Philosophy 106 Winter term 2007

Current Moral and Social Issues

Monday thru Friday

6:00 pm – 9:00 pm

In this course we will look primarily at two issues, war and social identity.  There is a lot going on concerning the two aforementioned issues currently.  Debates about the Iraq war and the “war on terrorism” abound as well as discussions surrounding issues like national identity.  We will split the class into two main parts: the first part covering questions like “When is it ok to go to war?” and “What is it permissible for warring parties to do during war?”  The latter part will cover issues like what obligations, if any, does one have as a member of social groups such as nations or races.

Office Hours

I’m available after class everyday or you may schedule an appointment.

Attendance

You may miss two classes without incurring a penalty.  For every missed class after that, your overall grade will drop by one “step” (From an A to a B +, from a C + to a C, etc.).  If you come to class more than 15 minutes after it starts, you will be counted as absent.  If you leave class more than 15 minutes before it ends, you will be counted as absent.

Grading

Your grade will consist of four areas: class participation, a mid-term exam, a final exam, and two short reflection pieces.  Both exams will count for 40% each, the reflection pieces (each should be 1 to 2 typed single spaced pages) will count for 5% each, and class participation will be 10%.  As far as the exams go, generally I will not allow make-ups unless there is an extraordinarily good reason to do so (So don't miss them!)

Readings (Subject to Change)

I will make all of the readings available to you online at my website (http://fas-philosophy.rutgers.edu/landerson).

PART I: Normative Theory

12/26            Richard Brandt “Relativism and Ultimate Disagreement About Ethical Principles”, Bernard Williams “Relativism”

12/27   James Rachels “The Challenge of Cultural Relativism”

PART II: Ethics of War

12/28   Judith Jarvis Thompson “Self-Defense”

1/7            Selections from Michael Walzer Just and Unjust Wars

1/8       Jeff McMahan “Just War”, Greg Reichberg “Just War and Regular War”, Henry Shue “War”

1/9       Jan Narveson “Pacifism”

1/10     Mid-Term

1/11     Tom Regan “A Defense of Pacifism”

PART III: Social Identity

1/14            Selections from The Morality of Nationalism

1/15            Selections from K. Anthony Appiah The Ethics of Identity

1/16            Selections from Tommie Shelby We Who Are Dark: The Philosophical Foundations of Black Solidarity

1/17     No Class

1/18     Final