2019 F Syllabus PDF

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Fall 2019, PHI 1600: Introduction to Ethics Class: M, W: 12:30-1:45; BSN 1401

Prof. Colin Heydt ([email protected]) T.A.: Sean Dillard ([email protected])

INTRODUCTION TO ETHICS: MODELS FOR LIVING

WHAT IS THIS COURSE ABOUT? Why are we in class? In university? What are we

They detail models for living and the attractions of those

doing here? Typically, our answers to this would reference

ways of life. They diagnose the most common problems we face, identify the ends our lives should be directed

We shall not cease from exploration And the end of all our exploring Will be to arrive where we started And know the place for the first time. --T. S. Eliot

towards, and suggest the means suited to realizing those ends. The aim for this course is not necessarily that you adopt any individual philosopher’s position on the meaning of life. Rather, our goal is to find inspiration in these texts for how we can think through our own aims and values with greater acuity and seriousness.

some goal or end we have for ourselves: ‘I want a goodpaying job,’ or ‘I want to learn more about nursing (or literature, or psychology),’ or ‘I want to be happy.’ But how can we tell if we have the right goals? And even if we do have the right goals, do we know how to achieve them? This semester we will examine the work of philosophers who have advice for us about how to live.

HOW WILL YOU BE EVALUATED? -

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25% Pre-class assignments [NOTE: We will grade ONLY 7 of the 13, as selected by us] 30% 8-12 Comprehensive in-class, unannounced quizzes based, in part, on the pre-class assignments o Your lowest quiz grade will be dropped. Also be sure to contact your TA before any class if you will have an excusable absence (e.g. illness) n 30% Two 5-page papers with revisions 15% Comprehensive final exam Participation in class and on-line discussion: We reserve the right to move a student’s grade up for notably valuable contributions to the class

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Pascal, Pensees (selections: “Greatness,” “Diversion,” “Philosophers,” “The Sovereign Good”) Jonathan Edwards, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” Montaigne, “Of Experience” (selections) Confucius, The Analects, Books 1, 2.1-2.14, and 4

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Emerson, “Self-reliance” W.E.B. Du Bois, “Of Our Spiritual Strivings” from The Souls of Black Folk Sontag, “Notes on Camp” Marx and Engels, The Communist Manifesto Melville, “Bartleby”

WHAT’S OUR SCHEDULE? 8/26 Introduction 8/28 Introduction and Callard, “Liberal Education and the Possibility of Valuational Progress” 9/2 NO CLASS—LABOR DAY 9/4 Callard, “Liberal Education and the Possibility of Valuational Progress” 9/9 Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, Book 1 (except 1.6) 9/11 Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, Book 1 (except 1.6) [ALSO prior to class: read excerpt from Williams and Bizup, Style: Lessons in Clarity and Grace and do the exercises] 9/16 Epicurus, The Epicurus Reader, 3-4, 28-40 9/18 Epicurus, The Epicurus Reader, 3-4, 28-40 9/23 Epictetus, Handbook and “On Friendship” 9/25 Epictetus, Handbook and “On Friendship” 9/30 Epictetus, Handbook and “On Friendship” 10/2 Pascal, Pensees (selections) and Edwards, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” 10/7 Pascal, Pensees (selections) and Edwards, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”; FIRST PAPER DRAFT DUE 10/9 Pascal, Pensees (selections) and Edwards, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” 10/14 Montaigne, “Of Experience” (selections); FIRST PAPER FINAL COPY DUE 10/16 Montaigne, “Of Experience” (selections) 10/21 Confucius, The Analects, Books 1, 2.1-2.14, and 4 10/23 Confucius, The Analects Books 1, 2.1-2.14, and 4 10/28 Emerson, “Self-reliance” 10/30 Emerson, “Self-reliance” 11/4 Du Bois, “Of our spiritual strivings”

11/6 Du Bois, “Of our spiritual strivings”; SECOND PAPER DRAFT DUE 11/11 NO CLASS—VETERANS DAY 11/13 Sontag, “Notes on Camp”; SECOND PAPER FINAL COPY DUE 11/18 Sontag, “Notes on Camp” 11/20 Marx and Engels, The Communist Manifesto 11/25 Marx and Engels, The Communist Manifesto 11/27 NO CLASS—THANKSGIVING 12/2 Melville, “Bartleby” 12/4 SEMESTER REVIEW

FINAL EXAM: Wednesday 12/11, 10-12pm

STUFF YOU SHOULD KNOW Communicating with us: Generally, the best way to contact us is by email ([email protected]; [email protected]). Mr. Dillard will be having office hours Friday 2-5 in FAO 244. I will have office hours by appointment, Mondays 3:30-4:30, and Wednesdays 11-12 in FAO 245. We will also be checking in on discussion boards and on the course Canvas site.

Class policies: Taking notes with pen and paper rather than with computers promotes learning. Phone and computer use is thereby not allowed in the classroom. If you have a reason for using a phone or computer, please come talk to me. Also recognize that when you miss a class session, it is neither the teaching assistant’s nor my responsibility to tell you what you missed. Note that these class sessions will typically be recorded.

Paper policy: Every paper requires that you submit an electronic version of your paper to Turnitin (without submission to Turnitin, the paper grade will be a zero). If we do not receive the final version by the due date and time, you will lose one-third of a grade (e.g. a B to a B-). A full grade will then be lost for each additional day (beginning at midnight of the day the paper is due—so each midnight that passes will be the loss of one full grade, in addition to the initial one-third of a grade). The lowest grade a student will receive for handing in a paper that fulfills the basic requirements of the assignment is an F (rather than a zero for handing in nothing at all). Note: Each paper will go through a peer revision process. If you do not participate (and in a timely manner), your final grade for the paper will be deducted two full letter grades.

Grading Scale:

Grading Scale (%) 94-100 90-93 87-89 84-86 80-83 77-79

A AB+ B BC+

74-76 70-73 67-69 64-66 60-63 0 - 59

C CD+ D DF

Note: Incomplete grades for the semester will be given only if a majority of the class work has been completed with a passing grade and with specific documentation of necessity.

Academic Integrity of Students: Plagiarism is a serious offense and will be treated accordingly. The punishment for plagiarism is an FF (indicating academic dishonesty) for the course. Please ask if you have any questions whatsoever about the citation of secondary sources.

Academic integrity is the foundation of the University of South Florida System’s commitment to the academic honesty and personal integrity of its university community. Academic integrity is grounded in certain fundamental values, which include honesty, respect, and fairness. Broadly defined, academic honesty is the completion of all academic endeavors and claims of scholarly knowledge as representative of one’s own efforts. The final decision on an academic integrity violation and related academic sanction at any USF System institution shall affect and be applied to the academic status of the student throughout the USF System, unless otherwise determined by the independently accredited institution.

Disruption to Academic Process: Disruptive students in the academic setting hinder the educational process. Disruption of the academic process is defined as the act, words, or general conduct of a student in a classroom or other academic environment which in the reasonable estimation of the instructor: (a) directs attention away from the academic matters at hand, such as noisy distractions, persistent, disrespectful or abusive interruption of lecture, exam, academic discussion, or general University operations, or (b) presents a danger to the health, safety, or well-being of self or other persons.

Student Academic Grievance Procedures: The purpose of these procedures is to provide all undergraduate and graduate students taking courses within the University of South Florida System an opportunity for objective review of facts and events pertinent to the cause of the academic grievance. An “academic grievance” is a claim that a specific academic decision or action that affects that student’s academic record or status has violated published policies and procedures, or has been applied to the grievant in a manner different from that used for other students.

Religious Observances: Students who anticipate the necessity of being absent from the class for more than one week due to a major religious observance must provide notice of the date(s) to the instructor, in writing, by the second week of the course.

Disability Access: Students in need of academic accommodations for a disability may consult with Students with Disabilities Services (http://sds.usf.edu/) to arrange appropriate accommodations. Students are required to give reasonable notice prior to requesting an accommodation.

Sexual Misconduct/Sexual Harassment Reporting: USF is committed to providing an environment free from sex discrimination, including sexual harassment and sexual violence (USF System Policy 0-004). The USF Center for Victim Advocacy and Violence Prevention is a confidential resource where you can talk about incidents of sexual harassment and gender-based crimes including sexual assault, stalking, and domestic/relationship violence. This confidential resource can help you without having to report your situation to either the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities (OSSR) or the Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Equal Opportunity (DIEO), unless you request that they make a report. Please be aware that in compliance with Title IX and under the USF System Policy, educators must report incidents of sexual harassment and gender-based crimes including sexual assault, stalking, and domestic/relationship violence. If you disclose any of these situations in class, in papers, or to me personally, I am required to report it to OSSR or DIEO for investigation. Contact the USF Center for Victim Advocacy and Violence Prevention: (813) 974-5757.

Resources: The TA and I are here to guide you through this course. But it is important that you take responsibility for trying to discover answers on your own. To that end, if you have a question about the class, Canvas, a tech problem, etc., try the following first before contacting us: 1) the course question/answer board, 2) USF I.T. Help Desk: 1.866.974.1222 or [email protected], 3) in Canvas, use the “Help” link at the top of the screen, 4) Google or your favorite search engine. USF has a plethora of student success resources—utilize them! You pay for these services through your tuition and they will increase your chances of success in this course and in your time at university: 

Advising: http://www.ugs.usf.edu/academicadvising/index.htm

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Writing assistance—The Writing Studio: http://www.lib.usf.edu/writing/

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Digital media assistance: http://lib.usf.edu/digital-studio/

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Test preparation: http://cereg.usf.edu/WebModule/reg/index.jsp?categoryId=10032”

General Education student learning objectives: Students will: 1. Demonstrate responsiveness within an established disciplinary context to new information, experiences, and ideas through process of re-evaluating the ideas and/or approaches. 2. Break down complex problems to examine, propose, and support potential solutions, even if those solutions deviate from acceptable, mainstream solutions....