DEPARTMENT OF PHILOSOPHY
www.philosophy.ualberta.ca
2017 - 2017 Monday/Wednesday (Spring Term)
PHIL 101 X01: Introduction to Philosophy: Values and Society
Instructor: Jack Yang (Yuan-chieh Yang) Time: 6:00 pm - 9:10 pm
Office: Assiniboia Hall 3-50 Place: T B 129
Office Hours: Tuesday 3:00-5:00 pm, or by appointment E-mail: [email protected]
Course Pre-requisite: No prerequisite for this course
Course-based Ethics Approval in place regarding all research projects that involve human testing, questionnaires, etc?
Yes No, not needed. No such projects approved.
Community Service-Learning component Required Optional N/A
Past or Representative Evaluative Course Material Available Exam registry – Students’ Union
http://www.su.ualberta.ca/services/infolink/exam/
See explanations below Document distributed in class Other (please specify)
NA
Additional mandatory Instructional fees (approved by Board of Governors)
Yes No
Course Description:
This course is an introduction to philosophical examination of some of our most
fundamental ideas about values and society. We will do this in a topic-oriented way. One major topic will be selected every class and philosophers' arguments for or against this topic will be introduced. The class will consist of lectures and group discussions.
The topics in this course will be roughly divided into three sections. The first section of the class will focus on central issues in ethics or moral philosophy. We will think about some of the following topics: what is the right thing to do? What ought I to do? Is maximizing happiness the highest good? How do we decide what kind of action has moral worth? What does it mean to treat a person as an object or a thing?
The second section of the class will focus on political philosophy. Some contemporary examples in social and cultural debates will be taken up in our discussions. For instance, is it fair to have affirmative action (employment equity)? Does the free market system lead us to an unjust society? What is justice? How do we decide who deserves what in a society? Should we legalize same sex marriage? Why? Different philosophical theories will be introduced when we answer these questions.
The last section will provide more advanced discussions in ethics and political philosophy. In particular, we will discuss Virtue Ethics and debates between liberalism and communitarianism. Finally, we will briefly discuss Existentialist Ethics, which has been developed in a relatively distinctive way from other approaches to the ethical and political questions mentioned above, and focus on its conception of radical freedom and responsibility.
Philosophy may not solve above-mentioned moral or political questions once and for all, but it can give us in-depth analysis of the issues and bring more clarity and precision to the arguments and concepts involved in the discussions. The goal in this course is to help you think through moral and political issues from a philosophical point of view and to help you develop your own arguments.
Course Objectives:
This course is intended to help you to develop competence in:
analyzing and evaluating philosophical arguments about the selected topics
developing your own arguments about the topics
understanding of the key elements of the philosophical theories covered
critical reading and writing skills
preparation for more advanced course work in ethics and political philosophy
Required Texts:
Justice: What's The Right Thing to Do? by Michael J. Sandel, Macmillan, 2010 (available at the U of A bookstore).
Other required texts will be available on eClass.
Recommended Text for Paper Writing:
Writing Philosophy: A Guide For Canadian Students, Lewis Vaughn and Jillian Scott McIntosh. Oxford University Press, 2013.
Grade Distribution:
i. Reading Questions, worth 15%
ii. Participation: engage in classroom activities, worth 10%
iii. Two short (1000 word) assignments:
First Assignment: Topics handed in on May 15, due on May 29, worth 20%
Second Assignment: Topics handed in on May 31, due on June 12, worth 20%
iv. Final Exam, worth 35%.
Note: Specific instructions on reading questions, participation, papers, and the final exam will be given at the appropriate time.
Required Notes:
“Policy about course outlines can be found in Section 23.4(2) of the University Calendar.”
Academic Integrity
“The University of Alberta is committed to the highest standards of academic integrity and
honesty. Students are expected to be familiar with these standards regarding academic honesty and to uphold the policies of the University in this respect. Students are particularly urged to familiarize
themselves with the provisions of the Code of Student Behaviour (online at
http://www.governance.ualberta.ca/en/CodesofConductandResidenceCommunityStandards/CodeofSt udentBehaviour.aspx ) and avoid any behaviour that could potentially result in suspicions of cheating, plagiarism, misrepresentation of facts and/or participation in an offence. Academic dishonesty is a serious offence and can result in suspension or expulsion from the University.”
Learning and working environment
The Faculty of Arts is committed to ensuring that all students, faculty and staff are able to work and study in an environment that is safe and free from discrimination and harassment. It does not tolerate behaviour that undermines that environment. The department urges anyone who feels that this policy is being violated to:
• Discuss the matter with the person whose behaviour is causing concern; or
• If that discussion is unsatisfactory, or there is concern that direct discussion is inappropriate or threatening, discuss it with the Chair of the Department.
For additional advice or assistance regarding this policy you may contact the student ombudservice:
(http://www.ombudservice.ualberta.ca/). Information about the University of Alberta Discrimination and Harassment Policy and Procedures is described in UAPPOL at
https://policiesonline.ualberta.ca/PoliciesProcedures/Pages/DispPol.aspx?PID=110.
Academic Honesty:
All students should consult the information provided by the Office of Student Conduct and Accountability regarding avoiding cheating and plagiarism in particular and academic dishonesty in general (see the Academic Integrity Undergraduate Handbook and Information for Students). If in doubt about what is permitted in this class, ask the instructor.
An instructor or coordinator who is convinced that a student has handed in work that he or she could not possibly reproduce without outside assistance is obliged, out of consideration of fairness to other students, to report the case to the Associate Dean of the Faculty. See the Academic Discipline Process.
Recording of Lectures:
Audio or video recording of lectures, labs, seminars or any other teaching environment by students is allowed only with the prior written consent of the instructor or as a part of an approved
accommodation plan. Recorded material is to be used solely for personal study, and is not to be used or distributed for any other purpose without prior written consent from the instructor.
Attendance, Absences, and Missed Grade Components:
Regular attendance is essential for optimal performance in any course. In cases of potentially excusable absences due to illness or domestic affliction, notify your instructor by e-mail within two days. Regarding absences that may be excusable and procedures for addressing course components missed as a result, consult sections 23.3(1) and 23.5.6 of the University Calendar. Be aware that unexcused absences will result in partial or total loss of the grade for the “attendance and participation” component(s) of a course, as well as for any assignments that are not handed-in or completed as a result.
In this course, Participation is worth 10 % of your final grade. Good participation requires: 1.
Engage in lectures and classroom activities. 2. Be prepared for discussions by reading all required texts and understanding key concepts and philosophical problems from the texts. 3. Focus on discussion and keep discussions on track. 4. In the discussion section, communication and cooperation between students are important. Therefore, you are expected to be willing to not only speak up but also listen to other students carefully for later critical responses to their ideas.
Policy for Late Assignments:
All due dates may be negotiated with the instructor (“extensions”) up to 72 hours prior to the scheduled due date. Any assignment that is turned in late (after 10:00 a.m. on the due day) will lose 10% of the possible marks. Late work will lose an additional 15% of the possible marks for each additional calendar day late. If a new due date has been negotiated with the instructor and the assignment is turned in late, it will lose 50% of possible marks for each day that it is late.
Student Accessibility Services:
If you have special needs that could affect your performance in this class, please let me know during the first week of the term so that appropriate arrangements can be made. If you are not already registered with Student Accessibility Services, contact their office immediately (1-80 SUB; Email [email protected]; Email; phone 780-492-3381; WEB
www.ssds.ualberta.ca ).
Grading:
This class is not graded on a curve. Marks for assignments, tests, and exams are given in a LETTER GRADE, which is then converted into a number in order to facilitate the calculation of your final grade.
Letter % Pts
A+ 92-100 4.0
A 88-92 4.0
A- 84-88 3.7
B+ 80-84 3.3
B 76-80 3.0
B- 72-76 2.7
C+ 68-72 2.3
C 64-68 2.0
C- 60-64 1.7
D+ 55-60 1.3
D 50-55 1.0
F <50 0.0
A-range indicates EXCEPTIONAL PERFORMANCE: comprehensive in-depth knowledge of the principles and materials treated in the course, fluency in communicating that knowledge and independence in applying material and principles. It is clear that the student has gone beyond a basic understanding of the texts (likely they have noticed a subtlety of the argument) and do not commit any major errors in reasoning or applying the concepts. The difference between A+, A, and A- will likely have to do with the clarity of the presentation of the argument, originality, and strength of the defense.
B-range indicates GOOD PERFORMANCE: thorough understanding of the breadth of materials and principles treated in the course and ability to apply and communicate that understanding effectively. The paper demonstrates an understanding of the text, but not an exceptional understanding. Papers like these will reconstruct ideas from class or the readings without major error. The difference between A-range papers and these is that the understanding is fairly basic, containing little or no evidence of further thought beyond what was presented in class. There are no significant mistakes in reasoning.
C-range indicates SATISFACTORY PERFORMANCE: basic understanding of the breadth of principles and material treated in the course and an ability to apply and communicate that understanding competently. These papers make use of the ideas surrounding the texts, but they are lacking in some important way. Typically these papers will
not address the topic directly, go off on an unnecessary tangent, make blatantly fallacious arguments, or commit some misunderstandings about the required concepts.
D-range indicates MINIMALLY COMPETENT PERFORMANCE: adequate understanding of most principles and materials treated in the course, but with significant weakness in some areas and in the ability to apply and communicate that understanding. These essays are attempts to do what was asked that fail in one or more significant ways. They are often short, having sentences and ideas that do not connect cleanly to each other throughout the entire paper. It is unclear what the topic of discussion is. Perhaps it is an incoherent “word-salad.” A paper that is completely filled with quotes and showing no original thought on the part of the student (a copy&paste paper) would likely go here.
F indicates FAILURE: inadequate or fragmentary knowledge of the principles and materials treated in the course or a failure to complete the work required in the course. Ideas presented are just plain wrong. Counter arguments are absent or clearly committing the straw-person fallacy (this will be explained in your second tutorial).
Unsubstantiated claims exist throughout. Serious jumps in logic or reasoning exist.
Course Schedule
Topic Date Required Reading Assignment
Introduction May 8 -- Introduction to Philosophy (eClass) -- Justice Chapter 1, Sandel
-- “Some Basic Points about Arguments,”
James Rachels (eClass) -- Logic and Fallacies (eClass) Utilitarianism May 10 -- Justice Chapter 2, Sandel
-- "The Debate over Utilitarianism," James Rachels (eClass)
-- “The Singer Solution to World Poverty,”
Peter Singer (eClass)
Reading Questions
Kantian Ethics May 15 -- Justice Chapter 5, Sandel
-- Excerpts from Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals, Kant (eClass)
First Assignment Topics
Kantian Ethics, Objectification, and Freedom
May 17 -- "Seven Ways to Treat a Person as a Thing," Martha Nussbaum (eClass)
-- "Three Distinctions between Conceptions of Liberty," Adam Swift (eClass)
May 22 Victoria Day, No Class Libertarianism,
Markets, and Justice
May 24 -- Justice Chapter 3 & Chapter 4, Sandel -- "Freedom, private property, the market and redistribution," Adam Swift (eClass) -- “Three Normative Models of
Democracy," J. Habermas (eClass)
In-Class Peer Review Activity
Social Contract Theory & John Rawls
May 29 -- Excerpts from Hobbes & Rousseau on Human nature and sovereignty (eClass) -- Justice Chapter 6, Sandel
First Assignment Due
Who deserves What?
May 31 -- Justice Chapter 7 & Chapter 8, Sandel Second Assignment Topics Aristotelian Virtue
Ethics
June 5 -- “Virtue Ethics” James Rachels (eClass) -- “Normative Virtue Ethics,” Rosalind Hursthouse (eClass)
-- "The Virtues and the Unity of a Human Life" in After Virtue Ch. 15, Alasdair MacIntyre (eClass)
Liberalism vs.
Communitarianism
June 7 -- Justice Chapter 9 & Chapter 10, Sandel -- "Correcting Misunderstandings of Liberals," Adam Swift (eClass)
In-Class Peer Review Activity
Moral
Individualism &
Existentialism
June 12 -- "Personal Autonomy & Existentialist Ethics," John Deigh (eClass)
-- Excerpts from "Existentialism is a Humanism" Jean-Paul Sartre (eClass) -- Excerpts from "Thus Spoke Zarathustra,"
F. Nietzsche (eClass)
-- "Eternal Recurrence," Robert Solomon (eClass)
Second
Assignment Due
Review June 14 Review & Tips for Final Exam Final Exam June 16 (F) 6:00 pm-8:00 pm
Notice: This schedule may be subject to change as weather or academic circumstances dictate. You will be given as much advance notice as possible.
