Professor
Talbott Summer 2009
Office: Condon 632 Philosophy
440A: Ethics
Phone: 543-5095 MWF:
1:10 – 3:20 pm
Email: wtalbott@ EEB
042
Office
Hours: Wed. 4-5 pm
and by appointment
URL: http://faculty.washington.edu/wtalbott/
SYLLABUS
PHILOSOPHY
440A: Ethics
Disability Resources For Students. If you
would like to request academic accommodations due to a disability, please
contact Disability Resources for Students (DRS), 448 Schmitz, (206) 543-8924
(V/TTY). If you have a letter from DRS
indicating you have a disability that requires academic accommodations, please
present the letter to me so we can discuss the accommodations you might need
for the class.
I. Course Goals: In the first half of the course, the main issue to be
discussed will be: What are we doing
when we make a moral judgment? In the
second half of the course, we will discuss various substantive ethical
theories, including utilitarian ethics, social contract ethics, virtue ethics,
and feminist ethics. This course will teach
the interpretation and understanding of difficult philosophical texts. Students will be taught to explain and
critically evaluate difficult philosophical texts orally and in writing.
II. Course
III.
Course Requirements.
1. Class Attendance: Students are required to attend all
classes. Classes are MWF 1:10-3:20 pm in
EEB 042.
2.
Email. I will send out
important class and individual messages to your U.W. email account. You should check that account regularly. I also encourage you to use email to contact
me. My email address appears above. I usually answer email messages within 24
hours during the week and within 48 hours on weekends and holidays.
3. End-of-Class Questions (1-5 Points Each). At the end of each class, except the day of
the midterm exam and the day of the final exam, you will be asked to give a
written answer to a question based on the readings or the discussion in
lecture. These assignments will provide
practice for writing answers to exam questions.
Answers to end of class questions may not be turned in late, unless the
absence is excused. If you are present
or have an excused absence and receive less than 1/2 credit for your answer to
an end-of-class question, you may resubmit for up to 1/2 credit. All answers to end of class questions for
excused absences and all resubmits must be received before the beginning of the
final exam.
5. Midterm Exam (200 Points—100 Points
for Each Part). The Midterm Exam will have
two parts. The first part is a
closed-book exam that will be given in class on Friday, Aug. 7. The second part is a take-home essay that
will be given out in class on Friday, Aug. 7 and is to be turned in to the PHIL
440 Collect It electronic drop box by midnight on Monday, Aug. 10.
6. Final Exam (200 Points—100
Points for Each Part). The Final Exam
will be in two parts. The first part
will be a take-home essay question that will be given out in class on Thursday,
Aug. 20 and will be due in the Collect It electronic dropbox
at midnight on Friday, Aug. 21. The
second part will be a closed book exam to be given in class on Friday, Aug. 21.
NOTE: Please bring a pen and a blank exam book with
no missing pages to all exams.
IV. Course Web Site.
All handouts, transparencies, and end-of-class questions will be
available on the course Web site (see URL above). So if you are ever absent, you can check the
course Web site to find out what you missed.
V. Academic Integrity. Whenever you
turn in any assignment in this course, the understanding is that what you are
turning in is your own original work, except to the extent that you explicitly
credit others for their contributions. You have an obligation to avoid even the
appearance of impropriety, by always attributing any argument or idea
that you have borrowed, even if you have modified it, to its source. The source may be written or oral. For example, if an argument was suggested by
a fellow student, include that information in a footnote. If it is determined that there has been
cheating that involves one student copying another's work on an assignment or
exam, if both students were aware of the copying, both will receive zero
credit for the assignment or exam, in addition to any other sanctions that
might be imposed.
VI. Extensions Of Time.
Extensions of time should be requested in advance of the
deadline. Unexcused, late work will be
penalized.
VII. Grades. Grades will be based on points earned (out
of a total possible of approximately 480 points) as follows: (1) End of Class Questions (Approx. 80 Points);
(2) Midterm Exam (200 Points—100 Points for Each Part); (3) Final Exam
(200 Points—100 Points for Each Part).
Grades are based on total points earned, as follows: 96% = 4.0; 95% = 3.9; 90% = 3.5; 80% = 3.0;
65% = 2.0; 50% = 1.0. Your contribution
to discussion in class can improve your grade, but cannot lower it.
VIII. Course Evaluation.
Thursday, Aug. 20, in class. The course evaluation is your opportunity to
evaluate my performance and to provide suggestions for improving the course.
IX. Return of Final Exams. Unless other arrangements are made, the
in-class portion of the Final Exam will be available for pick-up in the
Philosophy Department Office during the first week of September. Note that the Philosophy Department is moving
from Condon Hall to Savery Hall in late August, so exams should be picked up in
Savery Hall. If you would like your
Final Exam to be mailed to you, please provide me with a stamped,
self-addressed envelope for mailing.
UW
SafeCampus. Preventing violence is everyone's
responsibility. If you're concerned,
tell someone.
* Always call 911 if you or others may be in
danger.
* Call 206-685-SAFE (7233) to report
non-urgent threats of violence and for referrals to UW counseling and/or safety
resources. TTY or VP callers, please call through your preferred relay service.
* Don't walk alone. Campus safety guards can
walk with you on campus after dark. Call Husky NightWalk 206-685-WALK (9255).
* Stay connected in an emergency with UW
Alert. Register your mobile number to receive instant notification of campus
emergencies via text and voice messaging. Sign up online at www.washington.edu/alert.
For more information visit the SafeCampus website at www.washington.edu/safecampus.