ETHICS NICHOLSON HALL 505
SYLLABUS, FALL TERM, 2004 867-2115 sbaldner@stfx.ca
OFFICE HOURS: Monday to Thursday, 2:15 – 4:00 p.m. Other times by appointment.
DESCRIPTION OF COURSE
The philosophical study of ethics is the study of what human behaviour ought
to be. In the social sciences or in history, you learn about human behaviour as
it actually occurs or has occurred. In philosophy, however, we are concerned
not primarily with what people actually do but with what they should do or ought
to do. What is the morally right thing to do? What sort of person is a good
person, morally or ethically? How ought we to live our lives? These are the
sorts of questions we attempt to answer in ethics. Accordingly, we shall
attempt to accomplish two goals. First, we shall try to learn why we should
behave in a moral or an ethical way, that is, we shall study ethical theory.
This is the goal for the first part of the course, which comprises the Fall Term
(from September to Christmas). In this first part of the course, we study the
four most important ethical theories: Aristotelian (or virtue) ethics; an
ethics based upon rights; Kantian (or deontological) ethics, and Utilitarian
ethics. From Aristotle, we learn an ethical theory according to which we ought
to behave in a moral way because moral behaviour (rather than immoral behaviour)
makes us better or happier human beings. Along with Aristotle, we read some
Thomas Aquinas, who completes Aristotle’s doctrine in several important ways.
From John Locke, we learn that ethical behaviour is a matter of exercising our
own individual rights and of respecting the rights of others. From Kant, we
learn an ethical theory according to which we ought to behave morally simply
because we have a duty to do so. Our duty to behave morally, according to Kant,
has nothing to do with our becoming better or happier human beings. Finally,
from John Stuart Mill, we learn Utilitarian ethics, according to which we should
behave in a morally good way in order to secure the greatest amount of pleasure
for the greatest number of people.
Our second goal, pursued in the second part of the course (from January until April), is to apply the theory that we have learned to specific moral problems. We shall examine problems such as abortion, euthanasia, capital punishment, war and pacifism, sexual ethics, pornography and free speech, the environment, capitalism, and so forth, to attempt to determine what is morally right and wrong. To do this, we must apply the theory that we will have learned in the first term to the specific moral problems. Only with a coherent answer to the question of why we should behave in a moral way can we answer the further question of what is good or bad in the pressing moral problems we face today.
We begin the first part of the course with Plato’ Gorgias. This work helps to introduce us to the study of ethical theory, in part because it raises the fundamental problem of whether we should be ethical at all. In a very forceful way, Plato argues that either we recognize that our behaviour should be guided by ethical theory or, if not, we are subject to control by whoever has the most power. Either our behaviour is guided by ethics or by brute power. In seeing this choice, Plato would have us see the importance of the philosophical investigation of ethics. The study of Plato leads naturally into the study of Aristotle, which follows.
I. Introduction to Ethics. The Problem of Moral Relativism and Subjectivism. Plato, Gorgias. September 9 – 20.
II. Aristotle. An Ethics of Virtue (with Natural Law). September 21 – October 21. Nicomachean Ethics and Summa theologiae.
A. Happiness. Nicomachean Ethics, I.1-12.
B. Moral Virtue in General. Nicomachean Ethics, I.13; II.1-9.
C. Moral Responsibility. Nicomachean Ethics, III.1-5.
D. Goodness and Evil of Human Acts in General. Thomas Aquinas, Summa theologiae, I-II, q. 18 [text distributed].
E. Particular Virtues (The Cardinal Virtues).
1. Courage (Fortitude). Nicomachean Ethics, III.6-9.
2. Self-Control (Temperance or Moderation). Nicomachean Ethics, III.10-12.
3. Justice. Nicomachean Ethics, V.
4. Practical Wisdom (Prudence). Nicomachean Ethics, VI.1-2,5.
F. Natural Law. Thomas Aquinas, Summa theologiae, I-II, q. 94 [text distributed]
G. Pleasure and Happiness. Nicomachean Ethics, X.
III. John Locke. An Ethics of Rights. The Second Treatise of Government, Chapters 1-5. [text distributed] October 25– 28.
IV. Immanuel Kant. Deontological Ethics. Groundwork of the Metaphysic of Morals. November 1 – 11.
V. John Stuart Mill. Utilitarianism. November 15 – 25.
VI. Review. November 29 – December 2.
REQUIRED TEXTS FOR FIRST TERM
Plato, Gorgias. Trans. Walter Hamilton. Penguin, 1971.
Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics. Trans. Martin Ostwald. Macmillan/LAA, 1962.
Immanuel Kant, Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals. Trans. James W. Ellington. Hackett, 1981.
John Stuart Mill, Utilitarianism. Ed. George Sher. Hackett, 1979.
Eldon Soifer, ed. Ethical Issues: Perspectives for Canadians. Broadview Press, 1997.
TEXTS TO BE DISTRIBUTED
St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa theologiae I-II, q. 18.
St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa theologiae I-II, q. 94.
John Locke, The Second Treatise of Government, chapters 1-5.
WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS FOR FIRST TERM
First Essay: September 30
Second Essay: October 25
Third Essay: November 15
Christmas Examination: December 15
Late essays are penalized at the rate of one point
deducted from the grade for every day the paper is late.
GRADING FOR THE COURSE
First Essay 10%
Second Essay 10%
Third Essay 10%
Christmas Examination 20%
Second Term Essay 20%
Final Examination 30%
The purpose of the class meetings is to understand the philosophical doctrines in the assigned readings. To this end, it is essential that you come to class having already read the text assigned for the class meeting. I do not assume, in my lectures, that you will have understood the entire text, but I do assume that you will have read the text, and read it carefully. Please bring any questions and difficulties you find in the readings to class – the chances are excellent that what is bothering you is also bothering someone else. Your question could also help someone else to learn.
Last modified 6.9.04