Instructor: Daniel W. Skubik, PhD JD
Voice: 909.343.4288 / Fax: 909.343.4437
E-Mail: skubik@ibm.net
This course comprises a survey and study of ethics and ethical theory from the Enlightenment to the end of the nineteenth century. Continental-style attention will be given the social historical context of key writers and writings of the period, in addition to the usual Anglo-American analytical analysis of the selected primary texts.
Required Texts
Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758). The Nature of True Virtue*
David Hume (1711-1776). An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals*
Immanuel Kant (1724-1804). Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals* with On a Supposed Right to Lie because of Philanthropic Concerns
John Stuart Mill (1806-1873). Utilitarianism,* On Liberty,* essay on Bentham* together with selected writings of Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832) [Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation* (chapters 1-5)] and John Austin (1790-1859)
Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900). On the Genealogy of Morals* and Ecce Homo
Frederick Copleston, SJ, A History of Philosophy (selected volumes on reserve in the CBU Library : highly recommended as a secondary source addition to your personal library)
Web pages and handouts will be referenced throughout the term, contents of which you also will be responsible.
Class Schedule
Oct 3 |
Introduction to Course : Review of Classical & Medieval Ethics : Introduction to Enlightenment [Suggested Readings: Encyclopedia of Ethics and Dictionary of the History of Ideas (entries on ethics and enlightenment)] |
Oct 10 |
Jonathan Edwards and American Puritanism : Read his Nature of True Virtue / Biographical sketch of Edwards due [Suggested Additional Readings: Encyclopedia of Philosophy and Dictionary of the History of Ideas (entries on Edwards and on Puritanism)] |
Oct 17 |
David Hume and the Scottish Enlightenment : Read his Enquiry and Frederick Copleston's essay on Hume in his History of Philosophy, Vol. 5 (2) / Biographical sketch of Hume due |
Oct 24 |
Discussion of Hume and his works, continued |
Oct 31 |
Jeremy Bentham and Utilitarianism : Read his Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation, Mill's accompanying Essay on Bentham, and Copleston's first essay on the Utilitarian Movement in Vol. 8(1) / Biographical sketch of Bentham due / In-Class Essay #1 will be written during this session |
Nov 7 |
Immanuel Kant and Continental Enlightenment : Read his Grounding and Copleston's essay on Kant in Vol. 6(2) / Biographical sketch of Kant due [Suggested Additional Reading: Kant's On A Supposed Right] |
Nov 12 - "Upper Room" |
Discussion of Kant and his works, continued |
Nov 21 |
John Stuart Mill : Read his Utilitarianism and On Liberty (chapters 1, 4 and 5), and Copleston's second essay on the Utilitarian Movement in Vol. 8(1) / Biographical sketch of Mill due |
Nov 28 |
Discussion of JS Mill and his works, continued |
Dec 5 |
Friedrich Nietzsche and the End of Enlightenment : Read his On the Genealogy of Morals, and Copleston's two essays on Nietzsche in Vol. 7(2) [Suggested Additional Reading: Nietzsche's Ecce Homo] |
Dec 10 - "Upper Room" |
Discussion of Nietzsche and his works, continued / In-Class Essay #2 will be written during this session |
Dec 19 |
Conclusion to Course : Review of Enlightenment Ethics / Major Paper due |
Assessment & Grading Scale
Participation = 10% |
90 - 100 = A |
Minor Paper = 15% |
80 - 89 = B |
Presentations = 25% |
70 - 79 = C |
Major Paper = 40% |
60 - 69 = D |
In-Class Essays = 10% (5% each) |
0 - 59 = F |
You must attend at least 9 of the 12 class sessions to pass the course. |
Extra credit (up to 5%) is available for additional minor paper. See below for details. |
Minor Paper
One minor paper of 4-6 pages will be prepared during the term. This will comprise a brief biographical sketch of the principal author under discussion during the first week that writer's corpus comes to our attention, and will be worth 15% of your final mark for the course. Consideration will be given to the timing of the paper; hence, one can expect some leniency in marking for the two earliest submission dates. Each student will sign-up to be responsible for one of the following personages (first come first served): Edwards (Oct 10th); Hume (Oct 17th); Bentham (Oct 31st); Kant (Nov 7th); JS Mill (Nov 21st); and Nietzsche (Dec 5th). Additional alternative characters: Benjamin Franklin (Oct 10th); Francis Hutcheson (Oct 17th); James Mill (Oct 31st); Moses Mendelsohn (Nov 7th); James Fitzjames Stephen (Nov 21st); and Herbert Spencer (Dec 5th). [Principal characters must all be covered before alternates can be selected.]
You will prepare your sketch, making copies for all seminar participants, and be prepared to discuss the principal's (or alternate's) biography on the day scheduled. Extra credit (up to 5%) will be awarded for preparation, submission and discussion of a second biographical sketch from this list for characters not otherwise assigned.
Format: 4-6 typed or computer-generated pages (not including endnotes or bibliography); standard size fonts; double-spaced; 1-inch margins; with endnotes (no footnotes, please) or bibliography attached as additional pages.
Presentations
You will sign-up to be responsible as primary leader during the discussion of one of our principal's texts. You will also sign-up to be responsible as secondary leader assigned to a second principal author's texts. In each case you must choose text(s) composed by an author for whom you are not writing a biographical sketch.
Duties of primary leader: read text(s) and prepare discussion questions for seminar participants. Open discussion of text, and co-chair meeting with instructor. Assessment of how well you fill this role constitutes 15% of your grade. (Discussion questions need not be readied for distribution.)
Duties of secondary leader: read text(s) and be prepared to move along discussion if primary leader encounters any difficulties; also be prepared to support or challenge primary leader's interpretations or explanations of text(s) being examined. Assessment of how well you fill this role constitutes 10% of your grade.
There will never be more than one primary leader for a discussion session; depending on the number of seminar members, there may be up to two secondary leaders.
In-Class Essays
Two essays will be written during class sessions on the dates noted in the schedule (Oct 31st and Dec 12th). These essays will comprise your response to the application of our authors' ethical positions to modern life. You will receive a brief narrative, outlining an ethical dilemma faced by at least one moral agent. You will write an essay detailing how that dilemma ought to be resolved according to the position presented by one of our principal authors. Each essay will be worth 5% of your course grade.
Major Paper
One major paper will be prepared during the term. This will be a comparative and synthetic work, focusing upon the work of two of our principal authors and their impact on the formation of your own thinking about ethics.
Having investigated the positions taken by our authors, none of whom posit exactly the same ethical system for us to consider, choose two for detailed analysis. Compare and contrast their works and ethical systems, identifying the various strengths and weaknesses of each. As a conclusion, craft your own systematic ethics on the basis of your critique of theirs, noting how your answers to key questions leads you to the framework you have fashioned.
Format: 13-15 typed or computer-generated pages (not including endnotes or bibliography); standard size fonts; double-spaced; 1-inch margins; with endnotes (no footnotes, please) or bibliography attached as additional pages.
Attendance & Participation
Attendance: You must attend at least nine (9) of our twelve (12) class sessions in order to receive a passing grade for this course. Four (4) or more absences, whether excused or unexcused, will earn an automatic F. This may seem draconian, but our time together is too short and intensive. If you cannot commit to the class schedule, you should discuss your concerns with Dr. Scott Key, the Great Works program director. [N.B. You are counted absent if you (a) fail to come to class on any scheduled Saturday, or (b) fail to arrive within 60 minutes of the start time.]
Participation: Although speaking in class, publicly putting and defending a position, can be daunting, you are strongly encouraged to learn to think through your own and others' experiences and insights within the context our discussions. Especially in this small seminar setting, I expect you to come prepared for discussion, having done the readings
To give direct incentive to so engage, % of your mark for the course will be comprised of my assessment of your overall classroom participation. This includes, but is not limited to, my assessment of your participation during our sessions (e.g. making relevant comments during discussions, being prepared to respond to questioning, asking relevant questions, and following directions concerning reading assignments). The point is to determine your active engagement with the material in the context of the class.
Caveat
This syllabus is composed in good faith, with a schedule of readings, etc. which will guide us throughout the term. Still, the instructor reserves the right to make adjustments to this schedule as deemed necessary for the overall enterprise of the class. Any changes will be communicated as far in advance as feasible, and you are responsible for knowing if and when any changes have been made.
Make-up Work
Make-ups are at the discretion of the instructor and will be governed as follows:
Minor paper -- presented at the next class session (-5% = sketch worth maximum of 10%); later presentation of sketch not sanctioned, but you will be permitted to choose substitute character scheduled for later date (-5% as above)
Primary leader -- no make-up possible, you forfeit the 15%
Secondary leader -- choose alternate secondary role if available (-3% = role worth maximum of 7%)
In-Class essay -- arrange for and take make-up before subsequent class meeting (-2% = essay worth maximum of 3%)
Major Paper -- no late papers will be accepted; you must turn in your paper or sign the paperwork for a formal Incomplete for the course by Dec 19, else you will forfeit the 40%