Contemporary Ethical Theory



Syllabus (Version 1)[1]

May 24, 2016

PHIL 340 Ethics (49414R)

THH 119

10:00 – 10:50 MWF

Professor John Dreher

Office: MHP 211

x05173

dreher@usc.edu

Hours: Mon Aug 25 – Fri Dec 2

Mon 11:30 – 12:00

Wed 11:30 – 12:00

Fri: 9:00 – 9:30

Appointments after Dec the 2nd by appointment only

Take-home Final Project

Due Mon Dec 12 at 10:00 a.m.

MATERIALS:

Aristotle, Irwin, trans., Nicomachean Ethics, second edition, Hackett, paper (NE)

Bentham and Mill, Troyer, ed., The Classical Utilitarians, Hackett, paper (CU)

Foot, Virtues and Vices and Other Essays in Moral Philosophy, Oxford, paper (V&V)

Hume, Geoffrey Sayre McCord, ed., Indianapolis, Hackett, paper (H)

Kant, Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals, Ellington, trans., Hackett, paper (GMM)

Nietzsche, On the Genealogy of Morals, Clark and Swenson, trans., Hackett, paper (GM)

Williams, Moral Luck, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, paper (ML)

Williams, Truth and Truthfulness, Princeton University Press, paper (T&T)

DESCRIPTION: This course is an introduction to ethics, approached from the perspective of Anglophone analytic philosophy. The course seeks to introduce the main current in Western ethical thought, via the works of Aristotle, Spinoza, Hume, Kant, Mill and Nietzsche, which are classical works pertaining to the distinctions between good and evil, right and wrong, virtue and vice. These three philosophers offer significantly different approaches to ethics, but they all concern themselves with the main distinctions of ethics. Aristotle locates the ethical in the rational nature of human beings, arguing that the moral goodness is the end of the rational activity of the soul in accordance with moral virtue. Spinoza, an egoist, argues that what is good is that which we know to be certainly useful to us, by which he means those things that promote our health and secure integration within a benign society. Hume, argues that good is actually subjective, a feeling of approbation that is aroused when we view matters soberly, as a conscientious and competent judge, Kant disagrees with Aristotle, Spinoza and Hume, insisting that a good will, in fact the only thing good “in itself,” chooses the right because it is right, where what is right conforms to ‘imperatives’ that are validated by a priori rational principles. Mill, who was influence by Hume and Bentham, departs from both Aristotle, Spinoza, Hume and Kant, insisting that the overarching moral principle is to maximize goodness across the moral population, where goodness is broadly defined to be pleasure, which is conceived principally as the reduction and elimination of pain.

By the end of the nineteenth century considerable doubt had arisen about the traditional ways of drawing the main distinctions of ethics. Indeed, Nietzsche’s philosophy profoundly undermined confidence in the possibility of discovering any moral truths. Nietzsche argued that value is essentially a human creation, those leading successful vibrant lives create their own values. The course examines these philosophies not only from a classical perspective but through the works of twentieth century champions of one view or another.

PHIL 340 is meant to be preparation for more advanced courses in ethics, including PHIL 440, Contemporary Ethical Theory, and PHIL 442, History of Ethics to 1900 and PHIL 443, Value theory.

Requirements: There will be a midterm examination, which will test for knowledge of the reading assignments as well as expository and supplementary information delivered during class. The midterm examinations will emphasize the assigned philosophical texts. There will also be a take home final project. The first part of the final examination will take up material presented after the mid-term. The second part of the final examination will be a comprehensive question dealing with the main theme of the course. The comprehensive question will be discussed towards the end of the semester. Class attendance is very strongly recommended. If you must miss a class, please make arrangements to share notes with a classmate.

Lecture Notes: Lecture notes for each week will be distributed by e-mail and posted on Blackboard, ideally before the beginning of the week. The lecture notes are meant to summarize the essentials of each lecture in a relatively non-technical, easily accessible form. Some material delivered in class will not be covered on the lecture notes. Lecture notes are not a substitute for class attendance.

Papers: There will be two short papers, approximately five to ten pages (1500 – 3000 words). All papers should be submitted as hard copies in lecture on the due date and submitted electronically via Blackboard before lecture on the due date.

Paper Topic #1: Explain the distinction between teleological and deontological ethical theories, illustrating the distinction by reference to Aristotle and to Kant. Identify the principal challenges faced by each of the theories. How do Aristotle and Kant attempt to deal with the challenges of their respective theories? Is either successful?

Paper Topic #2: Contrast the ethical theories of Mill with those of Aristotle and Kant. In which respects is Mill sympathetic to Aristotle? Can Mill’s happiness principle account for Aristotle’s eudemonia? How does Mill characterize Kantian ethical theory? Is Mill’s criticism fair? Some Kantians argue that Mill’s theory fails to account for moral worth? How might Mill and other utilitarians respond to the Kantian criticism?

Grading: Grades will be weighted as follows:

Midterm Exam #1 – 25%

Paper #1– 25%

Paper #2 – 25%

Final Project: -- 25%: (Part I – 12.5%; Part II: 12.5%)

Grading scale:

94: A

90: A –

87: B +

84: B

80: B –

77: C+

And so forth.

What Do Grades Mean?

In general, a grade of ’85,’ which is a ‘B’ on the grading scale above, indicates a solid knowledge of the material covered on the class notes and familiarity with the most important passages drawn from primary texts. Higher grades of ‘B+,’ ‘A-,’ and ‘A’ indicate knowledge that goes beyond the basics. In order of importance, those indicators are:

1. Demonstrated capacity to analyze the logical structures of arguments, viz., to

Identify their premises and conclusions and to determine their strengths and

weaknesses;

2. Demonstrated knowledge of primary texts by apt and accurate reference to

them;

3. Clearly articulated paper theses that is plausibly defended and frankly

acknowledges its possible shortcomings

3. Apt comparisons of primary texts from different philosophical traditions;

Format: This class is taught in lecture format, but welcomes contributions from members of the class.

Late Submissions and Missing Work:

Work submitted within 48 hours after the due date and time will be penalized by 1/3 letter grade. Work submitted more than 48 hours but less than one week after the due date will be penalized by 2/3 of a letter grade. Work submitted later than one week after the due date but before the final project due date will be penalized by one full letter grade. Work will not be accepted without an excuse after the final examination.

Unexcused missing work after the final examination will be penalized as follows: For any examination or required paper, the final course grade will be lowered by one full grade. For example, suppose that only three of the equally weighted, four required pieces of work were submitted on time and received grades of 85, 82 and 93. The average of the three would be: 86.66, which is a ‘B.’ Because of the missing assignment, the course grade would be reduced by one full letter grades to ‘C.’ Suppose that two of the assignments were missing and the average of the other two were 83, which is a B -. The course grade would then be reduced to D -.

Policies Concerning Integrity and Timeliness: Please remember that the University strictly prohibits plagiarism, which can be the mere failure to acknowledge the work of another as well as the deliberate misrepresentation of the work of another as your own. You must acknowledge your indebtedness not only to the ideas of others but also to their words.

In general, excuses for late papers or missed examinations will be accepted only in extraordinary circumstances, including illness or genuine family emergency. Please remember that it is impossible accommodate a special request by a single individual unless the same opportunity is extended to everyone in the class. This makes it virtually impossible to accommodate extensions of due dates for reasons other than those indicated above.

SCHEDULE OF READINGS, ASSIGNMENTS AND EXAMINATIONS:

1. Week #1 Mon Aug 22 – Fri 26: Introduction: What are the traditional problems

of ethics and the main strategies for dealing with those problems in Western

philosophy? How does twentieth century moral philosophy differ from preceding

moral philosophies?

Aristotle’s conception of virtue and the rational activity of the soul; virtue and

its relation to the aim or end of human activity; the connection between virtue and

happiness in Aristotle’s philosophy. Acquisition of virtue; the definition of virtue.

Readings: Aristotle, NE., Books I and II.

2. Mon Aug 29 –Fri Sep 2 - : Virtue and Choice in Aristotle’s philosophy; individual

virtues of character, especially courage and temperance; Aristotle on Vice:

Intemperance; incontinence, bestiality; Aristotle on Pleasure and on Happiness

Readings: Aristotle, ME, Books III, VII and X §1 - §9

3.. Mon Sep 5:-- Fri Sep 9 Mon Sept 5, Labor Day, University Holiday

Philippa’s Foot’s definitions of virtue, vice and the will. How does virtue pay?

Readings: Foot, V&V, Essay 1

Review of Aristotle and virtue ethics

4. Mon Sep 12 – Fri 16: Hume’s conception of moral properties; the distinction

between natural and artificial virtues; justice; the principles of morals

Readings: Hume, Treatise, BK III, §1-2; An Enquiry Concerning the Principles

Of Morals, pp. 185 - 310

5. Mon Sep 19 – Fri Sep 23: Kant on moral worth; virtue; duty and inclination; the

distinction between hypothetical and categorical imperatives.

Wed Sep 21 MIDTERM EXAMINATION

Readings: Kant GMM, Preface, Section I and Section II, pp. 19 – 32.

6. Mon Sep 26 – Fri Sep 30: Heteronomy and autonomy; the kingdom of ends;

freedom and autonomy of the will, the foundation of pure practical reason.

Readings: Kant GMM Section II – III, pp. 33 - 62

7. Mon Oct 3 – Fr Oct 7: Is there moral luck? If so, to what extent does it undermine

the Kantian system of morality? Can morality be conceived as a system of

hypothetical imperatives?

Readings: Williams, ML, Essay 2, pp. 20 – 49; Moral Luck? Foot, V&V, Essay

XI, pp. 157 – 73; Morality as a System Hypothetical Imperatives

8. Mon, Oct 10 – Fri Oct 14 What is Utilitarianism? The

ultimate source of morality; Justice and utility; personal ethics and social ethics,

utilitarianism and heroic ethics;

Mon Oct 10 Paper #1 Due

Readings: Mill CU Utilitarianism, On Liberty

9. Mon, Oct 17 – Fri 21. Prescriptivity and Moral Reasoning: How can the

language of morals can be related to the demandingness of morality? Can

psychology plus logic reveal other-regarding action guiding principles that

are commended by reason to all? Moral Conflict and the possibility of

resolution, error Theories; Preference utilitarianism; now-for-then preferences;

then-for-then preferences; taking on the sorrow of another

Partiality and equality; the man who had one thought too many, impartial

morality

Readings, Williams ML Essay #1, pp. 1 - 19

Suggested Readings: Hare, Moral Thinking, Ch 1-6 (You may rely entirely on

handouts for the suggested material.)

10. Mon Oct 24 – Fri Oct 28: Bearing the consequences and the unravelling of the self,

Egoism and Spinoza; Spinoza;’s ontology substance attributes, infinite modes; the

nature of a human being, the human mind.; Spinoza’s egoist psychology; the

conatus, conceptions of joy and sorrow; the role of adequate ideas in Spinoza’s

psychology; their relation to truth

Wed Oct 26 Paper #2 Due

Readings: Williams, Essay 3, pp. 40 – 53.

Suggested Readings: Spinoza, Ethics Pts I – III (You may rely entirely on

handouts for the suggested material.)

11. Mon Oct 31 – Nov 4: Spinoza, Spinoza’s egoist morality theory; its relation

to conventional morality, Spinoza’s conception of happiness, viewing life sub specie

aeternitatis; Nietzsche on the origin of morality. The role of nobility in moral

thinking

Readings: Nietzsche, GM, First Treatise, pp, 1 - 34

Suggested Readings: Spinoza, Ethics Pats IV and V (You may rely entirely on

handouts for the suggested material.)

12. Mon Nov 7 -- Fri Nov 11: Bad Faith and bad conscience, authenticity, the will to

power, the ascetic ideal; is the revaluation of values a morality?

Readings: Nietzsche GM, Second and Third Treatise

Foot, V&V, Essay VI, pp. 81 – 95; Revaluation of values

13. Mon Nov 14 – Nov 18: Truth as a culturally invariant moral value:

Accuracy and sincerity, the biological and intellectual survival value of virtue

Readings: Williams, T&T, pp. 1 – 83

14. Mon Nov 21 – Fri Nov 25 No Class: Wed Nov 23 or Fri Nov 25 Thanksgiving,

University Holidays; Sincerity and Authenticity; Can Truthfulness ground morality?

personal and social ethics

Readings: Williams, T&T, pp. 83 - 205

15. Mon, Nov 28 – Dec 2 Fri Dec 2 8:00 – 8:20 a.m. course evaluation

Truthfulness and the Objectivity of Critique; Social Darwinism in the contemporary

U.S. and the future of the cultures of the Americas; preparation for final project

Readings: Williams T & T, pp 206 – 278.

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[1] This version of the syllabus is subject to change before the beginning of classes. Also, the schedule of lectures, although firm, may be varied somewhat to accommodate interests as they arise.

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