Phil 160 Schedule
Note: Assigned reading must be completed before lecture on the day listed.

FE = The Fundamentals of Ethics (Russ Shafer-Landau)
ESC = Evolution of the Social Contract (Brian Skyrms)

Day
 Date
 Topic
 Assigned Reading
 Notes
Tu
 Jan 19
 Introduction
 FE, Introduction
  • HW1 posted
  • Overview of Course Topics
  • Overview of Course Mechanics
  • Logic and Argument
THEORIES OF WELFARE
Th
 Jan 21
 Hedonism
 FE, Ch 1

Mill, Utilitarianism, (excerpt). [optional]
  • The Welfare Question explained.
  • Intrinsic/Instrumental distinction.
  • Hedonism explained.
    • Attitudinal vs. Physical Pleasure
  • Reasons for Hedonism:
    • Mill's "Proof"
    • Explains why many good lives.
    • Explains our control over the goodness of our lives.
    • Explains the similar scenarios.
Tu
 Jan 26
 Hedonism FE, Ch 2
  • Reasons for Hedonism:
    • The Regress Argument
  • Learned how to P.E.E.
  • Arguments against Hedonism:
    • The Paradox of Hedonism
    • The Two Worlds
Th
 Jan 28
 Desire Satisfaction FE, Ch 3
 HW1 Due
  • Arguments against Hedonism:
    • The Two Worlds
    • Happiness and False Beliefs
    • Happiness and Autonomy
  • DST Introduced
  • How DST is different than Hedonism
  • Reasons for DST
    • Many ways to live a good life
    • A good life is a personal matter
    • Note about personal matter vs. "up to you"
    • Avoiding objective value
Tu
 Feb 2
 Desire Satisfaction
 FE, Ch 4
 HW 1 Due, HW2 Posted
  • Reasons for DST
    • Avoiding objective value
  • Group Activity: Islandia
  • Arguments Against DST
    • The Vaccination Example
    • The Suicide Intervention Example
Th
 Feb 4
 Desire Satisfaction
 FE, Ch 4
  • Arguments Against DST
    • The Family (Uninformed Desires)
    • The Tennis Star (Disappointment)
    • The Fastest Runner (Unknown Satisfaction)
    • Jared and Julie (Impoverished Desires)
  • Conclusion of Theories of Welfare
  • Comments on HW1, note about redoing Q5.
THEORIES OF RIGHT ACTION
Tu
 Feb 9
 Religion & Morality FE, Ch 5 HW2 Due
  • Assumption 1: Religion is necessary for moral motivation
  • Assumption 2: God is the source of morality.
  • Assumption 3: Religious texts are necessary for moral guidance.
Th
 Feb 11
 Ethical Egoism FE, Ch 8

Optional: Rand, "The Objectivisit Ethic"
 HW3 posted
  • Statement of Ethical Egoism (EE)
  • Act token/Act type distinction
  • A Quick Argument against EE
  • Arguments for EE
    • The Argument from Self-Reliance
    • The Best Argument for EE
  • Arguments against EE
    • Egoism and Personal Rights
    • What Makes You So Special?
Tu
 Feb 16
 NO CLASS
 MONDAY CLASS SCHEDULE
Th
 Feb 18
 Consequentialism
 FE, Ch 9

Bentham, Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation, (excerpt). 		HW3 Due
HW4 Posted
  • A Statement of Act Utilitarianism (AU)
  • AU versus AU-ex
  • Features of AU
    • Form of consequentialism
    • Doesn't privelege certain individuals
    • Gets the John/Julie cases right
    • Prospect of conflict resolution
    • Mostly in agreement with commonsense morality
    • But allows for flexible moral rules
Tu
 Feb 23
 Consequentialism
  • Euthanasia and Utilitarianism
  • Checklist for Moral Theories
  • Problems for Utilitarianism
    • Incommensurable Value
    • AU requires unrealistic deliberation and motivation
Th
 Feb 25
 Consequentialism
 FE, Ch 10 HW4 Due
  • Problems for Utilitarianism
    • Nearest and Dearest
    • Justice and Rights
  • Utilitarian response: valuing justice and rights (more info on this here)
  • Rule Utilitarianism
Tu
 Mar 2
 Kant FE, Ch 11
FE, excerpt from Ch 12: section titled "The Good Will and Moral Worth"
 HW5 Assigned
Th
 Mar 4
 Kant
 FE, Rest of Ch 12
Tu
 Mar 9
 Kant/Review Day
 Review your notes, come with questions
 HW5 Due
Th
 Mar 11
 MIDTERM EXAM
 (no reading)
MIDTERM STUDY GUIDE
 MIDTERM EXAM
Tu
 Mar 16
 NO CLASS
 SPRING BREAK
Th
 Mar 18
 NO CLASS
 SPRING BREAK
Tu
 Mar 23
 Social Contract Theory
 FE, Ch 13

Hobbes, The Leviathan Chapters XIII and XVII)
 HW6 Assigned
Th
 Mar 25
 Social Contract Theory
 FE, Ch 14

Feldman, Introductory Ethics (pp. 136-147)
Tu
 Mar 30
 Introduction to Game Theory
 Levine, "What Is Game Theory?"
 HW6 Due
HW7 Assigned
Th
 Apr 1
 Introduction to Game Theory No Reading
  
EVOLUTION OF THE SOCIAL CONTRACT
Tu
 Apr 6
 Sex and Justice
 ESC, Ch 1 (first half)
 HW7 Due
Th
 Apr 8
 Sex and Justice ESC, Ch 1 (second half)
 HW7 Due, HW8 Assigned
Tu
 Apr 13
 Sex and Justice
 ESC, Ch 1 (second half)
Th
 Apr 15
 Commitment ESC, Ch 2 (first half)
 HW8 Due, HW9 Assigned
Tu
 Apr 20
 CLASS CANCELLED
 CLASS CANCELLED
Th
 Apr 22
 Commitment
ESC, Ch 2 (second half)
 HW7-Retry Due
Tu
 Apr 27
 Commitment ESC, Ch 2 (second half)
 HW9 Due
Th
 Apr 29
 Lessons from ESC
 Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, "Game Theory and Ethics" (sections 7 & 8)
Tu
 May 4
 Review Day
 Review your notes, come with questions
Th
 May 6
 FINAL EXAM
 Location: Bartlett Hall 206
Time: 4:00 pm
 FINAL EXAM

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