University of San Diego

Ethical Theory -- Phil. 360, Sect. 1:

Lawrence M. Hinman, Ph.D.

Fall 2006 - 7:45am-9:05am - C101

Course Description:

This course is an introduction to ethical theory. It surveys major positions in ethics (egoism, deontology, utilitarianism, and virtue ethics) and considers a number of issues relating to ethical theories in general (relativism, skepticism, moral alienation, and cultural diversity in ethics).

Required Texts:

Assignments:

See the Schedule of Assignments page for a complete list of reading requirements and assignments

Grades:

Possible Points:
Journal:
  30 points
Outside Lectures   10 points
Mid-term exam   30 points
Final exam   30 points
TOTAL 100 points
   
Letter grade equivalents are:
A+
 98-100 C+ 78-79
A 93-97 C 73-77
A- 90-92 C- 70-72
B+ 88-89 D+ 68-69
B 83-87 D 63-67
B- 80-82 D- 60-62
    F: 0-59

Office Hours

Office is located in Founders Hall 164. Office hours are listed below, along with class schedule.

Lawrence M. Hinman, Teaching and Office Hour Schedule, Fall Semester, 2008

Schedule: Fall Semester, 2008

  Monday Tuesday Wendesday Thursday Friday Room
Phil. 321, Sect. 1: Social Ethics   7:45-9:05   7:45-9:05   MRH131
Office Hours   9:10-10:40   9:10-10:40   F-164
Phil. 321, Sect. 2:
Social Ethics 		  10:45-12:05   10:45-12:05   MRH131
Office Hours   12:10-1:10   12:10-1:10   F-164
Other times by appointment

Office direct dial number is 619-260-4787.
E-mail address is hinman@sandiego.edu . I check my mail several times a day, even when I'm not on campus, so this is an excellent way of reaching me.

World Wide Web Site

This syllabus, including any last minute changes to it, will be available on the World Wide Web at: http://ethics.sandiego.edu/Courses/Theory/TheorySyllaF2006.asp

Also, a variety of resources for ethics are available at my site, Ethics Updates. Its address is: http://ethics.sandiego.edu

Please consult these regularly.

Photos

In order to make it easier to learn and remember everyone’s name, please send me an ID photo (head and shoulders) as an attachment by email (hinman@sandiego.edu). If you have access to your USD ID photo, that would be fine to send. In the Subject of the email please include "ID Photo Phil. 360"

Attendance and Participation

Attendance and participation are an integral part of the course. Participation is judged on

  1. Your grasp of the assigned reading material;
  2. Your ability to apply ideas developed in the readings to new situations, including your own experience; and
  3. Your ability to listen to, and respond relevantly to, the comments of other students in the course.

Students are responsible for the material presented in class, and for any assignments announced in class.

Outside lectures:

You are required to attend two outside lectures on ethics during the semester. Notices about possible lectures will be added to our website.

In addition to attending the lecture, you are required to write a 1-2 page paper commenting on the lecture and the ethical issues that it raises.

Journals:

You are expected to keep a journal, recording your reactions to the assigned readings and to the class meetings. At the mid-term and final, you must turn in the typed hard copy of your journal for the preceding portion of the course. You will also be expected to present the content of your journal in class. The exact dates are given in the schedule. Points will be deduced for late journals. See additional guidelines.

Exams:

There will be a mid-term and a final exam. Make-up exams are only permitted for medical reasons with a written excuse from a physician stating that the student was unable to take the exam on the assigned date for medical reasons.

Cheating

Don't. Any student caught cheating on an exam, paper, or other assignment will automatically be reported to the Dean for appropriate action.



Lawrence M. Hinman - University of San Diego