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PHIL 300: Systematic Ethics
Spring Semester 2009
R.E. Walton, Prof.

SYLLABUS

Philosophy 300 introduces students of some philosophical sophistication and intellectual maturity to the main features of ethical theory. The course covers the classical ethical texts treated in Philosophy 200, but at a considerably higher level and with greater thoroughness and intensity.

TEXTS:

Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, trans. Martin Ostwald, LLA.

Frankena, William K., Ethics (2nd Edn.), Prentice-Hall, Inc. [rec.]

Kant, Immanuel, Foundations of the Metaphysics of Morals, LLA

Lewis, C.S., The Abolition of Man, Simon and Schuster.

Mill, J.S., Utilitarianism, LLA.

Murdoch, Iris, The Sovereignty of Good, Routledge.

Plato, trans. Gallop, David, Defence of Socrates, Euthyphro, Crito, Oxford.

Various texts on the course web page or library reserve.

REQUIREMENTS:

Regular reading assignments in the texts will be given. These should be thoroughly prepared before the class in which they will be covered. Supplementary readings may also be provided. Some of these will ordinarily be posted on the course web page ["Exhibits and Handouts"]; students will be expected to be familiar with others, or to acquire copies and become familiar with them quickly. Two films will be discussed. These should be watched with the same care that one takes in preparing the reading.

Philosophy 300 is a Writing course; consequently, students will write a series of papers, each of which will be graded both for content and writing. A guide to the reader's marks keyed to some versions of the Harbrace College Handbook will be provided. The first four papers will be relatively short (500-1000 words); the final paper will be much longer, and will be written in stages. There will probably be a final examination required of all students, administered on the date listed below.

READINGS:

TOPIC and TEXT

WEEK

1.
The Phenomenology of Moral Obligation

I-II

1.1 Sophocles, Antigone
I

1.2 High Noon [film]
I

1.3 Plato, Euthyphro
II

1.4 Plato, Crito
II

2. The Problem of Nihilism
III-IV

2.1 Plato, Republic I, "The conversation with Thrasymachos"
III

2.2 Judgment at Nuremberg [film]
III

2.3 C.S. Lewis, The Abolition of Man
IV

3. Introduction to Ethical Theory
V

3.1 Wm. Frankena, chs. 1 & 2 [rec.]
V

4. Classical Texts
VI-XII

4.1 J.S. Mill, Utilitarianism
VI-VII

4.2 Utilitarianism: Frankena, Ch. 3 [rec.]
VII

4.3 I. Kant, Foundations of the Metaphysics of Morals
VIII-IX

4.4 Virtue Theories: Frankena, Ch. 4 [rec.]
X

4.5 Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics
X-XII

5. Conclusion
XIII-XIV

5.1 Murdoch, "The Sovereignty of Good Over Other Concepts"

XIII

5.2 Moral Motivation: Frankena, Ch. 5 [rec.]
XIV

FINAL EXAM: Thur., May 14, 10:10-12:00

MID-TERM: Friday, March 13 [tentative]

	TOPIC and TEXT	WEEK
1.	The Phenomenology of Moral Obligation	I-II
1.1	Sophocles, Antigone	I
1.2	High Noon [film]	I
1.3	Plato, Euthyphro	II
1.4	Plato, Crito	II
2.	The Problem of Nihilism	III-IV
2.1	Plato, Republic I, "The conversation with Thrasymachos"	III
2.2	Judgment at Nuremberg [film]	III
2.3	C.S. Lewis, The Abolition of Man	IV
3.	Introduction to Ethical Theory	V
3.1	Wm. Frankena, chs. 1 & 2 [rec.]	V
4.	Classical Texts	VI-XII
4.1	J.S. Mill, Utilitarianism	VI-VII
4.2	Utilitarianism: Frankena, Ch. 3 [rec.]	VII
4.3	I. Kant, Foundations of the Metaphysics of Morals	VIII-IX
4.4	Virtue Theories: Frankena, Ch. 4 [rec.]	X
4.5	Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics	X-XII
5.	Conclusion	XIII-XIV
5.1	Murdoch, "The Sovereignty of Good Over Other Concepts"	XIII
5.2	Moral Motivation: Frankena, Ch. 5 [rec.]	XIV