Syllabus

UNE Summer Session

PHIL 1010: Ethics – Summer Session – 6 Weeks

Credits - 3

Description

This course introduces the major theories of normative ethics, with emphasis upon consequentialism, non-consequentialism, and virtue ethics. Further emphasis is given to application of these theories to perennial ethical dilemmas such as abortion, the death penalty, euthanasia, and war. Students will complete weekly discussions, a midterm examination, and final project. Upon completion of the course students should be able to navigate the various ethical theories, apply them critically, and articulate a vision of ethics, happiness, and the good life.

Materials

Textbooks

Various readings and multimedia are used in this course, but the following are the primary texts:

Matthews, G. (2020) Introduction to Philosophy: Ethics. Rebus Community. https://press.rebus.community/intro-to-phil-ethics/

Zaita, E.N. (2021). Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Stanford University. https://plato.stanford.edu/

Webcam

An external webcam is required for proctored exams. If you do not have one, you may order one here: External Webcam.

Optional: 8″x11″ dry-erase whiteboard for proctored exams. 

Resources

The following resources will be useful during the course:

Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy

Markkula Center for Applied Ethics at Santa Clara University

Critical Thinking Web, University of Hong Kong

The Ethics Centre

Little Bad Thing Podcast

Ethics Unwrapped

The Pursuit of Happiness

The Oxford Character Project

How to Write a Philosophy Paper, Harvard University

Learning Objectives and Outcomes

Students will:

  • Evaluate and interpret the major ethical systems 
  • Apply ethical theories to major dilemmas and reach a logical outcome while avoiding common fallacies 
  • Demonstrate critical thinking by exploring contemporary ethical problems
  • Construct and write original moral arguments 
  • Develop a vision of the personal and professional moral life

SELF PACED DESIGN

On the course start date, students will have access to orientation. This must be completed to be able to gain access to the first module in the course. Students must complete the first module to gain access to the next one. We recommend that students spend about 15 hours per week to complete a course in 16 weeks. When trying to complete the course in less than 16 weeks, we typically see students do this successfully within 12-14 weeks. Instructors will be timely in grading and feedback, but it will not be instant.

Assignments

Journals

Each week you will complete a journal assignment. The intent of this assignment is to engage in personal reflection on a particular topic addressed during the week. It is an opportunity for reflection and application. 

Discussions

Some weeks will include a discussion assignment where you will interact with your classmates. Each discussion will involve an initial in-depth post responding to a given prompt and substantive responses to classmates that carry the conversation forward. 

Projects

Projects will be either written assignments or presentations. Examples include short essays and PowerPoint presentations. 

Ethics in Film Paper

The ethics in film paper is an opportunity to apply ethical theory to a contemporary film. You will engage with a particular moral dilemma from a select list of films and provide a philosophical analysis in a paper. 

Major Assignments:

Mid-Term Exam

The midterm exam is a 50-question objective test (true/false, multiple choice, short answer) that covers the first half of the course, Weeks 1-3. This exam must be taken through ProctorU. See UNE’s ProctorU page for information about signing up and scheduling your exam. The official UNE webcam is required. 

You will not be able to review them at any time. Please contact your instructor for specific feedback.

Final Paper

The final paper is a summative assignment that requires you to provide an in-depth moral analysis of a modern-day ethical dilemma. You will choose one option from a provided list of case studies.

Grading Policy

Your grade in this course will be determined by the following criteria:

Grade Breakdown

Journals10%
Discussions15%
Projects15%
Ethics in Film Paper20%
Major Assignments40%
Total100%

Grade Scale

Grade Points Grade Point Average (GPA)
A 94 – 100% 4.00
A- 90 – 93% 3.75
B+ 87 – 89% 3.50
B 84 – 86% 3.00
B- 80 – 83% 2.75
C+ 77 – 79% 2.50
C 74 – 76% 2.00
C- 70 – 73% 1.75
D 64 – 69% 1.00
F 00 – 63% 0.00

Schedule

Course Schedule:

Week

Topic

Readings & Multimedia

Assignments

 

Course Introduction 

  • N/A

Discussion: Introductions

1

Introduction to Ethics

Moral Relativism 

  • Read: Introduction to the Book 
  • Read: Ethics
  • Watch: Metaethics: Crash Course philosophy #32 
  • Read: Ch. 1 
  • Watch: Relativism

Discussion: Personal Dilemma 

Journal: My Personal Vision of Ethics 

Project:FGM

Journal: Moral Intuition

2

Divine Command and Natural Law Ethics 

Virtue Ethics 

Social Contract Theory 

  • Read: Chapter 2: Can We Have Ethics Without Religion? On Divine Command Theory and Natural Law Theory
  • Read: “Divine Command Theory
  • Read: Chapter 11: Euthyphro
  • Watch: Natural Law Theory: Crash Course Philosophy #34
  • Read: Chapter 3: How Can I Be A Better Person? On Virtue Ethics 
  • Read: Chapter 26: Virtue
  • Watch: Aristotle and Virtue Theory: Crash Course Philosophy #38
  • Read: Chapter 4: What’s in It for Me? On Egoism And Social Contract Theory
  • Watch: Contractarianism: Crash Course Philosophy #37

Discussion: The Euthyphro Dilemma

Journal: Virtue and Happiness 

Project:Virtue Ethics 

Journal: Embracing Virtue Ethics 

Discussion: Social Contracts 

Journal: Being Selfish 

3

Utilitarianism 

Deontological Ethics 

Feminist Ethics

  • Read: Chapter 5: Utilitarianism
  • Watch: Utilitarianism: Crash Course Philosophy #36 
  • Read: Chapter 6: Kantian Deontology
  • Read: Deontological Ethics
  • Watch: Kant and Categorical Imperatives: Crash Course Philosophy #35
  • Read: Chapter 7: Feminism And Feminist Ethics
  • Watch: Mary Wollstonecraft and a Vindication of the Rights of Woman, 1792 
  • Watch: Alternative Paradigms: Care Ethics and Feminine Ethics

Essay: The Lifeboat Dilemma 

Journal: Life’s Tough Decisions 

Discussion: Axe Murder

Journal: Moral Courage

Exam: Midterm 

Journal: The Meaning of Life 

4

Evolutionary Ethics 

War

Animal Ethics

  • Read: Chapter 8: Evolutionary Ethics 
  • Watch:Science Can Answer Moral Questions | Sam Harris 
  • Watch: Celia Deanne-Drummond: Can Moral Theory Affect Deep Ontology? 
  • Read: Pacifism, Just War, and the Limits of Ethics
  • Read: Section 5: The Future of Just War Theory
  • Watch: Obama on Just War Doctrine and Emergence of Unconventional Warfare 
  • Watch: Debate: Is War Ever Justified? | Learn Liberty 
  • Watch: Justice With Michael Sandel: BBC: Justice: Torture and Human Dignity 
  • Read: The Moral Status of Animals” 
  • Watch: Non-Human Animals: Crash Course Philosophy #42  

Discussion: Evolutionary Theory 

Journal: My Personal Decision-Making Profile

Project: Hiroshima and Nagasaki

Journal: Violence in the Human Experience

Discussion: Is Animal Slaughter Acceptable? 

Journal: Consumer Ethics 

5

Technological Ethics 

Medical Ethics

Abortion and Euthanasia 

  • Read: Surveillance Ethics
  • Read: “Surveillance Ethics
  • Watch: Morality in the Age of Tech Surveillance—Edward Snowden 
  • Read: Medical Ethics: Principles, Persons, and Perspectives: From Controversy to Conversation
  • Read: “Section ii. Genetic Opportunities for Choice
  • Read: “Eugenics
  • Watch: Difference” vs. “Disease”: A Question of Eugenics? 
  • Read: Abortion
  • Read: “Voluntary Euthanasia
  • Watch: Personhood: Crash Course Philosophy #21 
  • Watch: Assisted Death and the Value of Life: Crash Course Philosophy #45 

Project: The U.S. Patriot Act 

Journal: Technology and Humanity 

Paper: Ethics in Film

Journal: Medical Ethics 

Project: Euthanasia

Journal: Professional Codes of Ethics 

6

Capital Punishment 

Ethics and Character 

  • Read: “Punishment” 
  • Read: Capital Punishment: Our Duty or Our Doom?
  • Watch: The Death Penalty Debate (8:05)
  • Watch: Death Penalty Ethics (5:27)
  • Watch: Death Penalty and Anti Death Penalty: Is There Middle Ground? | Middle Ground (16:10)
  • Read: Moral Character
  • Watch: What Is a Good Life?: Crash Course Philosophy #46 

Discussion: Capital Punishment 

Journal: Meta-Reflection

Final Exam: Case Study Paper 

Journal: Character Strengths Activity 

Student Resources

Summer Session Online Student Support

Your Student Support Specialist is a resource for you. Please don't hesitate to contact them for assistance, including, but not limited to course planning, current problems or issues in a course, technology concerns, or personal emergencies.

Questions? Email: summersessiononline@une.edu.

Instructor and Support Contact Information

Check Brightspace for specific instructor and support specialist contact information.

UNE Libraries

Further Assistance

Your student support specialist monitors course progression and provides assistance or guidance when needed. They can assist questions regarding ordering course materials, University policies, billing, navigating the course in Brightspace, and more.

To request an accommodation a student needs to go through the process with our UNE office. If the student has a current/already established accommodation in place with UNE it is the responsibility of the student to notify the program at summersessiononline@une.edu to ensure it is applied properly.

If you need to inquire about a possible accommodation, please reach out to the Student Access Center by calling 207-221-4418 or send an email to pcstudentaccess@une.edu.

Online Student Support

Your Student Support Specialist is a resource for you. Please don't hesitate to contact them for assistance, including, but not limited to course planning, current problems or issues in a course, technology concerns, or personal emergencies. Questions? Email: prehealth@une.edu.

Instructor and Support Contact Information

Check Brightspace for specific instructor and support specialist contact information.

UNE Libraries

Further Assistance

Your student service advisor monitors course progression and provides assistance or guidance when needed. They can assist questions regarding ordering course materials, University policies, billing, navigating the course in Brightspace, and more.

Policies

Summer Session & Academic Engagement Policy

Online students are required to submit a graded assignment/discussion prior to Sunday evening at 11:59 pm EDT of the first week of the term. If a student does not submit a posting to the graded assignment/discussion by 11:59 pm EDT on Sunday of the first week, the student will be automatically dropped from the course for non-participation. Review the Student Summer Session Manual for full details.

Proctored Examinations

The University of New England has contracted with ProctorU to provide students with the most convenient online exam proctoring system. This system provides a simple, no cost to the student, secure, online proctor for exams and allows the student to take all the exams at home and on their own schedule.

Upon enrollment into the course, if the course has proctored exams, each student will register with ProctorU and establish a login name and password. This will give the student access to all of ProctorU's services. When ready, students will schedule each of their proctored exams with ProctorU. Exams must be scheduled at least 72 hours in advance to avoid fees. Prior to taking their exams, students must be sure that they have downloaded the ProctorU Chrome or Firefox extension and are using the most current version of Chrome or Firefox. They must also be sure their testing site's connection meets the minimum requirements by using ProctorU's "Test It Out" utility.

Upon the exam day and hour, students will log in to ProctorU and click on "exams". After following the procedures outlined at ProctorU's website, the student will log in to Brightspace and locate their correct exam. The proctor will then allow student access to that exam.

Students must use ProctorU and must follow all proctoring requirements for their exams to be credited.

Information about exam attempts can be found in your course.

Technology Requirements

Please review the technical requirements for UNE Online Programs: Technical Requirements.

Course Length

A schedule of lectures and assignments is included in this syllabus.

Courses in the program are equivalent to one-semester courses designed to be completed in 6 or 12 weeks.

  1. Enrollment in the course begins the day your section opens which is listed in the Academic Calendar.
  2. Course due dates, start and end dates are in respect to Eastern Time.

Withdrawal and Refund Policies

Please review the policies in your confirmation email. Contact summersessiononline@une.edu with any questions.

Grade Policy

Students are expected to attempt and complete all graded assignments and proctored exams by the end date of the course.

Transcripts

Due to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, only the student may request official transcripts. This may be done online by going to the University of New England Registrar website and following the directions on the page.

To view your unofficial UNE student transcript:

  1. Log into uonline at http://uonline.une.edu
  2. Select Student Services
  3. Select Student Records
  4. Select Academic Transcript

To request your official UNE student transcript:

Please review your Unofficial Transcript prior to requesting an Official Transcript.

  1. Log into uonline at http://uonline.une.edu
  2. Select Student Services
  3. Select Student Records
  4. Select Request Printed/Official Transcript
  5. Follow the prompts

After you click Submit Request, your official transcript will be put into the queue to be processed in the Registrar's Office.

Academic Integrity

The University of New England values academic integrity in all aspects of the educational experience. Academic dishonesty in any form undermines this standard and devalues the original contributions of others. It is the responsibility of all members of the University community to actively uphold the integrity of the academy; failure to act, for any reason, is not acceptable.

Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to the following:

  1. Cheating, copying, or the offering or receiving of unauthorized assistance or information.
  2. Fabrication or falsification of data, results, or sources for papers or reports.
  3. Action which destroys or alters the work of another student.
  4. Multiple submission of the same paper or report for assignments in more than one course without permission of each instructor.
  5. Plagiarism, the appropriation of records, research, materials, ideas, or the language of other persons or writers and the submission of them as one's own.

Charges of academic dishonesty will be reviewed by the College. Penalties for students found responsible for violations may depend upon the seriousness and circumstances of the violation, the degree of premeditation involved, and/or the student’s previous record of violations. Appeal of a decision may be made to the Dean whose decision will be final. Student appeals will take place through the grievance process outlined in the student handbook.

Attendance Policy

Online students are required to submit a graded assignment/discussion prior to Sunday evening at 11:59 pm ET of the first week of the term. If a student does not submit a posting to the graded assignment/discussion prior to Sunday evening at 11:59 pm ET, the student will be automatically dropped from the course for non-participation. Review the full attendance policy.

Assignments

Late assignments will be accepted up to 3 days late; however, there is a 10% grade reduction (from the total points) for the late submission. After three days the assignment will not be accepted. Discussion posts: If the initial post is submitted late, but still within the discussion board week, there will be a 10% grade reduction from the total discussion grade (e.g., a 3 point discussion will be reduced by 0.3 points). Any posts submitted after the end of the Discussion Board week will not be graded. Please make every effort ahead of time to contact your instructor if you are not able to meet an assignment deadline. Arrangements for extenuating circumstances may be considered by faculty.

Proctored Examinations

The University of New England has contracted with ProctorU to provide students with the most convenient online exam proctoring system. This system provides a simple, no cost to the student, secure, online proctor for exams and allows the student to take all the exams at home and on their own schedule.

Upon enrollment into the course, each student will register with ProctorU and establish a login name and password. This will give the student access to all of ProctorU's services. When ready, students will schedule each of their proctored exams with ProctorU. Exams must be scheduled at least 72 hours in advance to avoid fees. Prior to taking their exams, students must be sure that they have downloaded the ProctorU Chrome or Firefox extension and are using the most current version of Chrome or Firefox. They must also be sure their testing site's connection meets the minimum requirements by using ProctorU's "Test It Out" utility.

Upon the exam day and hour, students will log in to ProctorU and click on "exams". After following the procedures outlined at ProctorU's website, the student will log in to Brightspace and locate their correct exam. The proctor will then allow student access to that exam.

Students must use ProctorU and must follow all proctoring requirements for their exams to be credited.

Information about exam attempts can be found in your course.

Technology Requirements

Please review the technical requirements for UNE Online Programs: Technical Requirements

Course Length

A schedule of lectures and assignments is included in this syllabus.

Courses in the program are equivalent to one-semester courses designed to be completed in 6 or 8 weeks

  1. Enrollment in the course begins the day your section opens which is listed in the Academic Calendar found on the Student Success Portal.
  2. Course due dates, start and end dates are in respect to Eastern Time.

Withdrawal and Refund Policies

Please review the policies in your confirmation email. Contact PreHealth@une.edu with any questions.

Grade Policy

Students are expected to attempt and complete all graded assignments and proctored exams by the end date of the course. Contact support with any questions.

Transcripts

Due to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, only the student may request official transcripts. This may be done online by going to the University of New England Registrar website and following the directions on the page.

To view your unofficial UNE student transcript:

  1. Log into uonline at http://uonline.une.edu
  2. Select Student Services
  3. Select Student Records
  4. Select Academic Transcript

To request your official UNE student transcript:

Please review your Unofficial Transcript prior to requesting an Official Transcript.

  1. Log into uonline at http://uonline.une.edu
  2. Select Student Services
  3. Select Student Records
  4. Select Request Printed/Official Transcript
  5. Follow the prompts

After you click Submit Request, your official transcript will be put into the queue to be printed in the Registrar's Office.

Academic Integrity

The University of New England values academic integrity in all aspects of the educational experience. Academic dishonesty in any form undermines this standard and devalues the original contributions of others. It is the responsibility of all members of the University community to actively uphold the integrity of the academy; failure to act, for any reason, is not acceptable.

Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to the following:

  1. Cheating, copying, or the offering or receiving of unauthorized assistance or information.
  2. Fabrication or falsification of data, results, or sources for papers or reports.
  3. Action which destroys or alters the work of another student.
  4. Multiple submission of the same paper or report for assignments in more than one course without permission of each instructor.
  5. Plagiarism, the appropriation of records, research, materials, ideas, or the language of other persons or writers and the submission of them as one's own.

Charges of academic dishonesty will be reviewed by the Program Director. Penalties for students found responsible for violations may depend upon the seriousness and circumstances of the violation, the degree of premeditation involved, and/or the student’s previous record of violations. Appeal of a decision may be made to the Dean whose decision will be final. Student appeals will take place through the grievance process outlined in the student handbook.