A philosophical examination of arguments for and against abortion, euthanasia, capital punishment, pornography and censorship, nuclear deterrence and disarmament, environmental ethics, and other contemporary moral concerns.
Credits: 3
Hours: 45 (Lecture Hours: 3)
Total Weeks: 15
Prerequisites:
None
Non-Course Prerequisites:
None
Co-requisites:
None
Course Content:
- Introduction to the Course
- Fundamental issues in Morality: Is Moral Relativism Correct?
- Fundamental Issues in Morality: Is Morality Need Religion?
- Gender, Sex, and Reproduction: Is Abortion Immoral?
- Gender, Sex, and Reproduction: Must Sex Involve Commitment?
- Law and Society: Should Drugs be Legalized?
- Law and Society: Is Gambling Immoral?
- Law and Society: Is Affirmative Action Fair?
- Law and Society: Should the Death Penalty be Abolished?
- Law and Society: Is Physical Assisted Suicide Wrong?
- Human Beings and Other Species: Does Morality Require Vegetarianism?
- Is it right to prohibit same-sex marriage?
- Should human cloning be banned?
Learning Outcomes:
- This course is designed to assist students to first recognize, then surpass ordinary simplistic approaches to moral problems. Through dialectical discussion students will be able to identify and recognize various perspectives related to specific common moral dilemmas; discuss the chief moral theories used by ethicists; critically evaluate selected contemporary theories of moral concerns, and examine the logic of their moral reasoning and to express this in writing.
Knowledge:
Contemporary theories of morality and ethics
Skills:
Critical thinking and learning
Attitudes:
Open-mindedness
Grading System: Letters
Passing Grade: D (50%)
Percentage of Individual Work: 90
Percentage of Group Work: 10
Textbooks:
Textbooks are subject to change. Please contact the bookstore at your local campus for current book lists.