PHIL 202: Contemporary Moral Problems

Timetable

Tue
Aug 27

Intro: General Introduction

Essential philosophical skills.

Thu
Aug 29

Intro: Ethics

Ethics: Theory and practice.

Tue
Sep 3

Intro: Arguments

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly.

Play around in the Logic and Critical Thinking section of the Resources page.

Thu
Sep 5

Abortion 1

The state of the abortion debate.

Dobbs v. Jackson (2022). (SCOTUS) – No need to read the whole thing, just the syllabus is ok.

Tue
Sep 10

Abortion 2

The famous Famous Violinist.

Judith Jarvis Thomson (1971). ‘A Defense of Abortion.’ Philosophy & Public Affairs 1(1): 47-66. (UD Library.)

Thu
Sep 12

Abortion 3

Futures like ours.

Don Marquis(1989). ‘Why Abortion is Immoral.’ The Journal of Philosophy 8(4): 183-202. (UD Library.)

Tue
Sep 17
in class

Bad Argument Assignment

In-class group project.

Details on ‘Assessment’ page.

Thu
Sep 19

Quiz 1 Preview

Think about the quiz and come with questions.

Sun
Sep 22
11:55 pm

Quiz 1

Details on ‘Assessment’ page.

Complete on Canvas@UD.

Tue
Sep 24

Selection for Disability

Everworse Sequences.

Mark Greene & Steve Augello, ‘Everworse: What’s Wrong with Selecting for Disability?’ (On Canvas@UD.)

Thu
Sep 26

Review of Quiz 1

Any questions about that first quiz?

Tue
Oct 1

Affirmative Action 1

The Problem We All Live With.

Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj.

Thu
Oct 3

Affirmative Action 2

Affirmative Action – For & Against.

Tom Beauchamp (1998). ‘In Defense of Affirmative Action.’ The Journal of Ethics 2:2, pp.143-158. (UD Library.)

The Economist. ‘Why Affirmative Action in Americal Had to Go.’ June 30th, 2023. (Accessible version on Canvas@UD.)

Sun
Oct 6
11:55 pm

Quiz 2

Details on ‘Assessment’ page.

Complete on Canvas@UD.

Tue
Oct 8

Heritability & Race

Heritability and race.

Moore & Shenk (2017). ‘The Heritability Fallacy.’ Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews. Cognitive Science, 8(1-2). (UD Library)

Thu
Oct 10
in class

Explanation of Why ‘High Heritability’ Does Not Imply ‘Inherited’

In-class group project.

Word limit: 300 words – strictly enforced.

Details on ‘Assessment’ page.

Tue
Oct 15

Environmental Ethics

The moral radar and the ‘last person’ question.

Thu
Oct 17

Respect for Nature

Taylor on respect for nature.

Paul W Taylor (1981). ‘The Ethics of Respect for Nature.’ Environmental Ethics 3(3): 197-218. (See Canvas@UD.)

Fri
Oct 18
7 pm

Extra Credit: Free Speech Debate

Debate info.

To claim extra credit:
– Attend the debate.
– Optional: Eat free food.
– Before the end of the weekend, post a thought about it on the pinned discussion on Canvas@UD.

Sun
Oct 20
11:55 pm

Quiz 3

Details on ‘Assessment’ page.

Complete on Canvas@UD.

Tue
Oct 22

Duties of Species Preservation?

Greene (and Darwin) on species.

Mark Greene (2011). ‘On the Origin of Species Notions and Their Ethical Limitations.’ in: The Oxford Handbook of Animal Ethics, edited by T. L. Beauchamp and R. G. Frey. (See Canvas@UD.)

Thu
Oct 24

Just War Theory

Just War Theory.

Alexander Moseley. ‘Just War Theory.’ Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. (On the web.)

Tue
Oct 29

Torture

Torture, Morality, & Law.

Jeff McMahan (2006). ‘Torture, Morality, and Law.’ Case Western Reserve Journal of International Law. 37(2/3): 241-248. (UD Library)

Thu
Oct 31

Terrorism

Igor Primoratz. ‘Terrorism.’ Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. (On the web.)

Sun
Nov 3
11:55 pm

Quiz 4

Details on ‘Assessment’ page.

Complete on Canvas@UD.

Tue
Nov 5

Election Day: No Class

Vote!

Thu
Nov 7

Voting Puzzles

Which Voting System is the Best? (YouTube.)

Is Democracy Impossible? (YouTube.)

Tue
Nov 12
in class

Write an Abstract of Jeff McMahan’s ‘Torture, Morality, and Law.’ (Oct 29 reading)

In-class group project.

Word limit: 150 words – strictly enforced.

Details on ‘Assessment’ page.

Thu
Nov 14

Utilitarianism & Global Justice

Famine, Affluence, and Morality.

Singer, Peter . ‘Famine, Affluence, and Morality.’ (UD Library.)

Singer, Peter . ‘How to Give Away a Million Dollars.’ (On the web.)

Sun
Nov 17
11:55 pm

Quiz 5

Details on ‘Assessment’ page.

Complete on Canvas@UD.

Tue
Nov 19

Private Government

What topics would you like to cover after the break?

Anderson on Private Government

Anderson, Elizabeth. ‘Liberty, Equality, and Private Government.’ Tanner Lectures 2015. (See Canvas@UD.)

Thu
Nov 21

Jury Duty and Perverse Verdicts

Jury Nullification

Bushell’s Case. (Wikipedia.)

Jury Nullification. (On the web.)

Tue
Dec 3

Student Choice: Kidney Transplants

Kidney Markets.

‘Why Can’t I Buy a Kidney?’ Playing God Podcast.

Thu
Dec 5

Student Choice: Immigration

‘Misperceptions About US Immigration.’ Harvard Immigration Initiative.

Class on Zoom! Use class meeting link on Canvas homepage.

Tue
Dec 10

Optional Review

Drop by if you have questions about Q6 or just want to chat.

Tue
Dec 10
11:55 pm

Quiz 6

Details on ‘Assessment’ page.

Complete on Canvas@UD.