I. General Information
1. Course Title:
Contemporary Moral Problems
2. Course Prefix & Number:
PHIL 2430
3. Course Credits and Contact Hours:
Credits: 3
Lecture Hours: 3
Lab Hours: 0
4. Course Description:
The purpose of this course is to examine a variety of contemporary moral issues from a philosophical standpoint and to explore some of the many approaches and methods that can be used to clarify our thinking about these and other issues, as well as to assist us in making reasoned moral judgments.
5. Placement Tests Required:
6. Prerequisite Courses:
PHIL 2430 - Contemporary Moral Problems
There are no prerequisites for this course.
9. Co-requisite Courses:
PHIL 2430 - Contemporary Moral Problems
There are no corequisites for this course.
II. Transfer and Articulation
1. Course Equivalency - similar course from other regional institutions:
|
Name of Institution
|
Course Number and Title
|
Credits
|
|
SCSU
|
Phil 212 Moral Problems and Theories
|
3
|
|
MN State University - Moorhead
|
Phil 115 Contemporary Moral issues
|
3
|
|
Bemidji State University
|
Phil 2280 Current Issues
|
3
|
III. Course Purpose
MN Transfer Curriculum (General Education) Courses - This course fulfills the following goal area(s) of the MN Transfer Curriculum:
- Goal 6 – Humanities and Fine Arts
- Goal 9 – Ethical and Civic Responsibility
IV. Learning Outcomes
1. College-Wide Outcomes
| College-Wide Outcomes/Competencies |
Students will be able to: |
| Assess alternative solutions to a problem |
Accurately reconstruct the manner in which various ethical theorists would resolve controversial ethical issues. |
| Apply abstract ideas to concrete situations |
Accurately apply basic theoretical concepts detailed in various moral theories to specific moral issues. |
| Apply ethical principles in decision-making |
Originate solutions to resolve controversial ethical issues using premises that are warranted, sufficient, and logically relevant. |
2. Course Specific Outcomes - Students will be able to achieve the following measurable goals upon completion of
the course:
|
Expected Outcome
|
MnTC
Goal Area
|
|
Demonstrate awareness of the scope and variety of ethical issues engendered by contemporary media and art.
|
6
|
|
Understand these works as expressions of individual investigations into the ultimate basis of human moral values.
|
6
|
|
Articulate an informed, rationally supported personal reaction to these philosopher’s works and to specific moral issues.
|
6
|
|
Understand and apply core theoretical concepts to specific issues.
|
9
|
|
Analyze and reflect on the ethical dimensions of legal, social, or scientific issues.
|
9
|
|
Appreciate the contributions ethical theories make to actual living conditions, including the rights and responsibilities of citizenship.
|
9
|
V. Topical Outline
Listed below are major areas of content typically covered in this course.
1. Lecture Sessions
|
I. INTRO: What is Ethics?
|
|
II. Are Morals Relative?
a) Classical Moral Relativism
b) Problems for Classical Moral Relativism
c) Moral Realism and Moral Pluralism
|
|
III. Egoism
a) The Nature of Egoistic Thinking
b) Contrasting Psychological Egoism and Moral Egoism
c) Arguments in Opposition to Ethical Egoism
d) Arguments in Support of Ethical Egoism
e) Case Studies Using Ethical Egoism
|
|
IV. Divine Command
a) The Nature of Religion
b) Contrasting Religions and Natural Law
c) Arguments in Opposition to Divine Command Theory
d) Arguments in Support of Divine Command Theory
e) Case studies
|
|
V. Utilitarianism
a) Historical Background
b) The Principle of Utility
c) Act-Utilitarianism and Rule-Utilitarianism
d) Arguments in Support of Utilitarianism as a Normative Theory
e) Critique of Utilitarianism as an Ethical Theory
f) Case Studies Using Utilitarianism
|
|
VI. Kantian Moral Theory
a) Historical Background
b) The Categorical Imperative: Universalization
c) The Categorical Imperative: End-Means Principle
d) Arguments in Support of Kantian Ethical Theory
e) Critique of Kantian Ethical Theory
f) Case Studies Using Kantian Theory
|
|
VII. Rights Ethics
a) Historical Background
b) The Meaning and Basis of the Social Contract
c) Arguments in Support of Social Contract
d) Critique of Social Contract
e) Case Studies using selected theories
|
|
VIII. Virtue Ethics
a) Historical Background
b) The Meaning and Basis of Virtue Ethics: Philosophical and Religious
c) Arguments in Support of Virtue Ethics
d) Critique of Virtue Ethics
e) Case Studies Using Virtue, Utilitarian and Duty Ethics
|
|
IX. Analysis of Contemporary Moral issues
a) Cloning and Reproductive Technologies
b) Abortion
c) Euthanasia
d) Punishment and the Death Penalty
e) War, Torture, Terrorism, and Counterterrorism
f) Race and Ethnicity
g) Gender
h) Sexual Orientation
i) Sex, Love and Marriage
j) Pornography
k) Economic Justice and health care
l) World Hunger and Poverty
m) Living Together With Animals
n) Environmental Ethics
o) Cyberethics
|
I. General Information
1. Course Title:
Contemporary Moral Problems
2. Course Prefix & Number:
PHIL 2430
3. Course Credits and Contact Hours:
Credits: 3
Lecture Hours: 3
Lab Hours: 0
4. Course Description:
The purpose of this course is to examine a variety of contemporary moral issues from a philosophical standpoint and to explore some of the many approaches and methods that can be used to clarify our thinking about these and other issues, as well as to assist us in making reasoned moral judgments.
5. Placement Tests Required:
6. Prerequisite Courses:
PHIL 2430 - Contemporary Moral Problems
There are no prerequisites for this course.
9. Co-requisite Courses:
PHIL 2430 - Contemporary Moral Problems
There are no corequisites for this course.
II. Transfer and Articulation
1. Course Equivalency - similar course from other regional institutions:
|
Name of Institution
|
Course Number and Title
|
Credits
|
|
SCSU
|
Phil 212 Moral Problems and Theories
|
3
|
|
MN State University - Moorhead
|
Phil 115 Contemporary Moral issues
|
3
|
|
Bemidji State University
|
Phil 2280 Current Issues
|
3
|
III. Course Purpose
2. MN Transfer Curriculum (General Education) Courses - This course fulfills the following goal area(s) of the MN Transfer Curriculum:
- Goal 6 – Humanities and Fine Arts
- Goal 9 – Ethical and Civic Responsibility
IV. Learning Outcomes
1. College-Wide Outcomes
| College-Wide Outcomes/Competencies |
Students will be able to: |
| Apply abstract ideas to concrete situations |
Accurately apply basic theoretical concepts detailed in various moral theories to specific moral issues. |
| Apply ethical principles in decision-making |
Originate solutions to resolve controversial ethical issues using premises that are warranted, sufficient, and logically relevant. |
2. Course Specific Outcomes - Students will be able to achieve the following measurable goals upon completion of
the course:
|
Expected Outcome
|
MnTC
Goal Area
|
|
Demonstrate awareness of the scope and variety of ethical issues engendered by contemporary media and art.
|
6
|
|
Understand these works as expressions of individual investigations into the ultimate basis of human moral values.
|
6
|
|
Articulate an informed, rationally supported personal reaction to these philosopher’s works and to specific moral issues.
|
6
|
|
Understand and apply core theoretical concepts to specific issues.
|
9
|
|
Analyze and reflect on the ethical dimensions of legal, social, or scientific issues.
|
9
|
|
Appreciate the contributions ethical theories make to actual living conditions, including the rights and responsibilities of citizenship.
|
9
|
V. Topical Outline
Listed below are major areas of content typically covered in this course.
1. Lecture Sessions
|
I. INTRO: What is Ethics?
|
|
II. Are Morals Relative?
a) Classical Moral Relativism
b) Problems for Classical Moral Relativism
c) Moral Realism and Moral Pluralism
|
|
III. Egoism
a) The Nature of Egoistic Thinking
b) Contrasting Psychological Egoism and Moral Egoism
c) Arguments in Opposition to Ethical Egoism
d) Arguments in Support of Ethical Egoism
e) Case Studies Using Ethical Egoism
|
|
IV. Divine Command
a) The Nature of Religion
b) Contrasting Religions and Natural Law
c) Arguments in Opposition to Divine Command Theory
d) Arguments in Support of Divine Command Theory
e) Case studies
|
|
V. Utilitarianism
a) Historical Background
b) The Principle of Utility
c) Act-Utilitarianism and Rule-Utilitarianism
d) Arguments in Support of Utilitarianism as a Normative Theory
e) Critique of Utilitarianism as an Ethical Theory
f) Case Studies Using Utilitarianism
|
|
VI. Kantian Moral Theory
a) Historical Background
b) The Categorical Imperative: Universalization
c) The Categorical Imperative: End-Means Principle
d) Arguments in Support of Kantian Ethical Theory
e) Critique of Kantian Ethical Theory
f) Case Studies Using Kantian Theory
|
|
VII. Rights Ethics
a) Historical Background
b) The Meaning and Basis of the Social Contract
c) Arguments in Support of Social Contract
d) Critique of Social Contract
e) Case Studies using selected theories
|
|
VIII. Virtue Ethics
a) Historical Background
b) The Meaning and Basis of Virtue Ethics: Philosophical and Religious
c) Arguments in Support of Virtue Ethics
d) Critique of Virtue Ethics
e) Case Studies Using Virtue, Utilitarian and Duty Ethics
|
|
IX. Analysis of Contemporary Moral issues
a) Cloning and Reproductive Technologies
b) Abortion
c) Euthanasia
d) Punishment and the Death Penalty
e) War, Torture, Terrorism, and Counterterrorism
f) Race and Ethnicity
g) Gender
h) Sexual Orientation
i) Sex, Love and Marriage
j) Pornography
k) Economic Justice and health care
l) World Hunger and Poverty
m) Living Together With Animals
n) Environmental Ethics
o) Cyberethics
|