PHIL 440A: READING ASSIGNMENTS

Reading assignments are from Louis P. Pojman, Ethical Theory (ET), 6th Edition, and from a course reader (READER), both available for purchase at the University Book Store. Please do reading assignments before class on the day they are due.

Week #1 (June 20-June 24)

Monday June 20: Introduction

NO READING ASSIGNMENT.

Tuesday June 21 Readings: Objective To-Be-Pursuedness?

(1) G.E. Moore, "Non-Naturalism and the Indefinability of the Good", ET, paragraphs 5-11 and 13 [you may skip paragraph 12], pp. 507-512.

(2) J.L. Mackie, "The Subjectivity of Values", ET, pp. 548-558.

Wednesday June 22 Readings: Objective To-Be-Doneness?

(1) David Hume, "On Reason and the Emotions: The Fact/Value Distinction", ET, pp. 500-506.

(2) Elijah Millgram, "Was Hume a Humean?", READER pp. 64-73.

Thursday June 23 Readings: Internalism/Externalism

Read the first half of the Korsgaard essay, then read the Williams essay, then read the remainder of Korsgaard:

(1) Christine Korsgaard, "Skepticism About Practical Reason", Sections I-V, READER pp. 81-87.

(2) Bernard Williams, "Internal and External Reasons", READER pp. 74-80.

(3) Christine Korsgaard, "Skepticism About Practical Reason", Sections VI-VIII, READER pp. 87-91.

Friday June 24 Readings: Objective Values/Objective Reasons

(1) Thomas Nagel, “The View from Nowhere”, ET, pp. 134-143.

(2) Jean Hampton, "Rethinking Reason", READER pp. 3-20.

Week #2 (June 27-July 1)

Monday June 27 – Tuesday June 28: Evolution and Ethics

Monday Readings: (1) Michael Ruse, "Evolution and Ethics: The Sociobiological Approach", ET, pp. 640-656.

(2) Elliott Sober, "Prospects for an Evolutionary Ethics", ET, pp. 656-667.

Tuesday Reading: (1) Gilbert Harman, "Moral Nihilism", ET, pp. 568-577.

Wednesday June 29 - Thursday June 30: Utilitarianism

Wednesday Readings: (1) Mill, "Utilitarianism", ET: Chap. II, pp. 199-210 and Chap. V, pp. 217-230.

NOTE: THIS IS A PARTIAL SELECTION FROM THE MILL READING.

(2) Bernard Williams, "Against Utilitarianism", ET, pp. 245-254.

Thursday Reading: (3) John Hospers, “Rule-Utilitarianism”, ET, pp. 255-264.

PART II OF MIDTERM EXAM given out in class. Take-home essay due in the PHIL 440 Collect It drop box by midnight (more or less) on Tuesday, July 5.

Friday July 1: Midterm Review

No Reading Assignment.

Week #3 (July 5-8)

NO CLASS ON MONDAY JULY 4.

Tuesday July 6: Part I of Midterm Exam in Class. Bring an exam booklet to class for this part of the exam.

Part II of the Midterm Exam due in the PHIL 440 Collect It drop box by midnight (more or less).

Wednesday July 6 – Friday, July 8: Kantian Moral Theory

Wednesday Readings: (1) Immanuel Kant, "The Foundations of the Metaphysic of Morals", ET, Chap. 2, pp. 291- 309. NOTE: THIS IS A PARTIAL SELECTION FROM THE KANT READING.

(2) Robert Nozick, “Side Constraints”, ET, Section 2-3, pp. 265-268. BEGIN WITH SECTION 2; YOU MAY IGNORE SECTION 1.

Thursday Readings: (1) David Gauthier, "Morality and Advantage", ET, pp. 98-106.

(2) Jonathan Bennett, "The Conscience of Huckleberry Finn", EXCERPTS, READER pp. 21- 25 and pp. 31-32.

Friday Readings: (1) T.M. Scanlon, "Contractualism and Utilitarianism", READER, pp. 119-132.

Week #5 (July 11-15)

Monday July 11 – Tuesday July 12: The Ethics of Care

Monday Readings: (1) Carol Gilligan, "Moral Orientation and Moral Development", READER pp. 33-40.

(2) Annette C. Baier, "Hume, the Women's Moral Theorist?", READER pp. 41-50.

RECOMMENDED, NOT REQUIRED: Susan Glaspell, “A Jury of Her Peers”, available on the Web at:

http://www.learner.org/interactives/literature/story/fulltext.html

Tuesday Reading: (3) Marilyn Friedman, "Beyond Caring", READER pp. 51-63.

Wednesday July 13 – Thursday July 14: Virtue Ethics

Wednesday Readings: (1) Aristotle, "The Ethics of Virtue", EXCERPTS, ET, Book I, Sections 7-8 ONLY, pp. 406-409 and Book II, pp. 413-419 [OMIT BOOKS III AND IV].

(2) Alasdair MacIntyre, "The Nature of the Virtues", ET, pp. 457-471.

Thursday Readings: (1) Walter Schaller, “Are Virtues No More Than Dispositions to Obey Moral Rules?”, ET, pp. 450-457.

Friday July 15 – Monday July 18: Objectivity in Ethics (and Part II of Final Exam)

Friday Readings: (1) Bernard Williams, “Knowledge, Science, Convergence,” READER, pp. 133-144.

(2) Ronald Dworkin, "Objectivity and Truth: You'd Better Believe It". READER pp. 92-113 ONLY. You are not required to read the section beginning with "Internal Skepticism".

PART II OF THE FINAL EXAM (take-home part) will be given out in class. It will be due in the PHIL 440 Collect It drop box at midnight (more or less) on Friday, July 22.

Week #5 (July 18-20)

Monday Readings: *William J. Talbott, “What Is Moral Sensitivity and How Could We Have Acquired It?”, READER pp. 145-164.

Tuesday July 19: Final Exam Review

No Reading Assignment.

Wednesday, July 20: In-Class Final Exam

Bring an exam booklet to class with you.