The
Community College of
Dr. Wayne
Alt
Office & Hours: L-222, M & W after class
Course Description: Ethics, the philosophical study of moral
values, is a branch of philosophy that attempts by rational methods to
distinguish right from wrong, good from bad, and virtue from vice. This course includes an analysis of the
nature of morality as well as an historical survey of classical moral
theories. Students will be challenged to
reflect on their own morals and to analyze how their beliefs about morality are
formed and whether or not they can be justified. (ENGL 052 or LVE 2), (ESOL 052 or LVE 2) and (RDNG 052 or
ESOL 054 or LVR 2) or (MATH 081 or LVM 1)
Course Texts:
1) The Elements of Moral Philosophy, 4th edition, James Rachels
2) blink,
Malcolm Gladwell
Basis of grade
evaluation:
1)
Best four out of five Quizzes: 14 points each. Dates: Q1-2/10, Q2-2/24,
Q3-3/10, Q4-3/31, Q5-5/1
2)
Course Essay: 18 points. Due-4/7.
3)
Final Exam: 2 0 points.
4)
Class Preparation and Participation: 6 points
v Exam and quiz questions
will consist of short essay, short paragraph, fill in, multiple-choice,
true-false, and matching questions.
v Make up Midterms
will be taken in the
v No make-up quizzes
will be given for any reason!
v Class participation and preparation points
will be determined at the end of the semester.
v
You can earn as
many as 5 extra points for Bulletin
Board Contributions to the course electronic bulletin board.
v
A new extra credit question will be
posted on the bulletin board at the beginning of each week.
v
Course Essay Topic: “Do the wealthy have an
obligation to help the poor? Should
Americans strive for a society (or a world) in which wealth is more equitably
distributed?”
How to access my home page:
1) Go to: http://www.ccbcmd.edu.
2) Click on CCBC
3) Click on Faculty
Pages.
4) Click on Wayne
Alt, and you will arrive at my homepage.
5) While you’re here, find out a little more about your
instructor.
How to
access your WebCT account:
1) Go to: http://www.ccbcmd.edu/
2) Open “On line/Distance Learner”
3) Open “Log into WebCT”
4) Enter your
5) Enter your Password. Initially your password is the last six
digits of your social security number.
WebCT:
WebCT is an on-line learning tool. It enables you to:
1) Read
and download Supplemental Readings
and my Lecture Notes,
2) E-mail
a classmate or me.
3) Check
your point progress in the Grade Book.
4) Access
and post messages on the course Bulletin Board.
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SCHEDULE OF READING ASSIGNMENTS, TOPICS & ACTIVITIES |
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Topic & Activity |
Reading Assignment & Preparation |
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1/30: Introduction |
Log on to WebCT. Open your private mail. Download the two attachments. Sign and hand in attachment # 2 by class on
2/6. |
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2/1: Morality verses Prudence |
Rachels: v-vii, ix-x, & 1-5. |
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2/3: Benefit verses Respect for
Tradition |
Rachels: 5-8 |
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2/6. Number verses Individual
Dignity |
Rachels: 8-11 |
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2/8: Disability and Discrimination
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Rachels:11-15 |
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2/10: Reason and Impartiality |
Prepare for Quiz 1 |
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2/13: Quiz 1 |
Rachels: 16-25 |
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2/15: Cultural verses Ethical
Relativism |
Rachels: 25-31 |
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2/17: Shared Values verses
Objectivity |
Rachels:32-39 |
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2/20: Subjectivism and Emotivism |
Rachels: 39-44 |
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2/22: Moral Facts and Moral
Arguments |
Rachels: 44-47 |
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2/24: The Moral Dimensions of
Homosexuality |
Prepare for Quiz 2 |
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2/27: Quiz 2 |
Rachels: 48-53 |
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3/1: Divine Command Theory |
Rachels: 53-57 |
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3/3: Natural Law Theory |
Go to WebCT
“Beyond Morality,” download & print out #
7 “Gods & Religious Morality” |
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3/6: Psychological origins of
religion |
“ |
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3/8: Do we have a moral duty to
obey God? |
Prepare for Quiz 3 |
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3/10: Quiz 3 |
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3/13: Video: “Utilitarianism” |
Rachels: 91-101 |
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3/15: Consequentialism,
Hedonism, and Utilitarianism |
Rachels: 102-116 Go
to WebCt “Lecture Notes,” download &
print out # 8 |
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3/17: Problems with
Utilitarianism. |
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3/20: Video: Kant’s Moral
Rationalism |
Rachels: 117-122 Go to WebCT
“Lecture Notes,” download & print out #
9 |
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3/22: The Categorical Imperative |
Rachels: 122-129 |
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3/24: Lies |
Go to WebCT
“Articles of Interest,” download & print out # 1 & 2. |
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3/27: The information virtue:
non-duplicity |
Rachels: 133-140 |
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3/29: Punishment |
Prepare for Quiz 4 |
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3/31: Quiz 4 |
Finish First Draft of Class Essay |
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4/3: First Draft of Class Essay
Due |
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4/5: Student Conferences |
Rewrite Essay |
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4/7: Final Draft Due |
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Spring Vacation |
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4/21 Welcome Back |
Go to WebCt
“Beyond Morality,” download & print # 11 “Desires & Emotions” |
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4/24: Desires and Emotions |
“ |
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4/26: Desires and Emotions |
Go to WebCt
“Beyond Morality,” download & print # 13 “The Ways of Harmony &
Control” |
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4/28: The Ways of Harmony &
Control |
Prepare for Quiz 5 |
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5/1: Quiz 5 |
Gladwell |
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5/3: blink |
Gladwell |
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5/5: blink |
Gladwell |
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5/8: blink |
Gladwell |
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5/10: blink |
Review for Final |
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5/12: Review |
Study for Final |
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5/19: Final Exam: 1:00-3:00 |
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