Topic: freedom and will, Part B,
Reading: Kant, Metaphysic of Morals, 2nd Section
Text available at http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/etext04/ikfpm10.txt
Journals due on March 31.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Monday, March 23, 2009
Debates
Topics:
April 21 Abortion
April 23 Death Penalty
April 28 Animal Rights
April 30 Multicultural Ethcis
Forms:
There are two teams on each topic. One is pro, the other is con. Each team is made up of 3-4 persons.
At the beginning of each debate, each team makes 2-3 opening statements as a block. Every speaker has 4-5 minutes time to address one or several perspectives of the issue. After opening statements from both sides, there is 15 minutes free debate, followed by 5 minutes Q&A session for the audience. One member should make conclusion within 5 minutes at the end.
Namely,
10-12 minutes: opening statements of Team A (2-3 persons, each 4-5 minutes)
10-12 minutes: opening statements of Team B
15 minutes: free debates
5 minutes: audience
5 minutes: concluding remark of Team A
5 minutes: concluding remark of Team B
Readings:
Obligatory readings have been posted on Blackboard. Every student must read ALL texts posted, not only the topic of your debate. The debate teams are encouraged to read extensively beyond these texts.
Grading:
Grading is mainly based on individual performance, but also related to team organization and coordination.
Active audience participation is encouraged and rewarded.
April 21 Abortion
April 23 Death Penalty
April 28 Animal Rights
April 30 Multicultural Ethcis
Forms:
There are two teams on each topic. One is pro, the other is con. Each team is made up of 3-4 persons.
At the beginning of each debate, each team makes 2-3 opening statements as a block. Every speaker has 4-5 minutes time to address one or several perspectives of the issue. After opening statements from both sides, there is 15 minutes free debate, followed by 5 minutes Q&A session for the audience. One member should make conclusion within 5 minutes at the end.
Namely,
10-12 minutes: opening statements of Team A (2-3 persons, each 4-5 minutes)
10-12 minutes: opening statements of Team B
15 minutes: free debates
5 minutes: audience
5 minutes: concluding remark of Team A
5 minutes: concluding remark of Team B
Readings:
Obligatory readings have been posted on Blackboard. Every student must read ALL texts posted, not only the topic of your debate. The debate teams are encouraged to read extensively beyond these texts.
Grading:
Grading is mainly based on individual performance, but also related to team organization and coordination.
Active audience participation is encouraged and rewarded.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
A Treatise of Human Nature Book II
Topic, freedom and will,
Hume,A Treatise of Human Nature, Book II, Part III, §§1-2
Text available at http://www.class.uidaho.edu/mickelsen/ToC/hume%20treatise%20ToC.htm
Journals due on March 24
Hume,A Treatise of Human Nature, Book II, Part III, §§1-2
Text available at http://www.class.uidaho.edu/mickelsen/ToC/hume%20treatise%20ToC.htm
Journals due on March 24
Monday, March 9, 2009
Hume: A Treatise of Human Nature
Read: Book III, Part I, §§1-2
Text available at http://www.class.uidaho.edu/mickelsen/ToC/hume%20treatise%20ToC.htm
Journals due on March 12.
Text available at http://www.class.uidaho.edu/mickelsen/ToC/hume%20treatise%20ToC.htm
Journals due on March 12.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Confucius: The Analects
Read Confucius: The Analects (Part 1, 2, 4, 7, 9, 11)
Text available at http://classics.mit.edu/Confucius/analects.mb.txt,
journals due on Mar 5
Text available at http://classics.mit.edu/Confucius/analects.mb.txt,
journals due on Mar 5
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Nicomachean Ethics Book VI
Read: Aristotle Nicomachean Ethics Book VI,
theme: theory and action
text available at http://classics.mit.edu/Aristotle/nicomachaen.html
journals due on Feb. 26
theme: theory and action
text available at http://classics.mit.edu/Aristotle/nicomachaen.html
journals due on Feb. 26
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Aristotle: Nicomachean Ethics
Read Book I and X
Text available at: http://classics.mit.edu/Aristotle/nicomachaen.html
Journals due on Feb. 19.
Text available at: http://classics.mit.edu/Aristotle/nicomachaen.html
Journals due on Feb. 19.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Plato: Republic
Read Book I and II,
Text available at: http://classics.mit.edu/Plato/republic.html
Journals due on Feb. 5.
Text available at: http://classics.mit.edu/Plato/republic.html
Journals due on Feb. 5.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Euthyphro
Read the whole text
Text available at http://classics.mit.edu/Plato/euthyfro.html
Journals due on Feb. 3
Instructions for posting your journals:
click the link "comments" below, paste your journal into the blank field. You must register an blogger ID at the first time. Please use your real name as the display name.
If you want to change anything, simply post the new entry and notify me. I will delete the old one.
If there is any question, please do not hesitate to ask me (tangxyang@gmail.com)
Text available at http://classics.mit.edu/Plato/euthyfro.html
Journals due on Feb. 3
Instructions for posting your journals:
click the link "comments" below, paste your journal into the blank field. You must register an blogger ID at the first time. Please use your real name as the display name.
If you want to change anything, simply post the new entry and notify me. I will delete the old one.
If there is any question, please do not hesitate to ask me (tangxyang@gmail.com)
syllabus
Ethics Phil 2103 Class hours: Tu/Th 10:00-11:15
Spring 2009 Instructor: TANG, Xiaoyang
Credits 3
Office hours: Tu/Th 11:15-12:00 (with appointment)
website:www.brooklynethics.blogspot.com email: tangxyang@gmail.com
Course Description
This course aims to promote students’ awareness of ethical questions and knowledge of their historical contexts from antiquity to the present; and their ability to critically interpret and evaluate philosophical texts, positions, and arguments. In particular, we will examine a variety of ethical issues closely related to today’s technological development, politics and culture.
Given that most (if not all) students have no previous exposure to moral philosophy, this course will start from the very beginning. We will not only read and discuss ethical writings from thinkers in the history, but will also try to develop a sense for the process and practice of philosophical thinking.
Student Learning Outcomes
The students are expected to 1) get familiar with a wide-range of ethical positions and arguments from antiquity to today, and from diverse cultural and social-political contexts; 2) learn critical reasoning and ethical reflection on a variety of moral issues and approaches to ethical questions.
Meanwhile, the students will develop their ability and skills in 1) interpreting texts by accurately and fully describing concepts and arguments; 2) reasoning about ideas by evaluating the content, structure, and strategies of ethical works and applying concepts and arguments to contemporary issues and their own lives, and 3) collaborating with other students, and presenting and supporting their ideas in public through class participation.
Required Text and Readings
(Any version of the following texts can be used. Many of them can be downloaded from the website given)
Plato: Euthyphro, translated by Benjamin Jowett, http://classics.mit.edu/Plato/euthyfro.html
Republic (excerpts), translated by Benjamin Jowett, http://classics.mit.edu/Plato/republic.html
Aristotle: Nicomachean Ethics, Translated by W.D. Ross, (excerpts) http://classics.mit.edu/Aristotle/nicomachaen.html
Hume: A Treatise of Human Nature (excerpts) http://www.class.uidaho.edu/mickelsen/ToC/hume%20treatise%20ToC.htm
Kant: Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysic of Morals, (excerpts) http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/etext04/ikfpm10.txt
------- Idea for a Universal History from a Cosmopolitan Point of View, http://www.marxists.org/reference/subject/ethics/kant/universal-history.htm
Confucius: The Analects, (excerpts) http://classics.mit.edu/Confucius/analects.mb.txt
Other materials may be added during the semester
Attendance Policy
the maximum number of absences is limited to one more hour than the number of hours a class meets in one week. For example, you may be enrolled in a three-hour class. In that class, you would be allowed four hours of absence. In the case of excessive absences, the instructor has the option to lower the grade or assign an F or WU grade.
Note: 1.Two lateness is equivalent to an absence.
2. Even if you have excuses for your absence, it may affect your grade in the part of class contribution.
Evaluation & Requirements of Students
Class Contribution 20%
Journals/Website entries 15%
Midterm paper 20%
In Class Debate 15%
Final Exam 30%
Class Contribution
In order to ensure a strong class contribution grade, you must be prepared for each and every class. This means that you must be able to respond to, or to raise questions about the text, or to complete basic written and verbal quizzes. The class participation grade will be considerably reduced in the case of students who reveal that they have not completed the assigned reading by their inability to ask and answer basic questions about the text. Students who consistently contribute to the exchange of arguments in class discussion will be rewarded for their hard work.
You should read the text at least twice: the first time, to get a general idea of the text; and a second time to look more closely at the specific arguments and issues.
Journals/Website entries
Your journal entries will be based on the reading material. You must write your entries before the class during which the text is discussed and post them on the class website: www.brooklynethics.blogspot.com. No late journal entries will be accepted. The journal entries can be about anything, as long as they are inspired by, and in some way relate to, the reading material. Journals must be a minimum of 100 words. You must write 10 journals (with a grade of “pass”) in order to get a high grade on this assignment. Active comments and discussions on the website will be rewarded.
Midterm paper
A list of topics will be distributed in the middle of the semester. You should choose one topic and write a paper of 3-5 pages.
In Class Debate
Four students will make up a debate team. First, every student will present his or her viewpoint in a clear and succinct manner to the class within 5 minutes. Then both sides debate against each other for 15 minutes. It will be followed by a 5 minutes Q&A session. Audience is encouraged to raise questions.
Final Exam
The final exam will be scheduled during the exam week. The exam will include some questions testing your knowledge of ethics and short writings in response to topics that are not known in advance.
Outline of Topics (“*” marks that journals are required for that reading)
Jan. 29 (Thursday) Introduction
Feb. 3 (Tuesday) Topic 1: the need of moral philosophy, Plato: Euthyphro*
Feb. 5 (Thursday) Topic 2: knowledge and justice, Plato: Republic, (Book I, II)*
Feb. 10 (Tuesday) Topic 2 (continued)
Feb. 12 (Thursday) Holiday, No class
Feb. 17 (Tuesday) Topic 3: happiness and life, Aristotle: Nicomachean Ethics (Book I and X)*
Feb. 19 (Thursday) Topic 3 (continued)
Feb. 24 (Tuesday) Topic 4: theory and action, part A, Aristotle: Nicomachean Ethics (Book VI)*
Feb. 26 (Thursday) Topic 4 (Continued)
Mar. 3 (Tuesday) Topic 4: theory and action, part B, Confucius: The Analects (Part 1, 2, 4, 7, 9, 11)* Distribution of midterm paper topics
Mar. 5 (Thursday) Topic 4 part B (Continued)
Mar. 10 (Tuesday) Topic 5: reason and passion, Hume, Treatise, Book III, Part I, §§1-2*
Mar. 12 (Thursday) Topic 5 (Continued)
Mar. 17 (Tuesday) Topic 6: freedom and will, Part A, Hume, Treatise, Book II, Part III, §§1-2*, Due date of midterm papers
Mar. 19 (Thursday) Topic 6: freedom and will, Part B, Kant, Metaphysic of Morals, 2nd Section*
Mar. 24 (Tuesday) Topic 6, Part B (Continued)
Mar. 26 (Thursday) Topic 6 freedom and will, Part C, Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics (Book II)*
Mar. 31 (Tuesday) Topic 6, Part C (Continued), Distribution of debate topics
Apr. 2 (Thursday) Topic 7: life and nature, Kant, Idea for a universal history*
Apr. 7 (Tuesday) Topic 7 (Continued)
Apr. 9, 14, 16: Spring Recess, No class
Apr. 21 (Tuesday), Midterm Presentation
Apr. 23 (Thursday) Midterm Presentation
Apr. 28 (Tuesday) Current issues 1: abortion and capital punishment
Apr. 30 (Thursday) Current issues 2: religion and ethics
May 5 (Tuesday) Current issues 3: ethics and technology
May 7 (Thursday) Current issues 4: environmental ethics
May 12 (Tuesday) Current issues 5: multicultural ethics
May 14 (Thursday) Review
Spring 2009 Instructor: TANG, Xiaoyang
Credits 3
Office hours: Tu/Th 11:15-12:00 (with appointment)
website:www.brooklynethics.blogspot.com email: tangxyang@gmail.com
Course Description
This course aims to promote students’ awareness of ethical questions and knowledge of their historical contexts from antiquity to the present; and their ability to critically interpret and evaluate philosophical texts, positions, and arguments. In particular, we will examine a variety of ethical issues closely related to today’s technological development, politics and culture.
Given that most (if not all) students have no previous exposure to moral philosophy, this course will start from the very beginning. We will not only read and discuss ethical writings from thinkers in the history, but will also try to develop a sense for the process and practice of philosophical thinking.
Student Learning Outcomes
The students are expected to 1) get familiar with a wide-range of ethical positions and arguments from antiquity to today, and from diverse cultural and social-political contexts; 2) learn critical reasoning and ethical reflection on a variety of moral issues and approaches to ethical questions.
Meanwhile, the students will develop their ability and skills in 1) interpreting texts by accurately and fully describing concepts and arguments; 2) reasoning about ideas by evaluating the content, structure, and strategies of ethical works and applying concepts and arguments to contemporary issues and their own lives, and 3) collaborating with other students, and presenting and supporting their ideas in public through class participation.
Required Text and Readings
(Any version of the following texts can be used. Many of them can be downloaded from the website given)
Plato: Euthyphro, translated by Benjamin Jowett, http://classics.mit.edu/Plato/euthyfro.html
Republic (excerpts), translated by Benjamin Jowett, http://classics.mit.edu/Plato/republic.html
Aristotle: Nicomachean Ethics, Translated by W.D. Ross, (excerpts) http://classics.mit.edu/Aristotle/nicomachaen.html
Hume: A Treatise of Human Nature (excerpts) http://www.class.uidaho.edu/mickelsen/ToC/hume%20treatise%20ToC.htm
Kant: Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysic of Morals, (excerpts) http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/etext04/ikfpm10.txt
------- Idea for a Universal History from a Cosmopolitan Point of View, http://www.marxists.org/reference/subject/ethics/kant/universal-history.htm
Confucius: The Analects, (excerpts) http://classics.mit.edu/Confucius/analects.mb.txt
Other materials may be added during the semester
Attendance Policy
the maximum number of absences is limited to one more hour than the number of hours a class meets in one week. For example, you may be enrolled in a three-hour class. In that class, you would be allowed four hours of absence. In the case of excessive absences, the instructor has the option to lower the grade or assign an F or WU grade.
Note: 1.Two lateness is equivalent to an absence.
2. Even if you have excuses for your absence, it may affect your grade in the part of class contribution.
Evaluation & Requirements of Students
Class Contribution 20%
Journals/Website entries 15%
Midterm paper 20%
In Class Debate 15%
Final Exam 30%
Class Contribution
In order to ensure a strong class contribution grade, you must be prepared for each and every class. This means that you must be able to respond to, or to raise questions about the text, or to complete basic written and verbal quizzes. The class participation grade will be considerably reduced in the case of students who reveal that they have not completed the assigned reading by their inability to ask and answer basic questions about the text. Students who consistently contribute to the exchange of arguments in class discussion will be rewarded for their hard work.
You should read the text at least twice: the first time, to get a general idea of the text; and a second time to look more closely at the specific arguments and issues.
Journals/Website entries
Your journal entries will be based on the reading material. You must write your entries before the class during which the text is discussed and post them on the class website: www.brooklynethics.blogspot.com. No late journal entries will be accepted. The journal entries can be about anything, as long as they are inspired by, and in some way relate to, the reading material. Journals must be a minimum of 100 words. You must write 10 journals (with a grade of “pass”) in order to get a high grade on this assignment. Active comments and discussions on the website will be rewarded.
Midterm paper
A list of topics will be distributed in the middle of the semester. You should choose one topic and write a paper of 3-5 pages.
In Class Debate
Four students will make up a debate team. First, every student will present his or her viewpoint in a clear and succinct manner to the class within 5 minutes. Then both sides debate against each other for 15 minutes. It will be followed by a 5 minutes Q&A session. Audience is encouraged to raise questions.
Final Exam
The final exam will be scheduled during the exam week. The exam will include some questions testing your knowledge of ethics and short writings in response to topics that are not known in advance.
Outline of Topics (“*” marks that journals are required for that reading)
Jan. 29 (Thursday) Introduction
Feb. 3 (Tuesday) Topic 1: the need of moral philosophy, Plato: Euthyphro*
Feb. 5 (Thursday) Topic 2: knowledge and justice, Plato: Republic, (Book I, II)*
Feb. 10 (Tuesday) Topic 2 (continued)
Feb. 12 (Thursday) Holiday, No class
Feb. 17 (Tuesday) Topic 3: happiness and life, Aristotle: Nicomachean Ethics (Book I and X)*
Feb. 19 (Thursday) Topic 3 (continued)
Feb. 24 (Tuesday) Topic 4: theory and action, part A, Aristotle: Nicomachean Ethics (Book VI)*
Feb. 26 (Thursday) Topic 4 (Continued)
Mar. 3 (Tuesday) Topic 4: theory and action, part B, Confucius: The Analects (Part 1, 2, 4, 7, 9, 11)* Distribution of midterm paper topics
Mar. 5 (Thursday) Topic 4 part B (Continued)
Mar. 10 (Tuesday) Topic 5: reason and passion, Hume, Treatise, Book III, Part I, §§1-2*
Mar. 12 (Thursday) Topic 5 (Continued)
Mar. 17 (Tuesday) Topic 6: freedom and will, Part A, Hume, Treatise, Book II, Part III, §§1-2*, Due date of midterm papers
Mar. 19 (Thursday) Topic 6: freedom and will, Part B, Kant, Metaphysic of Morals, 2nd Section*
Mar. 24 (Tuesday) Topic 6, Part B (Continued)
Mar. 26 (Thursday) Topic 6 freedom and will, Part C, Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics (Book II)*
Mar. 31 (Tuesday) Topic 6, Part C (Continued), Distribution of debate topics
Apr. 2 (Thursday) Topic 7: life and nature, Kant, Idea for a universal history*
Apr. 7 (Tuesday) Topic 7 (Continued)
Apr. 9, 14, 16: Spring Recess, No class
Apr. 21 (Tuesday), Midterm Presentation
Apr. 23 (Thursday) Midterm Presentation
Apr. 28 (Tuesday) Current issues 1: abortion and capital punishment
Apr. 30 (Thursday) Current issues 2: religion and ethics
May 5 (Tuesday) Current issues 3: ethics and technology
May 7 (Thursday) Current issues 4: environmental ethics
May 12 (Tuesday) Current issues 5: multicultural ethics
May 14 (Thursday) Review
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