Class hours: W 2:10-4:50
  Office hours: Tu 2-5pm, W 5-7 pm, Th 8-9 pm
  Office: Ward 252
  Phone: 885-2955 (if I am not in, you may leave a message)
  e-mail: dgolash@american.edu

Course Description:

This course focuses on the philosophical grounding of various positions on moral issues in the public forum. After studying two principal approaches to moral questions, we will apply them to specific current issues.  The course will also examine the limits of law in enforcing moral standards and the tensions between liberty and control. You will be encouraged to develop and argue for your own position on these issues.

Materials:

• Kant, Foundations of the Metaphysics of Morals, L.W. Beck, trans.  (An older translation is available here.)
• Mill, Utilitarianism.  (also available on the web)
• Mappes and Zembaty, Social Ethics, 6th ed.

Requirements:

1. All students are expected to attend class regularly and to be prepared to discuss the reading. Attendance and participation constitute 10% of your grade.
2. There will be one test (10% of your grade) and a final examination (30%).
3.  There will be two papers (each 25% of your grade).  Papers must be turned in on time.

Optional work:

4. You may request permission to submit a revised version of the first paper. Permission will usually be granted provided other course requirements, including attendance, have been met. Revised papers will be regraded; the new grade will replace the original grade.  Revised papers will be accepted up to the last day of class.
5. Extra credit will be given for participation in class debates.
6. There will be an online discussion board for easy communication with other class members and discussion of course issues between class sessions.  Thoughtful comments will enhance your participation grade.

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE

Topics and reading assignments may be changed. Changes in assignments will be announced in class and posted on the course website.

August 29

• Introduction

MORAL THEORY

Utilitarianism

Sept 5

• Mill, Utilitarianism, ch. 1&2
• Ursula LeGuin, "The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas"

Lecture notes

Kantian Ethics

Sept. 12

• Kant, Foundations of the Metaphysics of Morals, sections 1 and 2
• More help:  Geoffrey Sayre-McCord, Summary of Kant's Ethical Theory

Reading guide
Lecture notes

LAW AND LIBERTY: For what purposes should the government use its powers to limit liberty?

Sept. 19 - Social Ethics, ch. 5 - Pornography, Hate Speech, and Censorship

• Mill, On Liberty
• Commission on Pornography, The Question of Harm
• Longino, Pornography, Oppression, and Freedom
• Wicclair, Feminism, Pornography and Censorship
• Reno v. ACLU
• Skokie v. National Socialist Party
• Lawrence, Racist Speech as the Functional Equivalent of Fighting Words
• Altman, Liberalism and Campus Hate Speech

Sept. 26-Oct. 3

• First half of class - TEST on Mill and Kant
• Second half of class - Pornography, Hate Speech & Censorship  (no new reading)

Oct 10 - Social Ethics, ch. 6 - Drug Control and Addiction

• Commonwealth v. Leis
• Szasz, The Ethics of Addiction
• Goodin, The Ethics of Smoking
• Nadelmann, The Case for Legalization
• Wilson, Against the Legalization of Drugs
• Shapiro, Addiction and Drug Policy

LIFE AND DEATH: What are the limits of the right to life?

Oct 17 - Social Ethics, ch 1 - Abortion

• Pope John Paul II, The Unspeakable Crime of Abortion
• Warren, On the Moral and Legal Status of Abortion
• Marquis, Why Abortion is Immoral
• Thomson, A Defense of Abortion
• Roe v. Wade
• Planned Parenthood v. Casey
• Sherwin, Abortion:  A Feminist Perspective

Oct. 24

• Stem Cell Research [handout]
• FIRST PAPER DUE

Oct. 31 - Punishment [handout]

• Brandt, Utilitarian View of Punishment
• Morris, Persons and Punishment
• Currie, Crime and Punishment in the United States

Nov. 7 - Social Ethics, ch. 3 - The Death Penalty

• Gregg v. Georgia
• Primoratz, A Life for a Life?
• Nathanson, An Eye for an Eye?
• Pojman, Deterrence and the Death Penalty
• Reiman, Common Sense and Deterrence
• Eckholm, Studies Find Death Penalty Tied to Race of Victims

LAW AND SOCIAL JUSTICE:  How should wealth be distributed?

**Tuesday, November 13 - Last day to sign up for debates**

November 14 - Social Ethics, Ch. 7 - Social and Economic Justice

• Hospers, What Libertarianism Is
• Nielsen, A Moral Case for Socialism
• Young, Five Faces of Oppression
• McGary, The African-American Underclass and the Question of Values
• Mead, Paternalism and Welfare
• Mink, The End of Welfare
• Levy, Liberal Equality and Inherited Wealth
• Waldron, Homelessness and the Issue of Freedom

November 21 - Thanksgiving, no class

November 28 - First set of debates

• SECOND PAPER DUE for all except Nov. 28 debate participants

December 5 - Second set of debates

• SECOND PAPER DUE for Nov. 28 debate participants)

December 19 -  FINAL EXAM