BLUE RIDGE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
APPLIED ETHICS (PHI 225)
Tuesdays & Thursdays
Dr. E. Perry Neel, Instructor
Office Hours: Tu-Th before and after class
email: [email protected]
skeptichume.weebly.com
"'So Merlyn sent you to me' said the badger, 'To finish your education. Well, I can only teach you two things. To dig, and love your home. These are the true end of philosophy.'" The Badger from "The Sword in the Stone," THE ONCE AND FUTURE KING, T.H. White.
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course analyzes and discusses significant contemporary ethical issues and problems existing throughout the various professions such as business, medicine, law, education, journalism, and public affairs.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
Each student should be able to...
1. Recognize and analyze various ethical dilemmas
2. Describe various theoretical approaches to ethical problem solving
3. Articulate responses to real and hypothetical ethical situations
4. Develop one’s own sense of personal ethics
EVALUATION AND REQUIREMENTS:
Theories Test: The theories test is objective, multiple choice, based on the theories readings and lectures. 100 points.
Opinion Portfolio and Participation: Each student will submit 10 ethical Opinions with analysis, one each for 10 of the 14 topics covered in the course (student chooses which 10 but can only submit a maximum of 10). These are opinion articles/editorials from newspapers and magazines, etc. They are not to be academic in nature, only from accepted news sources. No foreign articles. Only U.S. sources. American often has a unique situation regarding certain issues in ethics. Students are expected to be familiar with and comment on their submissions in class discussion. Each submission should have two points of correlation from the the chapter in text. Your Opinion submissions should reflect this with highlighted annotations (as described in class). Student submissions will be each week on Thursday. (This all will all be explained and demonstrated in more detail in class.)
Each Opinion grade: no case- 0. case-5. appropriate case- 7. with 1 appropriate annotation- 8.5. 2 appropriate annotations- 10.
10 x 10= 100 points.
Final Exam: Each student will write an issue paper for the final exam. It will address one of the topics covered suggested by the prorfessor. The student will select a case for analysis The case will be an objective news story from a standard news source, such as newspapers, magazines, tv networks, etc.. The student will analyze his/her case from two ethical perspectives from the readings in the text. The student should explain which, if either, theoretical point of view is more persuasive in addressing the issues manifested in the case. And why the other perspective is inadequate. Appropriate quotations and references are required. 3 page minimum, ds, 12 font, one inch margins on all four sides, title page, and article (case) attached on the back. 100 points.
300 Total: 90%-100% A. 80%-89% B. 70%-79% C. 60%-65% D. Below 60% F.
COURSE ATTENDANCE AND PARTICIPATION POLICY:
Attendance is expected. I do not distinguish excused and unexcused absences. The fourth and subsequent absences incur a 10 point penalty. No late tests or assignments accepted.
COURSE ETIQUETTE:
THE CLASSROOM IS A CELL-FREE ZONE. Absolutely no cellphones. Texting in class will require you to leave your phone on the professor’s desk the remainder of class and all subsequent classes.. And No electronic devices of any type are allowed without approval of the instructor. They should be put away and not on the desk. NO FOOD or GUM. Drinks are allowed. (“I don’t have pet peeves. I have deep psychological hatreds.” George Carlin)
Accommodation can be made for religious holidays and official activities representing the college. Please regularly check your VCCS email account for communications from the college and the professor.
COURSE ACADEMIC HONESTY/PLAGIARISM POLICY:
Plagiarism and cheating will result in automatic failure of the course and referral to the college administration for academic discipline.
INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS/TEXT: The Elements of MORAL PHILOSOPHY, Rachels and Rachels. McGraw-Hill publishers. Handouts and research information.
COURSE SCHEDULE AND SEQUENCE OF INSTRUCTION:
Tuesday / Thursday
Week 1 Morality and Ethics-Applied Ethics (Tu & Th) Text chapter 1 (Discuss student submissions)
Week 2 Cultural Relativism chapter 2 / Submissions
Week 3 Subjectivism chapter 3 / Submissions
Week 4 Morality and Religion chapter 4 / Submissions
Week 5 Ethical Egoism chapter 5 / Submissions
Week 6 Social Contract Theory chapter 6 / Submissions
Week 7 Utilitarianism chapter 7 / Submissions
Week 8 more on Utilitarianism chapter 8 / Submissions
Week 9 Moral Absolutism chapter 9 / Submissions
Week 10 Kant: The Categorical Imperative & Respect of Persons chapter 10 / Submissions
Week 11 Feminism chapter 11 / Submissions
Week 12 Virtue Ethics chapter 12/ Submissions
Week 13 Review of Theories Tu. & Th
Week 14 Theories Test / Special Topics in Ethics
Week 15 Looking for Ethics Cases / Final Exam Preparation
Final Exam Week: Day and Time TBA
Required Supplement to Syllabus
(Please insert this as the last page of your syllabi)
- ACADEMIC CALENDAR: The academic calendar gives the start and end dates for semester sessions and important deadlines for withdrawing from classes, etc.
- http://www.brcc.edu/academics/academic-calendar/index.html
- Blackboard Course Access:
- https://learn.vccs.edu
- COURSE RECORDINGS: Meetings of this course might be recorded; these recordings will be available to students registered for this class and are intended to supplement the classroom experience. Students are expected to follow appropriate BRCC policies and maintain the security of passwords used to access recorded lectures. Recordings may not be reproduced, shared with those not in the class, or uploaded to other online environments without prior written instructor permission; doing so would be a breach of the BRCC Honor Code. If the instructor or any other BRCC personnel or departments plan for other uses for the recordings beyond this class, students identifiable in the recordings will be asked for consent prior to such use.
Class may not be recorded without permission of the instructor.
- BRCC POLICIES:
- Academic Honesty: As a college student, you are expected to show integrity in your work and interactions with others. http://www.brcc.edu/academics/expectations/honor-code/index.html
- Academic Support: BRCC is committed to making sure you get responsive, effective answers to your questions. We’re here to help you succeed online. Click the link below to see resources available to you. http://www.brcc.edu/academics/academic-support/index.html
- NON-ATTENDING POLICY; Attendance is considered a measure of progress as defined by federal financial aid regulations. In order to maintain eligibility for financial aid, Blue Ridge must proactively monitor course progress. Non-attendance will be reported to the Dean of Student Services at the conclusion of the first week of the course, at midterm, and at the conclusion of the course. Students who receive federal financial aid and are not attending classes may be administratively withdrawn from the course.
- Failure to demonstrate active participation within the first seven days of an online class may result in administrative withdrawal from the course. For online courses, never attending is defined as never participated in any class discussions, blog postings, or other learning activities. If the student has logged into blackboard less than 2 times and has never contributed, they may be counted as never attending.
- Disability Services: We provide academic accommodations and support for students with documented disabilities. Students must submit current documentation of a disability by a qualified professional to Disability Services before academic accommodations can be requested. Qualified professional evaluations by physicians, psychologists, audiologists, etc., must have been completed within the last three years.
- http://www.brcc.edu/services/disability/index.html
- Final Course Grade Appeal Policy:
- The student should submit his/her complaint in writing to the appropriate administrative unit.
- The College will respond in writing within the designated time frame.
- Documentation of written complaints and the College's written response will be kept in a secure location for three years and then will be destroyed
- http://www.brcc.edu/services/right/complaint
- Faculty Expectations: Enrolling in classes at Blue Ridge Community College is a serious investment of money, time, and effort. To be successful, students must be aware of the challenges ahead of them and be willing and able to work toward meeting those challenges. Knowing what faculty expect helps students get the most out of the learning experience in the classroom and online. http://www.brcc.edu/academics/expectations/faculty-expectations/index.htmlhttp://www.brcc.edu/academics/expectations/faculty-expectations/index.htmlhttp://www.brcc.edu/academics/expectations/faculty-expectations/index.html
- Student Expectations: College instructors have encountered most of the challenges, frustrations, stresses, and triumphs that students will face. Faculty members know what students need to do to succeed in their courses and will work with students to that end. http://www.brcc.edu/academics/expectations/student-expectations/index.html
- BRCC ALERT REGISTRATION: Blue Ridge Community College uses BRCC Alert to immediately contact you during a major crisis or emergency. BRCC Alert delivers important emergency alerts, notifications and updates to you on all your devices.
- https://alert.brcc.edu/index.php
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