School: Arts & Humanities
Location: San Rafael
Department: Humanities
Discipline: Philosophy
Course Number: PHIL 1108/3108 ETHICS
Title: Doing Ethics
Semester and Units: Fall, 3 units
Blackboard: Course requirements include online activities using http://duc.blackboard.com.
Instructor Name: Dr. Robert Traer
Contact Information: bob@rtraer.com, 510-527-2302 (eve), 24 hour response
Office: Angelico #106, hours posted online in Blackboard

I. Course Description and Approach

2004-2006 Catalog: "An introduction to ethical theory in Western philosophy followed by an investigation of a range of contemporary ethical problems drawn from private life, public policy, law, medicine, and business."

Ethical Approach: Our context for doing ethics is the pluralism of our world. We consider our duty, the character virtues we revere, our primary relationships, and human rights in order to construct ethical presumptions, before weighing the possible consequences of acting on these presumptions. Understanding religious support for human rights, as well as international human rights law, is essential for constructing ethical presumptions concerning public morality.

Teaching Methods: Students will be asked to raise questions about the assigned readings. The instructor will lead the class in discussing student questions and the study questions for the course. Students will discuss ethical questions in small groups both in class and online, as threaded discussions. Students will also discuss ethical issues individually with the instructor.

Blackboard: This course requires access and use of a computer, Adobe Acrobat Reader software (may be downloaded online for free), an email address, and basic skills in accessing information online, emailing, and participating in a threaded discussion.

II. Student Learning Outcomes and Assessment

• An ability to identify, demonstrate sensitivity to, and clarify her or his thoughts on contemporary ethical issues, both public and personal.
• A comprehension of at least two major ethical theories.
• An ability to evaluate critically ethical theories and arguments.
• An ability to construct ethical presumptions by considering our moral duty, character aspirations, how we might strengthen our relationships, and human rights.

These learning outcomes will be assessed by: two written essays on the assigned reading, two exams on study questions given to the students in advance on the assigned reading, and participation in two study groups (meeting in class and also working online). Essays and the midterm exam will be graded and returned within a week of the date received, unless an essay is turned in on the last day of class. The final exam will not be returned. Evaluation of a student’s participation in a study group will be communicated by email within a week from the date that the group completes its assignment.

III. Academic Honesty

"Dominican University of California is an academic community. All of our community members are expected to abide by ethical standards both in their conduct and in their exercise of responsibilities toward other members of the community. Students, faculty members, administrators, and staff are expected to adopt standards of behavior that place a high value on respecting the ideas of others. All intellectual accomplishments – examinations, papers, lectures, experiments, and other projects – should adhere to the highest standards of academic integrity and ethics."

"The faculty, administration, and staff recognize their obligation to provide continuing guidance as to what constitutes academic honesty and to promote procedures and circumstances that will reinforce the principle of academic honor. Fundamental to the principle of independent learning is the requirement of honesty and integrity in the performance of academic assignments, both in the classroom and outside. Students should avoid dishonesty in all of its forms, including plagiarism, cheating, and other forms of academic misconduct."

"The University reserves the right to determine in any given instance what action constitutes a violation of academic honesty and integrity."

IV. Role of Students as Individuals and as Members of Teams or Groups

• Study Questions: Students will receive all the study questions for the course before examinations, which will use some of these questions. Examinations will be closed book and will require short essay answers. The instructor will cover some of these questions in class, and students may ask the instructor to discuss in class any of the course study questions.

• Questions in Class: Students will be expected to raise a question on the assigned reading in three classes, and a sign up sheet allowing students to indicate the days they plan to raise questions will be available in each class session. The instructor will use the sign up sheet to invite students to raise their questions for class discussion. Students will receive 3 points for each interpretive question or clarifying question, and 2 points for each factual and evaluative question asked in class. (A description of these kinds of questions is provided in attachment A in the Blackboard version of this course.) A student who misses class on the day she or he has signed up to ask a question may sign up to raise a question another day in class.

• Study Groups: Students will discuss ethical questions in study groups, which will meet both in class and online in Blackboard. Students taking the course for upper division credit are expected to assume leadership roles in these study groups. (Expectations for participation in the study groups are explained in attachment B in the Blackboard version of this course.)
• Critical Essays: Each student is expected to write a critical essay on each of the two books assigned for the course. Each essay should quote no less than a sentence and no more than a paragraph from the assigned reading and then reflect critically on the assertion(s) made in the quote. The student need not agree or disagree with the statement, but must raise critical questions about the statement that reflect more than one reasoned ethical argument. Each essay should be between 500 –750 words in length, typed and double-spaced, and may be submitted either by email (in the text of the email) or on paper. This is not a research paper, but a critical reflection that should reveal the student’s awareness of different ethical arguments. Each essay is worth 12 points. Errors in spelling, punctuation and grammar will mean a lower grade. Suggested dates will be given for each essay, but there will be no penalty as long as each essay is submitted by the last day of class.

V. Diversity

Ethics taught at Dominican University should reflect the diversity of our contemporary culture and of the students and faculty of the University. This course will attempt to do so in three ways. First, we will read in Doing Ethics in a Diverse World of several different approaches to ethics, which will include ideas from Indian and Asian cultures as well as Western philosophy. Second, the instructor will encourage students to raise questions in class that concern diverse points of view. Third, in small group discussions the racial and ethnic diversity of the students will help to enrich the discussion.

VI. Assessment Potential Points

• Three class questions on reading, each may be worth 3 points 9 points
• Study group participation

- each session in class is worth 1 point 5 points

- online work may be worth 4 points for each group 8 points

• Essays on the two assigned books, each worth 12 points 24 points
• Mid-term and final exams, each worth 27 points 54 points

100 points

There are no points given for meeting individually with the instructor, when requested to do so, but any student who does not meet with the instructor as requested will lose 5 points.

Class questions: Full credit will be earned for each interpretative question or question seeking clarification, if raised orally in class and submitted that same day in written form to the instructor. 2 points will be earned for questions only raised orally in class, and not submitted in writing the same day, and for factual questions and evaluative questions. In every case points will be given only for three questions raised in class, however students are encouraged to raise questions in class in addition to the three questions that are required.

Study groups: Attendance forms will be distributed at the end of a study group session in class so those present can sign to verify their participation. Students who are present but leave a study group early will not receive credit for their participation. There will be at least 5 study group sessions in class during the course. Students are expected to participate in 2 study group "threaded discussions" online, and each student may earn up to 4 points for each discussion.

Critical essays: Papers with more than three "presentation" errors (spelling, punctuation, grammar, not double-spaced) will be marked down 1 point. Also, not considering more than one ethical argument will result in losing 1 point. Other reasons for losing points include:

• Making statements that are incorrect or contradictory.
• Relying on assumptions that are unwarranted or not helpful for the ethical argument.
• Asserting conclusions (of the student or an ethicist) as though these are ethical arguments.
• Giving examples that do not support the point the student is trying to make.
• Generalizing beyond what the evidence presented will support.
• Claiming to know more than is known or can be known.
• Using an analogy that is not apt or persuasive.
• Claiming a conclusion is logical or the result of deductive reasoning, when it is not.

Exam Questions: Reasons for losing points on an exam question include the list above as well as:

• Not clearly answering the question asked.
• Answering a question that has not been asked (as though it has been asked).

Each exam will give students a selection of study questions and some choice. For instance, if each section of the exam has two questions, students would be asked to answer one question per section. Each question will be worth between 2-4 points, as specified on the exam. Students are expected to make two statements in answering a questions worth 2 points, three statements in answering a question worth 3 points, and four statements in answering a question worth 4 points. A student who misses an exam may be able to make it up, but must contact the instructor within 24 hours of the exam, explain the reason for missing the exam, and be willing to cooperate with the instructor’s suggestion for making it up, either in writing or orally.

Grading: A = 90-100 points C = 70-79 points F = Less than 60 points

B = 80-89 points D = 60-69 points

To receive GE credit for this class, a student must receive a grade of C or better.

VII. Course Materials

• Robert Traer and Harlan Stelmach, Doing Ethics in a Diverse World [A draft manuscript dated January 2006 is available for purchase from the instructor and is on closed reserve in the DU library. The text is also online as pdf files in the Blackboard version of this course.]
• Economic Justice for All (Pastoral Letter on Catholic Social Teaching and the U. S.
  Economy), 10th anniversary edition (U. S. Catholic Conference, 1996, ISBN 1-57455-1

[This text is available online at http://www.osjspm.org/cst/eja.htm, and this link may be accessed in the Blackboard version of this course.]

• Materials at http://www.unhchr.ch/html/intlinst.htm and http://religionhumanrights.net/

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)

The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)

The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR)

• Other materials posted at http://religionhumanrights.net/Ethics/doing.ethics.htm and as htm and pdf files in the Blackboard version of this course.

VIII. Classroom Guidelines

• "If you are a registered student whose name has appeared on the class roster and you miss the initial class meeting and do not contact the instructor about your intent to attend by the second class meeting, the instructor may, in consultation with the department chairperson, permit another student to take your seat."
• Students who attend class regularly in general do better on the exams, as the study questions are discussed in class. But students are responsible for their own class attendance.

• Cell phones and pagers should be turned off before entering the classroom.
• Food should not be eaten during the class, but may be brought to class and eaten at the break.

• In this class those who differ with views expressed by someone else should do so with respect for the other person, and should be willing to give reasons for differing. In studying ethics it is not acceptable to say to someone else, "You are wrong." The proper response is, "I disagree with you (or with your position on some issue) for these reasons..."

IX. Disclaimer

This syllabus is subject to change. If changes occur, an amended syllabus will be provided.

X. Course Schedule [For dates and more details, see the online course in Blackboard.]

Topic Primary Reading

1 Doing Ethics DE 1

2 Moral Reasoning and the Rule of Law DE 2, 3

3 Duty DE 4

4 Character DE 5

5 Relationships DE 6

6 Human Rights DE 7

7 Possible Consequences and Making Decisions DE 8, 9

8 Midterm Exam on DE 1-9/Public Morality DE 10

9 Decisions in Health Care/First paper due DE 11

10 Economic Justice DE 12

11 Pastoral Letter EJ, through ch. 2

12 Pastoral Letter EJ, ch.s 3-5

13 Sexual Ethics DE 13

14 War on Terrorism DE 14

15 Ecology/Second paper due DE 15

DE = Doing Ethics in a Diverse World

EJ = Economic Justice for All

The final examination on DE 10-15 and EJ will be scheduled during exam week.