Department: Philosophy
Office: MET 1225M
Office Phone: (509) 682-6728
Email: CVanderhart@wvc.edu
Office Hours: By appointment via Canvas messenger
Zoom (ID = 509 682 6728)
Components Included
- Lecture
Survey of the history of philosophical ethics, including teleological and deontological theories, as well as their application to ethical issues.
A = 94%-100% A- = 90%-93.9% B+ = 87%-89.9% B = 84%-86.9% B- = 80%-83.9% C+ = 77%-79.9% C = 74%-76.9% C- = 70%-73.9% D+ = 66%-69.9% D = 60%-65.9% F = 0-59.9%
- To be able to identify and understand major ethical theories
- To be able to assess ethical issues using the tradition of philosophical ethics
- To develop critical thinking skills
- To develop written and oral communication skills by presenting arguments on various philosophical issues
Text: Lewis Vaughn, Contemporary Moral Arguments, ISBN: 9780199922260
Course Website: wvc.instructure.com
All course materials will be posted in chapter modules on Canvas. This will be the home page, but can also be accessed by clicking on the modules tab on the left at any time. Students will work from top to bottom. Due dates are visible next to all assignments.
Assignments
Discussions (20% of overall grade): Students will be expected to bring comments/questions to class based on assigned readings. Active participation daily will result in full points.
Papers (40%): Paper assignments will involve critical analysis of course topics, concepts, and/or arguments. Specific directions will be given in the assignments themselves.
Exams (40%): Two exams of equal weight will be given, one during finals week at the designated day/time for our course.
Course Policies & Misc.
Attendance: No points are awarded or deducted for attendance. However, active participation is required for discussion credit.
Office Hours: For private and secure communication with the instructor please either communicate through a direct message in Canvas (go to inbox) or through your WVC student email account with an email to the instructor (send to CVanderhart@wvc.edu). Zoom communication is not as secure (though it can be if you request so), but can be used for general chat about course work, directions, etc. To set up an appointment to talk, please send a message with some suggested days/times that work best for you. If your request comes in the morning, then an appointment by the afternoon of the same day should be easy to arrange. An appointment for the next day can be set up at any time!
Late Work: No late work will be accepted unless special approval from the instructor is granted, as in emergency situations or other serious circumstances.
Potential Change of Scheduled Due Dates: Any announcement of a change to the reading or due dates will be posted on Canvas via the “announcement” function.
Incompletes: Incompletes will be granted, but only under special circumstances. The student must have good academic standing in order to receive and incomplete, which includes having good standing in the class.
- Meta-ethics
- The Open Question Argument
- Naturalistic Fallacy
- Naturalism
- Non-Naturalism
- Emotivism
- Error Theory
- Moral Relativism
- Moral Psychology
- General Normative Ethics
- Egoism
- Natural Law
- Kantian Deontology
- Virtue Ethics
- Utilitarianism
- Contractarianism
- Applied Normative Ethics (additional topics permissible if time allows)
- Just War
- Capital Punishment
- Euthanasia
- Distributive Justice/Rights
General Statements
“The Disability Support Services Office has been designated by the college as the primary office to guide, coach and assist students with disabilities. If you receive services (or think you should) through that office and require accommodations for this class, make an appointment with the Director of Student Access (509-682-6854 or sas@wvc.edu) as soon as possible to discuss your approved accommodation needs. Any information you share is kept in strictest confidence unless you give written permission to do otherwise.
If you need a referral to that office or have further questions, please contact the Director of Student Access to assist you. Following through on these services can help you be more successful in your academic endeavors at WVC. (Note: the Director of Student Access will require appropriate documentation of disability. The use of that office is voluntary).”
WVC is committed to providing a safe learning environment. For your safety, the Bias Incident Response Team (BIRT) can connect you with resources/support to address bias-related incidents that may interfere with your academic success, particularly those directed at persons protected under WVC’s Non-Discrimination Policies and Procedures (https://www.wvc.edu/publicdisclosure/aa-eo-statements.html). Please visit the BIRT site at https://www.wvc.edu/bias to learn more and find out how you can report bias-related incidents.
WVC students are entitled to two days of excused absences per academic year for reasons of faith or conscience or for organized activities conducted under the auspices of a religious denomination, church or religious organization. Students’ grades may not be adversely impacted by absences authorized under this policy. Each holiday taken under this policy must be taken as a whole day, i.e. the day may not be divided into hours and taken piecemeal. Related Procedures 1400.610.
Any student who engages in any form of academic dishonesty may be subject to discipline. Common instances of academic dishonesty include (but are not limited to): cheating; fabrication; plagiarism; facilitating, aiding or abetting others in academic dishonesty; collusion; or resubmitting work previously submitted for another course without instructor permission. Academic dishonesty may be subject to both academic sanctions and/or code of conduct sanctions.