PHIL 341:
ETHICAL THEORY
Fall 2009
    MW 12:12:50 pm , TYD 1102

Patricia Greenspan, instructor
pg@umd.edu
www.philosophy.umd.edu/Faculty/PGreenspan
1101A Skinner Hall
W 2-3:30 and by appointment 		Stephen Emet, , TA
sfe@umd.edu
http://terpconnect.umd.edu/~sfe/
1118D Skinner Hall
MW 10-11:30 and by appointment

This course will study selections from major texts in the history of philosophy exhibiting key contrasts within theoretical ethics:  Mill's “total happiness” principle versus Kant's principle of universalizability as explaining what makes an act right or wrong, Aristotle's emphasis on reason versus Hume's insistence on the passions as determining virtuous character, and Rawls’s explanation of the sense of justice in terms of social contract theory and the development of the moral sentiments.

Prerequisite: two courses in philosophy.  

Required readings will include selections from:

                    Mill, Utilitarianism (Oxford) [0-19-875163-X]

                    Kant, Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals (Oxford) [0-19-875180-X]

                    Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics (Penguin) [0140449493]   

                    Hume, Moral Philosophy (Hackett) [0872205991]

                    Rawls, A Theory of Justice (Harvard) [0674000781]

organized as indicated in the schedule of topics and assigmentment.

Written requirements of the course will include midterm and final exams plus three short papers; there also may be some unannounced quizzes.  The midterm will count 20% of the student's grade, the final 20%, the three papers 15% each, with another 15% for class participation (including performance on any quizzes).  Grades may also be adjusted upward (to a maximum of one full grade) at the end of a course to reflect improvement and similar factors, but this benefit is limited to students who keep up with assignments and participate regularly in the ongoing discussion that is central to the course's aims.

No laptops or PDAs may be used in class, except by special arrangement with the disabilities office.  In general, students are expected to avoid distracting behaviors such as unscheduled comings and goings (e.g., lateness, bathroom trips), private conversations (even on the topic), extended eating (a drink is OK), or newspaper reading.  Students are expected to attend class regularly and to make up for any material they miss by consulting other students. 

This syllabus is available, along with the schedule, plus supporting information about policies of the instructor, on the instructor’s website (click on “courses” at the address above).  Later handouts or other material distributed or presented in slide format during class will be posted under “course materials” as the term proceeds.  Latecomers to the course should immediately consult the course materials for information about the demands of the course and outlines of classes they missed.