Phil 140
Contemporary Moral Issues
Prof. Ruth E. Kastner
Syllabus
Email: rkastner@umd.edu
AIM screen name: ruthkastner
By far the best way to reach me is by email.
Textbooks:
A. Weston, A Rulebook for Arguments, 4th ed., ISBN: 0872209547
Grading information:
Daily journal 25%
Midterm exam 25%
Term paper 20%
Group project 5%
Final exam 25%
Late Policy: Late assignments are not accepted unless prior arrangements have been made based on documented extenuating circumstances (e.g., death in the family, serious illness.)
General Policies:
(1) The University announces closings and delays at the campus website
(http://www.umd.edu) and snow phone line (301-405-SNOW).
(2) In the unlikely event that an exam or class session is canceled due to unforeseen circumstances, you will be notified as soon as possible by email. Therefore, please send me an email, preferably with an emergency phone number as well, as soon as possible.
Assignment Descriptions
Daily journal:
This is a compilation of journal homework
assignments and in-class follow-up journal entries. Prior to coming to
each
class, you will read assigned selection(s) and write a brief
preliminary
response (1-2 short paragraphs) to an assigned question, based on what
you have
read. You will make one copy to be turned in at the beginning of each
class,
and keep one copy for your reference to use during the discussion. At
the end
of each class there will be some time allowed for a follow-up journal
entry on
the same question. In this in-class writing opportunity, you will
reflect again
on the reading and indicate how your initial views may have changed or
been
reinforced in light of our in-class discussion. These are handed in at
the end
of the class and, together with the homework for that day, are graded
Pass/Fail, where Pass (P) is equivalent
to at least a C-level effort. Each P is worth 1 percentage point. You cannot earn a P on the in-class journal
followup entry without having handed in the homework for that day.
Essay for September 10: I will be out of town at a conference on this date, but please attend class to view the first half of the movie “The Island,” which addresses some of the ethical issues surrounding cloning. Based on what you saw, you will write a short (500-word) reflective essay, due at the next class session. You are of course welcome to stay and watch the entire film (total run time 2 hours, 16 min.) if you wish, or to watch the remainder on your own, which is recommended. Specific guidelines for the essay are found below. Worth 5 points.
Term paper: Choose
one of the assigned text selections and provide your critical
assessment of the
author’s views together with your own views, supported by
suitable outside
research. Minimum of 2 scholarly
outside references (not Wikipedia or blog). Minimum length: 1000 words.
The paper should be primarily in your own words (no more than 10% quoted material). All source material must be properly quoted and cited to avoid plagiarism. This means it must have quotation marks around it, be preceded by an introduction in the body of the text, be followed by an in-text citation, and have a complete reference at the end. Please make sure to educate yourself concerning plagiarism; it is not tolerated in this course. Plagiarism on any assignment will result in a zero on that assignment; a second incidence will be reported as academic dishonesty. Papers will be submitted electronically through turnitin.com, a plagiarism prevention site.
Schedule and reading assignments:
Abbreviations: WE = Winston & Edelbach, Society, Ethics and Technology;
AW = A. Weston, A Rulebook for Arguments
Date |
Reading Assignment (due for that
date) |
Other assignments |
September: |
|
|
1 |
(First day of class) |
|
3 |
AW, Introduction and Chapter 1 |
|
8 |
WE Introduction 1-25, AW Chapter 2 |
|
10 |
AW Chapters 3 and 4 |
“The |
15 |
AW Chapter 5, WE Essay 1.1.2 (38-54) |
|
17 |
AW Chapter 6, WE Essay 1.1.4 (66-74 |
|
22 |
AW Chapter 7, WE Essay 1.2.1 (75-82) |
|
24 |
AW Chapter 8, WE Essay 1.2.2 (83-89) |
|
29 |
AW Chapter 9, WE Essay 1.2.3 (90-101) |
|
October: |
|
|
1 |
AW Appendix 1, WE Essay 1.2.4 (102-112) |
|
6 |
AW Appendix 2, WE Essay 1.3.1 (113-120) |
|
8 |
WE Essay 1.3.2 (121-132) |
|
13 |
WE Essay 2.1.2 (161-173) |
|
15 |
WE Essay 2.1.3 (174-181) |
|
20 |
Midterm Exam |
Midterm Exam |
22 |
WE Essay 2.1.4 (182-195) |
|
27 |
Daniel Quinn essay 1: “Wealth” |
|
29 |
WE Essay 2.2.3 (222-235) |
|
November |
|
|
3 |
WE Essay 2.3.1 (249-262) |
|
5 |
WE Essay 2.3.2 (263-283) |
|
10 |
WE Essay 2.3.3 (285-301) |
|
12 |
WE Essay 2.3.4 (301-310) |
|
17 |
Daniel Quinn Essay 2: “Technology and the other war” |
|
19 |
WE Essays 2.4.1 and 2.4.2 (310-329) |
|
24 |
WE Essay 2.4.4 (340-352) |
|
26 |
Thanksgiving |
|
December |
|
|
1 |
WE Essay 2.5.1 (352-362) |
|
3 |
Daniel Quinn Reserved |
Term Paper due |
8 |
WE Essay 2.5.2 |
|
10 |
Review |
|
14-19 |
Final Exam Week |
|
D. Quinn Essay links:
http://www.ishmael.org/Education/Writings/wealth.shtml
http://www.ishmael.org/Education/Writings/technology_and_other_war.shtml
Essay: “The
2. In what way is deception used in the story? Is deception necessarily immoral or is it the specific context of the story that makes it seem immoral?
3. Are the motives of the doctors/businessmen
(e.g., Dr.
Merrick) necessarily immoral?
4. Are the motives of the “clients” (e.g., Tom Lincoln) necessarily immoral?
5. Do you see a “slippery slope” argument presented anywhere in the story? Explain