Introduction to Ethics (PHIL 160)
CSU Long Beach - Fall 98
9:30-10:45 a.m. - Tuesday & Thursday (PSY-150) (Main Lecture)

Julie Van Camp, Associate Professor of Philosophy
Teaching Associates: Michael Colson and Victoria Rogers

Principal Lecture
Discussion Groups
Tuesday, August 25 & Thursday, August 27

Introduction to Philosophy and Ethics


No Discussion groups: August 25, 27
I. Ethical Theory: The Standards of Moral Right and Wrong
Tuesday, September 1

"Philosophical Problems with Moral Relativism," F. Beckwith

Thursday, September 3

"The Truth in Ethical Relativism," Hugh LaFollette

Overview introduction: Kant and Mill


Discussion groups: September 1, 3:

Beckwith, Relativism

Tuesday, September 8

"Rational Absolutism," Immanuel Kant

Thursday, September 10

"Utilitarianism," J. S. Mill

Distribute Practice Exam I

Discussion Groups: September 8, 10:

Kant

Tuesday, September 15

Review for Exam I and Quiz

Thursday, September 17

EXAM I and QUIZ (9:30-10:45)

Discussion Groups: September 15, 17:

Mill, review for Exam I and Quiz

II.The Morality of Taking Life
A. Suicide

Tuesday, September 22

"The Sin of Suicide," St. Thomas Aquinas

"The Right of Suicide," David Hume

Thursday, September 24

John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital v. Heston

Discussion Groups: September 22, 24: Aquinas, Hume, Suicide
B. Euthanasia

Tuesday, September 29

"Euthanasia: A Biblical Appraisal," Kerby Anderson

Thursday, October 1

Matter of Quinlan

Discussion Groups: September 29, October 1: Anderson, Euthanasia
Tuesday, October 6

"Euthanasia," James Rachels

Thursday, October 8

Cruzan v. Harmon

Discussion Groups:

October 6, 8:

Quinlan, Rachels

C. Capital Punishment

Tuesday, October 13

"Speech in Favor of Capital Punishment," J. S. Mill

"The Case Against the Death Penalty," Hugo Adam Bedau

Thursday, October 15

Gregg v. Georgia

Distribute Practice Exam II

Discussion Groups:

October 13, 15:

Mill, Bedau

Tuesday, October 20

Practice Exam and Review for Mid-term Exam

Thursday, October 22

Mid-term Exam

Discussion Groups:

October 20, 22:

review for mid-term

III. The Good Society
A. Environmental Ethics

Tuesday, October 27

"Can Future Generations Correctly Be Said to Have Rights," Macklin

"The Rights of Animals and Unborn Generations," Joel Feinberg

Thursday, October 29

Sierra Club v. Morton

Discussion Groups:

October 27, 29:

Macklin, Feinberg

B. Animal Ethics

Tuesday, November 3

"Moral Constraints and Animals," Robert Nozick

Thursday, November 5

"The Origin of Speciesism," LaFollette and Shanks

Church of Lukumi Babalu Aye, Inc. v. City of Hialeah

Discussion Groups: November 3, 5:

Nozick, LaFollette

C. Affirmative Action

Tuesday, November 10

"Against Affirmative Action," Lisa H. Newton

"The Justice of Affirmative Action," Ronald Dworkin

Thursday, November 12

Regents of the University of California v. Bakke

Discussion Groups: November 10, 12:

Newton, Dworkin

D. Business Ethics

November 17

"Profits Before Ethics," Milton Friedman

November 19

"Ethics Before Profits," Robert L. Holmes

Discussion Groups: November 17, 19: Friedman, Holmes
November 24 & 26: NO CLASS (Thanksgiving week) No Discussion Groups: November 24 & 26
Tuesday, December 1

Penn Central Transportation v. City of New York

Distribute Practice Exam III

Thursday, December 3

Practice Exam III & Review for Final Exam

Discussion Groups:

December 1, 3:

review for final exam


EXAM III (FINAL) (Units I and III): Tuesday, December 8: 10:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.


This page maintained by Julie Van Camp.
Your comments and questions are welcome: jvancamp@csulb.edu

Last updated: July 15, 1998