Time Schedule:
Michael L. Gillespie
BISSEB 359
Bothell Campus
Examination of major ethical alternatives (egoism, utilitarianism, hedonism, virtue ethics, relativism, emotivism) along with competing visions of the good society (libertarian, communitarian, feminist). Analyzes several contemporary problems, such as legal moralism, affirmative action, euthanasia, capital punishment, corporate responsibility.
Class description
The class explores how to recognize, analyze, interpret, evaluate and respond to current ethical issues facing society. Students are invited to become familiar with key philosophical approaches to ethics and to apply them to issues so as to discover strengths and weaknesses of the general approaches. The class also includes exploration of personal beliefs and assumptions relating to the issues dealt with, felt responses as well as cognitive analyses. In addition the class includes some consideration of citizen and community groups and how they attempt to actively engage public issues.
Student learning goals
Students will enhance abilities to summarize, interpret, and respond critically to written and other presentations of diverse viewpoints on ethical issues, including ability to carefully attend to to views with which one might disagree.
Students will improve abilities to recognize and critically to examine in writing commonly held assumptions (including one's own) about significant ethical issues facing society
Students will enhance abilities to recognize, explore, and articulate emotional and attitudinal dimensions of ethical issues and how these relate to cognitive and theoretical dimensions
Students will enhance their abilities to express their viewpoints on difficult or contested issues and to become better listeners to views of others.
Issues in social ethics are inherently interdisciplinary--students will grow in ability to recognize differing contributions of various disciplines to understanding and responding to such issues.
General method of instruction
In-class discussion (small and large group) of selected issues. Instructor presentations on background philosophical views and key concepts and theories. In-class discussion of written critical responses to readings and case studies.
Recommended preparation
There are no specific prerequisites, but some interest in and/or experience with social issues is a plus. Experience in, or readiness to learn about, critical reading and writing and willingness to engage in exploration of personal commitments and philosophical assumptions are helpful.
Class assignments and grading
Short papers responding to elected readings or other media, including both critical responses and personal reflections. Exams over main issues and interpretations of ethical view points. Perhaps shared investigation of a selected issue.
Written work assessed in terms of demonstration of ability to read carefully (or interpret media) for key ideas, summarize argumentation, and to respond critically, including developing one's own views in relation to the assigned material. Class participation assessed in terms of readiness to respond and quality (not quantity) of responses.
