, which resembles
the products of generative AI.
You will not necessarily be caught, but if you are, it could carry severe consequences, up to fail-
ing the class. If you find an assignment difficult, please discuss it with me instead of sabotaging
your own education.
Disability services: Under the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Vocational Rehabili-
tation Act of 1973, all students, with or without disabilities, are entitled to equal access to the programs
and activities of Fordham University. If you believe that you have a disabling condition that may inter-
fere with your ability to participate in the activities, coursework, or assessment of the object of this
course, you may be entitled to accommodations. Please schedule an appointment to speak with some-
one at the Office of Disability Services (Rose Hill - O’Hare Hall, Lower Level, x0655 or at Lincoln Center –
Room 207, x6282)

Class: Date Topic/Reading Assignments:

1 Introduction, Intro to Consequentialism

2 John Stuart Mill on Utilitarianism

3 John Stuart Mill on Utilitarianism

4 John Stuart Mill on Utilitarianism

5 John Stuart Mill on Utilitarianism

6 Killing, letting die, and the Trolley Problem

7 Kant

8 Kant

9 Kant
10 Kant

11 Kant

12 Kant

13 Black Radical Kantianism

14 Aristotle

15 Aristotle

16 Aristotle

17 Aristotle

18 Aristotle

19 Aristotle

20 Martha Nussbaum: Aristotelian Social Democracy

21 Anscombe: Modern Moral Philosophy

22 Gopal Srinivasan: A plea for moral deference

23 Nomy Arpaly: Praise, Blame and the Whole Self

24 Susan Wolf: Moral Saints

25 Korsgaard: two distinctions in goodness

Common questions

Powered by AI

The assessment structure of PHIL 3000, which includes participation, quizzes, and papers, plays a crucial role in achieving the course's educational goals by encouraging engagement with the material, testing understanding and retention, and developing analytical and writing skills. Participation and discussions help solidify philosophical skills, while quizzes reinforce knowledge, and papers allow deeper exploration of topics .

Consequentialism is introduced early in the PHIL 3000 course as part of the exploration of utilitarianism, primarily through the work of John Stuart Mill. It plays a crucial role in the study of ethics by focusing on the outcomes of actions to determine their morality, contrasting with other ethical theories that emphasize intentions or duties. This approach helps students evaluate ethical dilemmas by considering the implications and consequences of different actions .

Studying classical texts by Aristotle, Kant, and Mill is significant in understanding philosophical ethics as they offer foundational theories and principles that have shaped the field. Aristotle's virtue ethics emphasize character and virtue; Kant's deontology focuses on duty and intentions; Mill's utilitarianism considers the consequences of actions. Each contributes uniquely by providing diverse perspectives on what constitutes ethical behavior, thus enriching the discourse and helping students develop a comprehensive understanding of ethical principles .

Ethical considerations in assignment submission for PHIL 3000 include the prohibition of plagiarism, use of LLMs, and other AI-generated content to uphold academic integrity. The course addresses academic integrity by warning of severe consequences for violations, such as potentially failing the class, and encourages students to seek help from the instructor when encountering difficulties to avoid unethical practices .

PHIL 3000 encourages different viewpoints and discussions on ethical issues by mandating active participation in class, where students engage with varied perspectives on philosophical debates. Through this process, students develop critical thinking, argumentation, and dialogue skills, learning to present and defend their opinions while considering other perspectives. This enhances their ability to critique and synthesize diverse ideas .

The course PHIL 3000 at Fordham University explores ethics by examining major philosophical approaches which include actions with good consequences, principles for a right life, and the virtues of a good person. These approaches are studied through the examination of classical texts by Aristotle, Kant, and Mill, focusing on ethical principles and theories such as utilitarianism and deontology .

The course facilitates philosophical discussion and writing by requiring students to read and analyze philosophical texts and by engaging them in class discussions, which are crucial for developing the ability to articulate and defend philosophical positions. Participation is emphasized as it is key to practicing the articulation of ideas, engaging with different viewpoints, and honing critical thinking skills necessary for philosophical inquiry .

Incorporating discussions on meta-ethics in the PHIL 3000 course is important as it allows students to critically examine the nature, scope, and meaning of ethical properties, statements, and judgments. Meta-ethics enhances students' understanding by encouraging them to reflect on the foundations and implications of ethical theories, fostering a deeper comprehension of how ethical principles are defined, categorized, and applied in various contexts .

The main objectives of the PHIL 3000 course are to introduce students to major philosophical approaches to ethics, familiarize them with significant philosophical figures and texts, and develop their philosophical discussion and writing skills. The course achieves these goals through a structured approach that includes reading and analyzing classical texts, engaging in discussions to cultivate philosophical reasoning, and completing various assessments such as papers and exams to synthesize and evaluate ethical concepts .

The PHIL 3000 course integrates practical applications of ethics by examining texts that apply ethical principles to concrete situations, allowing students to see how theoretical concepts are employed in real-world scenarios. This approach is beneficial as it bridges the gap between abstract theories and practical decision-making, equipping students with the skills to apply ethical reasoning in personal and professional contexts .

You might also like