Office hours: Please schedule an appointment by emailing me at the address above. We will use Zoom (video or audio).
Format: Asynchronous: I will be recording content for the course (mostly videos) for you to study / watch on your own, in conjunction with the readings. I will send out reminders of readings and assignments at least twice per week via Blackboard to make sure we all stay on pace.
Let no one delay the study of philosophy while young nor weary of it when old. - Epicurus
Do we have responsibilities towards others, or merely to ourselves? What is a good life? Are there actions that are absolutely right or wrong, or is morality relative to culture or personal perspective? Who decides what is right and wrong? We will explore these questions at an introductory level, using resources from the history of philosophy as well as the arguments of contemporary philosophers. As part of this course, we will learn to think and to reason as philosophers do.
NOTE: This is a zero textbook course. All readings and other content will be hosted on this site.
NOTE: There is no syllabus for this course. This website is the course, and includes all the elements of a normal syllabus in the links and sections below.
Course Learning Goals
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
Understand and articulate various theories concerning the nature and status of morality, including divine command theory, simple subjectivism, and cultural relativism
Understand and articulate the basic arguments underlying normative ethical theories such as utilitarianism, deontology, contractualism, libertarianism, egalitarianism, etc.
Both generate and criticize arguments for and against each of the above theories in the context of ethical reasoning and deliberation, and use them to think through particular cases or dilemmas
🌟 How to Use this Website 🌟
Be sure to read through the link below to familiarize yourself with how this website is organized. Do not go directly into the readings without getting your bearings first.
Course Schedule and Readings
This is a zero textbook course. All readings and video content will be hosted on this site, and can be found through the link below:
Baruch has a continuing commitment to providing reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities. Like so many things this fall, the need for accommodations and the process for arranging them have been altered by COVID-19 and the safety protocols currently in place. Students with disabilities who may need some accommodation in order to fully participate in this class should contact Student Disability Services as soon as possible at disability.services@baruch.cuny.edu
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PLAGIARISM
It is your responsibility to fully understand the academic policies of the College and its rules and regulations on grades, dropping courses, cheating and plagiarism, deadlines, etc. Knowing them well allows you to proceed to graduation efficiently and with a strong transcript. Study everything in Baruch's brochure on Academic Honesty carefully, or read it online. In an academic environment, borrowed or stolen work (as well as certain kinds of shared work) are regarded as cheating or fraud. Protect yourself in all your courses by understanding academic expectations clearly and avoiding any behaviors that might possibly be interpreted as cheating. And remember that giving improper help is as clearly a violation as taking it. You may also consult Baruch’s online tutorial for avoiding plagiarism.
I will report any suspected instance of cheating or plagiarism to Baruch’s disciplinary committee for action.
Articulate ethical uses of information to respond to problems
Identify local, national, global trends and ideologies and their impact on decision making
FAQ
READINGS
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What if I prefer to have PDFs of the readings so that I can highlight them or add comments. Are PDFs of the readings available?
You can make PDFs of any reading page by using the 'Print' command in your browser and saving as a PDF. Here is one set of instructions.
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If I'm confused or want more clarification on parts of the reading, should I really leave questions directly on them?
Yes! Others are likely to have similar questions, so you're not just helping yourself but also helping others.
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What if I discover a typo, or that a link or website element doesn't work?
Please let me know ASAP by leaving a comment that is linked to the location of the error or typo, following the instructions in ‘How to Use this Website’, above. Thanks in advance.
GRADING
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How do I get an excellent grade in this course?
Great question! You will be responsible for keeping pace, meeting the requisite deadlines, and staying on top of things. So my first bit of advice is to keep a regular work pace and not fall behind.
Besides that, the most important thing is to do the readings at least twice each and make sure you don't skip any of the videos if you're at all unclear about what's going on. If you are confused and need help send me an email and we'll talk it through. And finally, don't skip any quizzes or homework assignments!
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I have been really struggling in this course and there's only a week or so left. Can I get extra credit or make-up assignments to boost my grade?
No. Please see my policies on grading. If you are struggling contact me early and often. I am always available to help. But I cannot exempt you (or any other student) from the general policies that govern the course. Doing so would be a violation of trust to those who students who assumed (correctly!) that such requests would not be honored.
FURTHER READING
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Where can I learn more about a particular topic?
Students often ask me where they can find more information about a given topic of philosophical question. These are your best, most reliable options. Entries vary somewhat on how difficult they are to grasp, but more often than not you should find the material accessible:
