IF YOU ARE IN PHI 3670 IN THE SPRING TERM 2004, YOU ARE LOOKING AT THE WRONG SYLLABUS.  GO TO THIS LINK http://pegasus.cc.ucf.edu/~stanlick/eththeorysylspr2004.html FOR THIS TERM’S SYLLABUS!!!

 

 

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PHI 3670:  Ethical Theory
Syllabus - Spring Term 2002/T-Th1:00-2:15 CL1 319

The primary syllabus for this course appears at http://reach.ucf.edu/~phi3670a .   WebCT contains information on course requirements, assignments, a discussion board, course mail, a calendar, and other information useful and essential to the course.

Dr. Nancy Stanlick

Department Office:  407-823-2273

Office:  CNH 411-I/Phone:  407-823-5459

e-mail:  stanlick@pegasus.cc.ucf.edu

Hours: T Th 11:30-12:30, W 10:00-12:00 and by appt.

 

Links to Syllabus Contents

Course Description

Requirements

Grading Scale

Texts

Schedule, Notes, Etc.

Course Description and Objective:   PHI 3670 is a course in ethical theory, encompassing major ethical theories from virtue theory in ancient Greece to contemporary approaches to ethics.     In addition, some major practical/theoretical issues will be explored through the backdrop of primary theories of ethics.     Among the theories to be discussed are the virtue theoretical approaches to ethics from Plato and Aristotle, the deontological ethical theory of Immanuel Kant, classical and contemporary utilitarianism, feminist ethics, and contemporary virtue theory.    Among the practical issues are the ethical significance of emotion, self-control and courage, supererogation, self-respect, friendship, and moral responsibility.   You will be able to identify and discuss in some detail major ethical theories and apply them to problems and concepts of a practical and theoretical nature while developing and sharpening critical and analytical ability for philosophical research.

 

Requirements and Grades:   A mid-term and final examination as well as individual assignments and a term paper are required for the course.  Use the links to see descriptions and requirements for these elements of evaluation. Examinations count as 30% of your final grade.  The final paper is 20% and short papers are 10% (5% each), the bibliography is 10%, and attendance and participation are 15%.  The remaining 15% is based on a combination of written and participatory assignments to be developed throughout the semester.  No grades are dropped.  Be sure to attend class regularly since you are responsible for meeting all obligations for the course. Make-up examinations and assignments are given only with good, legitimate and verifiable reasons.  Papers are due absolutely no later than the date listed in the schedule, calendar or "assignments" link in WebCT.  Late papers are not accepted.  Incomplete grades are given only in cases of extreme hardship or verifiable emergencies and are subject to conditions as appropriate.  Any late exam or assignment must be made up within 3 class meeting days of its initial administration.  If you will miss and examination or assignment due to a recognized religious observance, you must provide at least 2 weeks notice in writing to be able to make up what you miss.  There is no extra credit offered or available in this course.  Grades are earned, not given.

Three absences are free. After that, 4-6 will reduce your attendance/participation grade by 50 points out of 150, 7-10 will reduce it by an additional 50 points, and 11+ absences reduces attendance/participation by the full 150 points (or 15% of the final grade).

Grades and Grading Scale:   Grades are based on the following numerical values and are assigned using the +/- grading system.
  

A: 95-100/Outstanding

C:  74-76/Average

A-: 90-95/Superior

C-:  70-73/Minimal average

B+: 87-89/Excellent

D+:  67-69/Slightly below average

B:  84-86/Well above average

D: 64-66/Below average

B-: 80-83/Above average

D-: 60-63/Passing, but barely

C+: 77-79/Slightly above average

F: 0-59/Failing

    Plagiarism of any kind is a violation of the "Golden Rule" as published in the UCF Catalog.  Academic honesty and integrity are expected of everyone all the time.  In other words, don't cheat.  See the link to academic integrity in the table at the top of this syllabus and visit the UCF Website for information on the "Golden Rule."  Your papers and other written work are all subject to submission to "turnitin.com." 
    Common courtesy is expected at all times.  Wandering in late is disruptive and impolite.  So are ringing cell phones and screeching beepers.  Please turn them off, or set them to a silent alarm.  I prefer that you not record lectures.
    You are responsible for being in class and for any exams or assignments you may miss.  Much of the material covered in class may not appear in the text or in any notes in the syllabus or website.  If you miss a class, you are responsible for obtaining any notes or information you missed.  Office hours are not held to repeat a lecture already given in class.  They are held to clarify points, provide assistance, and otherwise attend to academic matters relevant to this course.  If a test or assignment falls on a day of religious observance in which you participate, you must provide at least two weeks' advance notice in writing to be able to make up any missing test or assignment.

Texts:     Denise, Peterfreund and White, Great Traditions in Ethics (abbrev. GTIE ), 10th edition,  Wadsworth Publishing Company, 2002.  Other works and related documents will be available online through links provided either here or in WebCT (or both), or they will be placed on reserve in the UCF Library.

Schedule & Other Information :   From time to time, course materials beyond texts and readings may appear in this syllabus or in WebCT (or both).  Watch for them.   The Department of Philosophy website (link at the top of the syllabus) includes a link to electronic resources and writing guides that may be useful for assignments, papers, and studying for exams.

A message board appears in WebCT.  The message board is for on-line review and discussion.  You should use it for posting questions to other people registered in this course and for studying for exams.  It may also prove useful in completing course assignments.

The schedule is meant only as a guide.  Changes and alterations in the schedule of topics, examination dates, paper due dates, assignments and other schedule-related information may be made from time to time to facilitate completion of all major sections listed.

Additional Course Information:

E-mail and use of WebCT are required.  You should log in to WebCT at least twice a week to check for assignments, notes, additions, deletions, messages and other elements of course content.  This is an E-Course, not a web-based one, so we will meet as a regular class.  As much as it is practical to do so, we will attempt to work in a paperless or "paper-reduced" environment.  This means that most, if not all, course assignments are to be submitted by e-mail or on WebCT (see "Assignments" link and the schedule for relevant information as it becomes available).

I generally check e-mail every weekday at least once, and often several times a day.  Think of e-mail as an office hour and conduct yourself there as you ought to do in a face to face environment.  It may take up to 2 days to receive a reply to any individual e-mail message (where a reply is appropriate).  Please be patient.  Technical questions should be directed to the appropriate help services (see the "protocols" link in WebCT for information).

Grade Category

Description

Weight

Midterm Exam

Essay-based examination on the contents of the course completed prior to the mid-term examination date.  It is possible that some part of the examination may be in objective format.

15%

Final Exam

Essay-based examination on the contents of the course completed after the mid-term examination date.  It is possible that some part of the examination may be in objective format.

15%

Term Paper

See the requirements in the link above.  The focus of the term paper is your independent, original research on a topic to be arranged.  

20%

Short Paper 

Your commentary on an aspect of Thomas Hobbes's ethical/political theory.  See WebCT assignment screen for info.

5%

Reply to  Short Paper

Your critical analysis of the Hobbes essay written by your collaborative partner.

5%

Bibliography

See the WebCT assignment page for information on the content, topic and format of the bibliography.

10%

Attendance, Participation, and other assignments

There are participatory and other assignments at various times throughout the semester.   They may include short papers, outlines, notes, etc.   Attendance and participation are 15%, other assignments are 15%.  The first three absences after drop/add don't count.  After that, 4-7 lowers your attendance/participation grade by 50 points, 8-10 by another 50, and 11+ by the entire 150.

30%