PHI 4931: Philosophy in the News

Spring 2003

CL1-308  Tues/Thurs 11:30-12:45

 

Instructor and Contact Information:

Dr. Nancy Stanlick

CNH 411-I/407-823-2273 or 407-823-5459

e-mail:  stanlick@pegasus.cc.ucf.edu

Office Hours:  Tues, Thurs: 9:30-9:55, 1:30-2:30; Wed: 10:30-12:00 & by appointment

 

Texts:

 

Sissela Bok, Lying (New York: Vintage Books, 1999).

Zachary Seech, Writing Philosophy Papers (Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, 2000).

USE THIS LINK FOR THE MESSAGE BOARD.

 

Course Requirements/Course Description and Objective:

 

3 Examinations = 45% (15% each, or 150 points per exam)

Make up examinations are unpleasant for everyone, but if  you miss one for a good, legitimate, and verifiable reason, you may make it up within 3 class meeting days of its initial administration.

 

Research Paper = 25% (250 points)

This is due very near the end of the term.  Research papers will not be accepted late, so prepare early.

 

Short Papers = 10% (100 points)

You may DROP the lowest grade on one of these papers.  In addition, if you are absent on a day on which a short paper is due, you may turn it in during the NEXT class meeting day, but it will be reduced by 20%.  No short paper is accepted more than 1 class meeting day late.

 

In-class assignments = 10% (100 points)

There are no pre-set due dates for these assignments.  You may DROP THE LOWEST grade on ONE of these assignments.  Due dates will be announced in class or on the on-line syllabus, or both.  If you are absent on a day on which an in-class assignment is required, you can drop that grade.  But all the others will count whether you are in class to take them or not.

 

Attendance, Participation = 10% (100 points)

Attendance will be taken from time to time, and the days on which attendance are taken are days that attendance counts.  If attendance isn’t taken, then that day doesn’t count against you as an absence if you are not there.  It’s the luck of the draw on this one.  1-3 absences are not counted in the attendance grade.  4-5 absences will reduce your attendance grade by 50%;  6 or more and you lose the entire 10%.

 

Philosophy in the News is an upper-division course in philosophy centered this semester on LYING, CHEATING, AND DECEPTION.  The primary focus of the course is PHILOSOPHY and what is IN THE NEWS is the backdrop for the philosophical aspects of lying, cheating, and deception.  Regular perusal of newspapers, news-oriented periodicals and/or Internet news sources is a REQUIREMENT in this course.  Every person will write an original research paper of 8-15 pages and 5 short critical and analytical papers on news-related items centered on lying, cheating, or deception.  Given the nature of the subject matter, it is possible in this course to consider the major themes from ethical, social, political, epistemological and logical points of view.  Our major emphasis will be on ethical, social and political aspects of the themes with logical and epistemological aspects discussed where relevant.

 

Because this course is heavily dependent upon a “current events” backdrop for analysis of the problems to be discussed, it is necessary that you attend very regularly, participate meaningfully in the course, and be prepared for regular in-class written assignments on elements of course content.  It is further necessary to note that being an upper-division course, it is very helpful for you to have some prior experience with philosophy courses, with aspects of reasoning in philosophy, and have the ability to write well, with conviction, and with analytical emphasis.  DON’T CHEAT.  Need that be said in a course on lying, cheating and deception?

 

It is truly the case that attendance counts.  If you don’t intend to attend regularly and you act on that intention, your grade will reflect that fact.  You can keep track of your grades in this course by considering the following.  Your grade is based on 1000 points.  So an assignment like the research paper that is worth 25% of your grade is actually worth 250 points.  Although all grades are assigned for each graded element of the course based on 100 points, you can determine the net value of an assignment by considering the percent of your grade represented by a particular assignment.  For example, the exams are worth 15% each.  When an exam is returned to you, it will show a letter grade based on 100 points as the highest possible grade.  But since exams are worth 15% of your grade each, you would multiply the exam grade by 1.5 to determine how many points your exam is worth out of 150.  The research paper, at 25%, is worth 2.5 times the numeric grade you receive on it.

 

Grading Scale and Policies

 

A

95-100%

C

74-76.x%

A-

90-94.x%

C-

70-73.x%

B+

87-89.x%

D+

67-69.x%

B

84-86.x%

D

64-66.x%

B-

80-83.x%

D-

60-63.x%

C+

77-79.x%

F

0-59.x%

 

 

This on-line schedule will be updated frequently (generally, at least once a week) and will include chapters of the required text, articles available on-line, in the library, or on reserve, links to other information relevant to chapters and topics, assignments, as well as examination and paper due dates.  Remember that the schedule below is meant only as a guide. Changes and alterations in the schedule, scheduled topics, or examination dates may be necessary to facilitate completion of all major sections listed below. The schedule chart below contains useful information about this course.  Remember to check it often.

 

Date

Topic/Readings

Discussions/Lecture Topic

Links/Assignments/Dates/Notes/Other Readings

1/7

Introductory information, course requirements, general introduction to philosophical principles/theories related to lying, cheating and deception.

 

 

1/9

Continuation of principles/theories related to lying – theories of truth

Discussion of theories of truth – pragmatic, correspondence, coherence.

Jan 10: End of drop/add.  Notes in class only.

1/14

Examples of  “lies” from “unlikely” sources, basics of ethical theories – utilitarianism, deontology, virtue theory

For the textual reference to the “unlikely” source – The Bible – see Evelin Sullivan, The Concise Book of Lying (optional reading).  The book is available in the Library (not on reserve) and at local bookstores.

Notes in class only.

1/16

Bok, chapter 1  (The Whole Truth) and Bok, Appendix, selection from Kant

Chapter 1 and Kant in Appendix

Notes in class only.

1/21

Class was cancelled today

 

Class was cancelled on 1/21.  Sorry for the inconvenience.

1/23

Continuation of Kant’s view of lying.  Bok, ch. 2 (Truthfulness, Deceit and Trust) – watch the link over there à for other sources –

Look to the left and to the right in this row. 

Read this article in JSTOR for January 28 – Roderick Chisholm and Thomas Feehan, “The Intent to Deceive” in Journal of Philosophy.  URL=http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0022-362X%28197703%2974%3A3%3C143%3ATITD%3E2.0.CO%3B2-3

1/28

Bok, chapter 3 (Never to Lie?) – duty, religion

Discussion of Chisholm and Feehan’s article and Bok’s chapter 2 continued, and chapter 3

The article “The Intent to Deceive” has been moved to 1/30 to accommodate those who couldn’t gain access to it over the weekend.  Note that another article has been added.  It is “Deontology and the Ethics of Lying” from Philosophy and Phenomenological Research.  Author: Arnold Isenberg.  Click here for access:  http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0031-8205%28196406%2924%3A4%3C463%3ADATEOL%3E2.0.CO%3B2-L

 

If you continue not to be able to gain access to the online versions of these articles, check the Philosopher’s Index to find them in print version.

 

Follow the link below for chapters 13, 4, 5, and 18 of Hobbes’s Leviathan, part of the subject of today’s brief discussion of Hobbes and his claim that “force, and fraud, are in war the two cardinal virtues.”  (This quotation comes from chapter 13.)   Go to http://books.mirror.org and look for “Hobbes” and Leviathan. 

1/30

 

Articles by Feehan and Chisholm and Isenberg, as well as Bok, Ch. 3 continued.

The first written assignment for this course will be posted soon.  It will be relevant to the concept of coercion through lying/deception in Marilyn Frye’s “In and Out of Harm’s Way: Arrogance and Love” from her book, The Politics of Reality.

2/4

Bok, Chapter 4 (Weighing the Consequences) – on lying and Utilitarianism.

Discussion in class of Isenberg’s essay on Deontology and the Ethics of Lying and Bok, Chapter 4.

 

See also Newsweek article on honesty/lying in Vol. 141, Issue 4, January 27, 2003 by Diana Conway – “Cheating Uncle Sam for Mom and Dad” – this is available online through the UCF Library at EBSCO Host.  (Make sure you read this, since it will be at least part of the topic of another writing assignment.)

The first writing assignment for this course is on Marilyn Frye’s “In and Out of Harm’s Way: Arrogance and Love” from her book, The Politics of Reality.  It has been put on reserve in the UCF Library, but it will probably not be available at the reserve desk until Friday (Feb. 7).  The assignment is due on February 18.  Description:  Sissela Bok makes the claim that lying is like coercion.  Marilyn Frye describes coercion in her essay.  Write a 2-3 page, double-spaced, typed essay explaining the ways in which Frye’s account of coercion is analogous to, or identical to, lying.  Include in this essay your position on the moral implications of Frye’s account of coercion.

2/6

External sources – Utilitarianism and Lying

See web article by Tim Mazur, “Lying” at http://www.scu.edu/ethics/publications/iie/v6n1/lying.html

 

See also Appendix in Bok, pp. 275-282, Harrod, “Utilitarianism Revised”

 

2/11

Exam 1

A blue book for the exam is preferred.  They are available in the bookstore on campus.

Go to this link for the review for exam 1.

2/13

Bok, Chapter 5 (White Lies) and Chapter 6 (Excuses)

See chapters 5 and 6 of Bok.

The first 1/3 of this course has been spent discussing some major theories of ethics and the question of their applicability to the moral problems associated with lying.  We will continue the discussion in the second part of the course, concentrating on “little white lies,” making excuses for lies, the problem of academic dishonesty (lying, cheating and deceiving in an academic context), justifying lies, lying in a crisis, and telling lies to liars and enemies.

2/18

Bok, chs. 5 & 6 continued

See this article:  Norvin Richards, “Acting Under Duress” in Philosophical Quarterly, Vol. 37, No. 146, pp. 21-36. (This article is in JSTOR.)

Essay on Frye and Bok is due today.

2/20

External sources – Academic Cheating, dishonesty, integrity

Web-based article on cheating:  See http://www.scu.edu/ethics/publications/ethicalperspectives/cheating.html

See also Bernard Gert’s chapter on “Cheating” in the book, Morality: Its Nature and Justification.  This text is available online through NetLibrary.  Go to http://www.netlibrary.com.  This service is available through the UCF Library.  You must use on-campus servers, Pegasus, or connect with a proxy server as a UCF student to gain access to NetLibrary.  Check the index and see esp. pp. 191-196.

Instructions for Assignment 2 (due on March 11).  Go to any 2002 or 2003 issue of The Chronicle of Higher Education (the UCF Library subscribes to this paper.  Online access is available) and find a news-related article on the problem of academic integrity/dishonesty (whether committed by students or faculty/administrators or authors).  Write a one-page summary of the contents of the article and evaluate the problem of integrity/dishonesty either from Gert’s competitive model or from the communitarian model of the problem of cheating. Your essay should not exceed 3 typewritten pages (double-spaced).  THIS ESSAY (Assignment 2) IS DUE ON MARCH 11.

 

Instructions for Assignment 3 (due on March 27).  Go to this link for the text of Charles Sanders Peirce’s essay, “The Fixation of Belief.”  In your essay, focus attention on one of the methods of fixing belief (tenacity, authority, a priori rationalism, science) and explain the way in which that method exemplifies a conceptual problem existing between “truth” and “truthfulness” or the way in which one of the methods manifests itself as deceptive coercion.  Your essay should not exceed 3 typewritten pages (double-spaced).  THIS ESSAY (Assignment 3) IS DUE ON MARCH 27.

2/25

Academic cheating continued

See the PowerPoint presentation at http://pegasus.cc.ucf.edu/~stanlick/oscethicsstudent.ppt

 

2/27

 

Academic Integrity continued

Withdrawal deadline: Feb. 28

3/04

Bok, Chapter 7 (Justification)

Begin “Justification” and see also Virginia Held, “Justification: Legal and Political” in Ethics, (86) 1, Oct. 1975, pp. 1-16 (the link takes you to JSTOR).  See also Annette Baier, “Trust and AntiTrust,” in Ethics, (96) 2, Jan. 1986, pp. 231-260 (this also goes to JSTOR). Baier’s article is NOT part of test 2.

If you are writing a paper on a topic not listed in the instructions for research papers, you must have the topic approved by this date (March 4).  See research paper requirements.

3/6

Return to Richards, “Acting Under Duress”

In-class notes only.

 

3/11

Held’s article on legal and political justification.

Review for exam 2 is today.  See this link:  http://pegasus.cc.ucf.edu/~stanlick/philnewsreviewtest2.html

One page description of proposed research topic is due today.

ESSAY 2 IS DUE TODAY. SEE FEB. 20 FOR INSTRUCTIONS.

3/13

Exam 2

Bring a blue book if you think of it.  If not, it is not required.

 

3/18

SPRING BREAK

 

 

3/20

SPRING BREAK

 

 

3/25

 

Discussion of research, requirements, and thesis justification.

Held’s article is to be used for background info.

 

3/27

 

Return test 2. Discussion.

ESSAY 3 IS DUE TODAY.  SEE FEB. 20 FOR INSTRUCTIONS.

4/1

Bok, Chapter 8 (Lies in a Crisis),

Notes on “Lies in a Crisis”  – continuation, conclusion on 4/3

Summary of your primary academic source for the research paper is due today.

 

4/3

Chapter 9 (Lying to Liars)

Notes on “Lying to Liars”

 

 

 

4/8

Chapter 10 (Lies to Enemies)

Notes on “Lying to Enemies”

Thesis statement including summary of primary news source is due today. 

4/10

Bok, ch. 11 (Lies to Protect Peers and Clients),

Notes on “Lying to Protect Peers and Clients”

Annotated bibliography is due today.

4/15

Chapter 12 (Lies for the Public Good); Exernal Sources including Plato’s Noble Lie Bok, Chapter 14 (Paternalistic Lies)

External Sources on Paternalism

(Lies for the Public Good): Go to this link for Book III of Plato’s Republic (again) - (scroll down very near the end) for the “Myth of the Metals.”

 

Notes on “Lies for the Public Good”

 

John Stuart Mill (paternalism and related issues), notes on On Liberty (notes1) and (notes2)

Link to On Liberty-esp. chapters 2-4.

 

Notes on “Paternalistic Lies”

 

 

4/17

Bok, Chapter 15 (Lies to the Sick and Dying) and Conclusion

Allen Buchanan, “Medical Paternalism” (in JSTOR from Philosophy and Public Affairs)

 

Notes on Buchanan’s “Medical Paternalism”

 

Notes on “Lies to the Sick and Dying”

Research paper is due today.

 

Review for Test 3 will be posted on or before April 20, 2003.

4/22

Final Exam – Exam 3

Final Exam – scheduled time is 10:00-12:50.  Actual time is 10:00-11:30.

Grade Calculation Information