Phil44209



HISTORY OF ETHICS TO 1900

USC SCHOOL OF PHILOSOPHY

Philosophy 442

Spring 2011

Meeting 2:00 to 3:15 MW, MHP 105

Instructor: Dallas Willard

Office: 205D MHP

Telephone 213-740-5181 (Home: 818-716-0652)

email: dwillard@usc.edu

Office hours: 12:00-1:30 Mon, 5:30-7PM Mond & Wed, and by appointment

A. This is a course in the History of Philosophical Ethics, or "Ethical Theory." It has as its main aim thoroughly to familiarize the student with most of the main arguments and analyses concerning ethical distinctions and issues advanced by Western moral philosophers up to 1900. This should enable one to understand what traditional ethical theorizing was like and to appreciate the radical shift in thinking about morality and the moral life that occurs around 1900, with such thinkers as Nietzsche and G. E. Moore.

Because of the vast area to be covered, there will be a large amount of assigned reading, most of it in primary sources. But the passages to be concentrated upon are more manageable in the time we have available. These passages are the ones that will be dealt with in the meetings of the class. At the meetings there will often be stated or distributed study questions and/or outlines bearing upon the reading to be done for the next class meeting. Responses to these should be carefully prepared for that next meeting--in written notes so far as possible.

The student might best think of this course as a "Great Books" or "Great Authors" study, where the primary task is to understand the ethical views of Plato, Aristotle, Augustine, Aquinas, Hobbes, Butler, Hume, Immanuel Kant, John Stuart Mill, T. H. Green, Henry Sidgwick and F. H. Bradley, along with a number of lesser figures.

From the lecturer's point of view, the material of the course is viewed as a dialectical stream proceeding from Pre-Socratic Greece to the England of 1900, in which the recurring antitheses are: "The Good" as something specifically human (Protagoras, Aristotle, Hobbes, Hume, Mill) and "The Good" as something transcendental to human nature (Plato, Clark, Price, Kant, Green, Bradley, and--in the early 20th Century--G. E. Moore).

Our time in class will be devoted to the explication of concepts, outlining and critiquing of arguments, and outlining texts and emphasizing certain passages. So you must bring your texts with assigned readings for the day to class with you each meeting.

B. The formal requirements of the course are:--one “take-home” mid-term, and a take-home final. Several one-page "thought papers" or "precis" will be assiged. Any graduate students must, in addition, prepare a 15 page critical essay--not a research paper--on a central topic in either, Aristotle, Kant or Hume. This essay is due at 4PM on Wednesday, May 111, MHP 113, but must be discussed with the instructor by April 15, and a preliminary draft/outline submitted by April 29. The final exam presupposes a detailed knowledge of texts from Aristotle, Aquinas and Kant that were discussed in class, as well as the texts studied after we finish with Kant. One half of the final will be on those three authors. Class attendance, preparedness for recitation, and regular participation in the class discussions are expected from all members of the class.

A precis will be required approximately every two weeks. A "precis" will answer four questions with respect to the passage assigned: 1. What is the problem the author is trying to solve. 2. What is the solution or answer arrived at? 3. What are the reasons given for the solution? 4. Is the solution or answer reached based on true assumptions or premisses, and is the reasoning from those premisses valid?

A "precis" will, for this course, be no more than two pages long, and will not try to "get" everything the passage says or covers. A precis is not to be a summary. Rather, it will attempt to state and evaluate the essential line of reasoning in the passage, as is indicated by the four questions above.)

C. TEXTS:

1. Plato, The Republic, Raymond Larson translation

2. Aristotle, The Nicomachean Ethics, Ross translation. (Oxford World’s Classics)

2. Sidgwick, Henry, Outlines of the History of Ethics

3. D. D. Raphael, British Moralists, two volumes (Hackett)

5. I. Kant, Ethical Philosophy, James Ellington translation (Hackett edition)

6. J. S. Mill, Utilitarianism.

4. Julie Reuben, The Making of the Modern University

5.Alasdair MacIntyre, After Virtue, 3nd edition

& a number of photocopy handouts.

On reserve in Hoose Library of Philosophy for your inspection and use:

Frankena, Ethics, Selby-Bigge, L. A., ed., British Moralist, two volumes (See especially the "Introduction" in vol. I); J. B. Schneewind, Moral Philosophy from Montaigne to Kant: An Anthology; A. MacIntyre, A Short History of Ethics (2 copies), C. S. Lewis, The Abolition of Man; Asoka, The Edicts of Asoka; Kevin Robb, Literacy and Paideia in Ancient Greece, A. I. Melden, Ethical Theories, 2nd ed.

Of the required texts, the Sidgwick Outlines should be read as soon and with as much continuity as is possible. Try to get the overall movement of ethical theorizing by a quick and complete reading. (For those without prior studies in ethical theory, this should also be done along with the Frankena Ethics.) Try to do this reading the first week of the semester or so, and then re-read the corresponding parts of Outlines along with the other texts, on the schedule given below.

D. Schedule of Lecture Topics, Assigned Readings and Examinations:

Lecture I--Jan 10: Discussion of the subject matter of the course. The nature of philosophical work in relation to historical studies. Pre-philosophical ethics (see pages 95-121 of C. S. Lewis, Abolition of Man, along with Asoka, The Edicts of Asoka ). The move to philosophy (Melden, Ethical Theories, 2nd ed., pp. 1-19, and MacIntyre, A Short History of Ethics (both on reserve) pp. 1-25).

What in life calls for ethical thought? What is Ethical Theory, and how related to History of

ethics? The main questions that arise our of life for ethical thinking and theorizing.

Lecture II—Jan 12: The heart of Plato’s theory in The Republic. BRING PLATO AND THE REUBEN BOOK TO CLASS TODAY.

Readings: The Republic, especially pp. 1-86 (Stephanus numbers 327-417). Use the attached “outline of the entire text” to focus your reading. Pay special attention to pp. 23-30, 40-48, 95-112.

(Suggested additional reading: ASHOE, pp. 26-56, and Kevin Robb, Literacy and Paideia in Ancient Greece, chapters 7-8. )

Precis due Jan19: Plato, The Republic of Plato, pp. 22-30.

University Holiday Jan 17

Lecture III—Jan 19: Some difficulties with Plato's view. Aristotle's two main parameters: What life aims at (telos, "The Good") and the function (ergon) of the human being. Can they ever be brought together in a coherent whole of life and thought? Aristotle cannot manage that.

Readings: Finish Plato especially pp. 168-201; and then read pp. 3-37 & 60-90 of Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, special attention to 11-12, 19-22, 28-38. Sidgwick, Outlines, pp. 22-70.

Lecture IV--Jan 24: Aristotle's theory of Virtue. And a comparison with the A. MacIntyre's social constructionist theory.

Readings: Aristotle, pp. 118-182, and MacIntyre, After Virtue, chapters 10, 11 & 12

(Suggested further reading: ASHOE pp. 57-83 )

Lecture V--Jan 26: The flight to 'happiness'. Aristotle's ultimate confusion: failure to unify end and function. The "failure of nerve" of Greek civilization. Stoics and Epicureans: Adjusting the soul as the way to "the good life."

Readings: Aristotle, pp.183-203. Handouts on Epicurus, Epictetus. Sidgwick, Outlines, pp. 70-108

(Suggested further reading: ASHOE pp. 84-109. For deeper study use Martha Nussbaum, The Therapy of Desire: Theory and Practice in Hellenistic Ethics.)

Precis due Feb. 2 on Aristotle on virtue pp. 28c-31.

Lecture VI—Jan 31: Augustine: Life in harmony with God as the good. 'Happiness' (the 'good', 'the good life') not attainable in this world. Taking evil seriously. Sin. The Christian alternative for life, and the continuing problem with virtue: how is it related to 'happiness'? The seven virtues and the seven "deadly sins" as a long standing frame work of moral understanding and guidance.

Readings: Handouts from Augustine, Aquinas, pp. 164-190, and Augustine, from The Morals of the Catholic Church; MacIntyre, After Virtue, pp. 165-180. (Suggested further reading: Werner Jaeger, Early Christianity and Greek Paideia)

Lecture VII--Feb 2: The "two cities" and the problems of an "institutionalized" moral life or ethical theory. 'Law', and 'natural' law, as the way beyond institutionalized Christianity.

Readings: Handouts from Aquinas. Sidgwick,Outlines, pp. 109-163 (Suggested further reading: Raphael, British Moralist, Vol. I, pp. 79-102; ASHOE, pp. 110-156

Lecture VIII--Feb 7: Virtue in contrast to law and moral obligation. Moral obligation as a 'natural' reality.

Readings: MacIntyre, After Virtue, pp. 181-225.

(Suggested further reading: Selby-Bigge, British Moralists, "Introduction," pp. xxxi- xcii of Vol. I, and ASHOE, pp. 157-189. Both on reserve.)

LECTURE IX--Feb 9: Hobbes' interpretation of “human nature,” the basic moral distinctions and 'natural' law. "Naturalism" in ethical theory, and how it necessitates "Nothingbutism" (Reductionism). Hobbes’ “Nothing Buts” Raphael, Vol. I, pp. 6-15a, 29-32b.

Readings: A Hobbes handout, and Raphael, Vol. I, pp. 3-76.

TAKE HOME EXAM HANDED OUT

(Due at class on February 23)

LECTURE X--Feb 14: Continuation on Hobbes. And then Cumberland.

Readings: Raphael, Vol. I, pp. 79-102.

LECTURE XI--Feb 16: Catch up and review.

Readings: no additional readings assigned

Precis due February 28: Cudworth against Hobbes, pp. 105—112a of Raphael, British Moralist, Vol. I.

February 21 is a University Holiday

LECTURE XII--Feb 23: The "Platonist" (Anti-"Naturalist") reaction to Hobbes--Cudworth and S. Clarke.

Readings: Raphael, Vol. I, pp. 105-134 & 191-225. Sidgwick, Outlines, pp. 163-184.

(Suggested further readings: F. J. Powicke, The Cambridge Platonists: A Study, Archon Books, 1971, 1st ed. 1926; and A. N. Prior, Logic and the Basis of Ethics. These are not on reserve.)

LECTURE XIII—Feb 28: The ambiguous case of John Locke, who tries to combine Empiricism (Naturalism) with Non-Empirical Law.

Readings: Raphael, Vol. I, 137-166.

LECTURE XIV--March 2: Continuation on Locke and the Platonists.

Readings: Finish and review the readings already assigned.

LECTURE XV--March 7: The "Sentimentalist," Empiricist response to Hobbes and the Platonists. Shaftesbury and Hutcheson. The "phenomenology" of moral experience.

Readings: Raphael, Vol. I, pp. 169-188 & 261-321.

LECTURE XVI--March 9: "Sentimentalism" continued. The ambiguous case of Joseph Butler. How hard it is to be an Empiricists in Moral Theory.

Readings: Finish those assigned for last lecture, and begin

the Butler readings in Raphael (325-386) and read Sidgwick, Outlines, pp. 184-224.

SPRING BREAK, MARCH 14-18

LECTURE XVII--Mar 21: "Sentimentalism" continued. Butler and Hume.

Readings: Finish the Butler readings assigned, and begin the readings in Hume, first from Raphael Vol. II, pp. 3-58 (from Hume’s Treatise) and then from Hume’s Enquiry, 59-111.

LECTURE XVIII--Mar 23: Hume's theory. The significance of Hume and the cultural triumph of Empiricism (Naturalism).

Readings: Continue with the Hume readings assigned. Special attention to Raphael Vol. II, pp. 18-19

Précis due March 30, Raphael II, pp. 8-13a. Compare 269-270, but do not put in précis.

LECTURE XIX--March 28: Hume, and Intuitionism in reaction to him. Richard Price, Adam Smith. Intuitions and Sentiments ("Passions') as sources of moral knowledge—what is the difference and how are they related? What does the "impartial spectator" (Smith) see?

Readings: Raphael, British Moralist, Vol. II, pp. 131-198.

(Suggested further reading: W. D. Hudson, Reason and Right)

LECTURE XX—Mar 30: Thomas Reid's Intuitionist response to Hume.

Readings: Raphael, Vol. II, pp. 265-310.

Sidgwick, Outlines, pp. 224-236.

LECTURE XXI—April 4: A glance at Hedonistic Utilitarianism (Bentham and Mill) as Classical Empiricism's last gasp in ethical theory. Really, an effort to find a basis of political reform. The subjugation of ethics to politics or, more broadly, social issues. Positivism, Marxism and revolution. The Kantian form of “Intuitionism.”

Readings: A brief selection from Bentham (handout). Mill, Utilitarianism. Sidgwick, Outlines, pp. 236-270.

LECTURE XXII--April 6: Kant's theory of the moral life.

Readings: Kant, Ethical Philosophy, pp. 1-48; Sidgwick, Outlines, pp. 270-283.

LECTURE XXIII--April 11: Kant's theory (continued). By contrast, an ethics derived from your particular place in life. (Bradley)

Readings: Finish the Kant selection, pp. 49-62; & 20-73 of “The Metaphysical Principles of Virtue.”. (Suggested reading, Sidgwick’s Outlines, 277-297; After Virtue Chap. 5)

Precis due April 13, Kant, Ethical Theory, 7-1st 3 lines on 14

LECTURE XXIV--April 13: Nietzsche's Theory of the Moral life "Beyond Good and Evil." He is not really a Nihilist but a “Self-Realizationist” in ethical theory.

Readings: Nietzsche handouts. MacIntyre, After Virtue, Chap. 9.

LECTURE XXV--April 18: Overview of Green, Bradley and Sidgwick, all non-Naturalists. The gathering storm. The death of ethical theory by a change of subject matter

Readings: Bradley, “My Station and Its Duties,” Handout . Comments on Emmanuel Levinas.

LECTURE XXVI--April 20: The “Science of Ethics” movement. G. E. Moore's basic theory. Why Moore really matters for ethical theory.

Readings: Moore, a few pages of handout. Reubens, The Making of the Modern University, chapters 2 and 3.

TAKE HOME EXAM HANDED OUT

(Due Wednesday May 11, 4PM, MHP 113)

LECTURE XXVII--April 25: Moore’s Implicit Nihilism. Good, for him, has no intelligible connection with reality. Why “metaphysical ethics” involves Naturalism, according to Moore, and the practical significance of Moore’s theory. Moral agnosticism. Effects on education.

Readings: Some handouts, Reubens, pp. 208-269, and After Virtue, pp. ix-35 & 256-278.

LECTURE XXVIII—April 27: Review and summary of what is to be learned from the long History of Ethics. “The Disappearance of Moral Knowledge.”

No Readings.

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