PHI 212: Contemporary Moral Issues
SYLLABUS:
PHI 212: CONTEMPORARY MORAL ISSUES (FALL 2023) -- Available NOW!!
PRESENTATION SCHEDULE:
PHI 212, FALL 2023 - TR 10:30-11:45 a.m. [Sections 18881 (H) and 34759] -- Available NOW!!
COURSE MATERIALS:
Lecture 2: Ethical Relativism: What it is, and Objections Thereagainst
Three Arguments Against Eating Meat compiled by Dr. Y, using Jonathan Safran Foer's points in Eating Animals and the movie, "Cowspiracy" (this is one of your readings -- see Presentation Schedule)
Eight Arguments in Favor of Eating Meat and Objections Thereto (by Dr. Y; this is one of your readings -- see Presentation Schedule above)
ARTICLE SUMMARY GUIDELINES AND GRADING SCALE(S):
PRESENTATION GUIDELINES:
PAPER ASSIGNMENTS (and Abbreviation Guide for Grading):
First Paper Assignment -- Available when Dr. Y announces in class.
Second Paper Assignment -- Available when Dr. Y announces in class.
Third Paper Assignment -- Available NOW!!
Grading Legend -- Explanations for the abbreviations on your graded papers
ADVICE ON WRITING PAPERS:
OPTIONAL COURSE MATERIAL (only look at and/or print this stuff if you're interested in it):
Dr. Y's "The Importance of Philosophy: Why does philosophy matter? Why bother with it?"
Dr. Y's List of Fallacies -- A whole bunch of fallacies: Don't commit these and point them out when others do!
Normative Ethics Diagram (Thumbnail sketch of different major ways of approaching ethics)
Immanuel Kant in The Principles of Public Right is in favor of the Death Penalty
Act Utilitarianism versus Rule Utilitarianism -- Definitions of and examples of each ethical theory
Kant's Ethical Theory versus Mill's Ethical Theory -- Considerations for and against each view
Roe v. Wade decision: Dr. Y's notes on Justice White's Dissent
The End of Roe v. Wade: A Briefing from Lewis Vaughn, Doing Ethics, 6/e
Interactive State Map of Abortion Laws (with Waiting Periods and Exceptions)
Dr. Y's Notes on Mary Anne Warren's Postscript on Infanticide
Dr. Y's short paper: "Consistency and the Conservative Abortion Position"
Where Assisted Death is Legal in the US and the World (as of November 2020)
Steven Brill's "Bitter Pill" (Time Magazine's Special Report on Health Care)
"Medicare for All" saves money (according to 22 studies)
Philosopher Mylan Engel Jr.'s Argument in Favor of Vegetarianism -- Dr. Y's notes on Engel's article, with some quotations
Optional Extra Credit Assignments – Available NOW!!