OSC Ethics Seminar On Academic Integrity and Student Conduct

OSC/Department of Philosophy Ethics Seminar In Academic Integrity and Student Conduct

October 29 , 2004 and November 19, 2004 in BHC 129, 3:30-5:30 p.m.

Dr. Nancy Stanlick

Department of Philosophy

Description and Objective: This seminar is an overview of ethical issues involved with academic integrity and student conduct relevant to violations of the UCF Golden Rule and the UCF Creed, or any violation of university policy consistent with attendance in this course. It includes discussion of major ethical theories or orientations as they relate to particular cases of moral action and decision-making. Some discussion may include academic dishonesty, as appropriate. Specific moral issues may include moral responsibility, obligations to oneself and others, and the relationship of the individual to the community.

Ethical Theories, Principles, and Related Concepts:

Utilitarianism. A moral theory requiring that each person perform actions that create the greatest happiness for the greatest number, and if that is not possible, at least perform actions that reduce or eliminate pain or suffering as much as possible. The utilitarian generally holds that intellectual pleasures (the kind requiring the use of unique human faculties) are preferable to lower pleasures (physical, primarily). The ultimate goal for the utilitarian is happiness, but not simply the happiness of one person, but the happiness of the greatest number. The ultimate rule of Utilitarianism is The Principle of Utility. Information on this ethical theory (general description and some other information) is available at: http://ethics.sandiego.edu/theories/Utilitarianism/

Deontology. A moral theory requiring that an action is right when it is done out of duty - that is, out of respect for duty, not simply in accordance with duty, or out of fear that if you don't do what is required, you will suffer some unpleasant punishment. Duty is determined based on considerations of rationality and human autonomy, and the morally right action is the one whose maxim, or rule, can be universalized AND the one that never treats other rational beings (generally, humans) as means to ends, but only as ends in themselves. The ultimate moral rule of deontology (from Immanuel Kant) is the categorical imperative. Information about this ethical theory (description and additional information) is available at: http://ethics.sandiego.edu/theories/Kant/

Virtue Ethics. A moral theory centrally concerning the relationship between the character of a human being and the community in which he or she lives. There are no particular moral rules that the virtue theorist derives. Instead, the virtue theorist relies heavily on the determination of morally good action from the point of view of the virtuous person (a moral exemplar). Information on this theory (description and additional information) is available at: http://ethics.sandiego.edu/theories/Aristotle/

Egoism. Egoism isn't really an ethical theory, but it informs some aspects of all other ethical theories either by being accepted, rejected, or at least recognized as a problematic position for the moral life. Egoism is more a theory of human nature than it is a theory of ethics. There are, however, some who would argue against this claim. One person in particular who would do so is Ayn Rand (who was an ethical egoist). Rand claimed that the world would work best when all individuals act all and only for their own best interest, and that it is in the interest of everyone to do so. A psychological egoist is a person who claims that all of our actions are always done with a view to obtaining our own best interest. There are some serious problems with egoism, but there are also some good points to it. One very serious problem with egoism concerns the problem of conflicts of interest between people competing for the same position, good, or benefit. It is the example of two politicians, both of whom are egoists and both of whom are competing for the same political office. What do you suppose would be in the best interest of each of the politicians regarding their chances of winning the election? Information on egoism is available at: http://ethics.sandiego.edu/theories/Egoism/

Requirements: All those assigned to attend this course by the Office of Student Conduct or any faculty member or other department in the University are responsible for attending, participating in discussion, and submitting the FOUR assignments listed below. The assignments must be your own original work. The assignments are due 7 days after the meeting of the seminar (November 5, or November 29 if you attend the Nov. 19th (due to the holiday) meeting) by 4:30 p.m. in the Department of Philosophy office in CNH 411. Submit these assignments in person at the Department of Philosophy OR send them to me as e-mail attachments by the deadline. Please remember to make sure that your name appears in the e-mail AND on each of the assignments. Remember that the deadline is Nov. 5 (or Nov. 29) AT 4:30 P.M.

There are several movies available that deal with issues of integrity and immoral or socially unacceptable behavior. You know what you did or were accused of doing that is a violation of the Golden Rule or the UCF Creed. From the list of films below, choose one and explain the way or ways in which a theme, character, the plot, or some particular aspect of the film is relevant to your own instance of a violation of the GR or the UCF Creed. This short essay is to be 2-4 pages in length. (If you choose not to talk about the particular aspects of your own case, you may still do this assignment by considering the way in which a relevant behavior, character, theme, or action would affect the university community. You might even consider relating a true story about some other student here at UCF [but do not use anyone's real name] to illustrate the point.) It is probably more interesting for you if you refer to yourself and do the relevant comparison from that point of view, but this is entirely up to you. The films to consider are listed below. You need to rent them or see whether they are available on cable or DirecTV (if you have access to either of these pay services).
- Out of Time, with Denzel Washington (embezzlement/theft and being duped by others)
- White Oleander (just generally raunchy behavior)
- Frailty, with Matthew McConaughey and Powers Boothe (considerations of the problem of determining who is doing what is morally wrong)
- Quiz Show, with Ralph Feinnes (about cheating, but also about violating a community's standards)
- The Matrix, esp. regarding the character, Cypher (untrustworthiness)
- NOTE: If you are here for cheating or plagiarism, "Cheaters" is the movie you should watch. In addition, go to this link: http://ethics.acusd.edu/LMH/op-ed/CollegeCheating/Index.html for an article on cheating and plagiarism and relate the points in this article to the movie.
Check on the Internet for UCF's Creed at http://www.sdes.ucf.edu and for the UCF Golden Rule at http://www.goldenrule.sdes.ucf.edu. Write a brief essay (1-2 pages) explaining how these statements of UCF's expectations for all members of the academic community are related to each other.
Based on one of the cases presented in class (during the seminar), write a 1-2 page essay explaining which person you believe is most responsible for wrongdoing, and why one other person mentioned in one of the case studies is NOT responsible at all, in your view. Remember, explain your position. The cases are "The Drawbridge" (from the handout in class), the hypothetical bank employees (from my website-see http://pegasus.cc.ucf.edu/~stanlick/ethicsnotes.html) and the case study (also provided as a handout in class).
Finally, go to this link: http://pegasus.cc.ucf.edu/~stanlick/OSCethicsevaluation.html. Fill out the form with your honest responses, save the file and return it to me with your other assignments. What you say about the content, requirements, expectations, or other aspects of the seminar does not affect your status as having completed the seminar or its other requirements. Remember, however, that filling out and turning in this form IS one of the requirements for satisfactory completion of the seminar.

Please write carefully in all the assignments so that you receive credit for completing them.

NOTE: No element of these assignments may be submitted in handwritten form. Word processing or typewritten format must be used.

Consider these Instances of violation of the UCF Golden Rule or Creed:

1. You are filling out a university-related form that asks you whether you have ever been convicted of a felony and you answer that you have not -- but you have. Why do you have a moral obligation not to lie on this form?

2. Your roommate has been bugging you lately. He never cleans up after himself, he forgets to lock the door to the apartment when he leaves, and he plays loud and annoying country music in the middle of the night, waking you from a sound sleep. You ask him to clean up, lock the door, and to stop playing that music all the time (or at least turn it down), and he refuses. You lose your patience with him and punch him. Which of you has done something morally wrong? Why?

3. You are 21 years old and go to a liquor store to buy beer. One of your friends from a class is only 18, but asks you to pick up a six-pack of beer for her. You happily comply with her request. What is morally wrong, if anything, with your action? What about the 18-year old who asks you to buy beer for her?

4. You are living in UCF housing and have prescription medications in your room (but the medications and the prescription aren't yours - even though you are taking them). What obligation to the university have you violated? Why?

5. You notice two young men walking together on campus and holding hands with each other. You yell several comments at them regarding their sexual orientation. When they ignore you and continue walking away, you and several of your friends run up behind them, continuing to harrass them. They ask you to stop, and when they do so, you threaten (but do not act on it) them with bodily harm. Have you done anything morally wrong? Why?

6. A faculty member asks you to leave her class because you are being disruptive by making snide and inappropriate comments about a question asked of the faculty member by another student. You refuse to leave, and the faculty member calls the University Police. What have you done that is a violation of the GR or the Creed?

7. You and a bunch of your friends are out late on a weekend and, finding yourselves bored, decide to egg the cars of students from a rival fraternity. What have you done that is a violation of the GR or the Creed?

Note: If you have any questions about the content of this seminar, please contact me at stanlick@pegasus.cc.ucf.edu or come by during my office hours. See http://pegasus.cc.ucf.edu/~stanlick .