Los Angeles Valley College, Fall 1998 K.L. Ross, kross@friesian.com Philosophy 20, Ethics Office: Campus Center 224 Th 7:00-10:00 PM, CC 205 Phone: (818) 947-2467 https://www.friesian.com/valley/ SYLLABUS TEXTS: Moral Reasoning, Victor Grassian (this has been reported out of print) Ethnic America, Thomas Sowell The Analects, Confucius Preferential Policies, An International Perspective, Thomas Sowell (this has been reported out of print, if the bookstore does not have copies, it should have The Economics and Politics of Race, Thomas Sowell, instead) The Content of Our Character (suggested), Shelby Steele Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance (suggested), Robert Pirsig Handouts for this class, with some web links and extra graphics, are on the World Wide Web at: https://www.friesian.com/valley/ CONTENTS: The course is intended as a survey of the theory and some practical issues of ethics and value theory. Besides the common concern of ethics courses with moral obligation and moral problems, emphasis will also be placed on the nature of value: how matters of value exists and how we know it. There is probably less emphasis on various moral problems in this class than in other ethics classes, since I don't see much point in arguing about moral problems unless we have some clue about the principles that would enable us to solve them. Unit 1: Discussion of moral dilemmas and some basic principles of capitalism. Dilemmas in Moral Reasoning, plus handouts. Tentative quiz, September 17. Unit 2: The nature of ethics and of value. Part I sections 1-3, "The Genetic Fallacy" in 5, & 6 in Moral Reasoning, plus handouts. Basic distinctions in ethics, how value is known, the objectivity or subjectivity of value, etc. Tentative midterm, October 15. Unit 3: Various historical theories in ethics. Part I sections 7, 9-11, 13-15, & 17 in Moral Reasoning, selections from The Analects, plus handouts. Tentative quiz, November 19 Unit 4: Moral Problems. Selected topics as time permits from Part II in Moral Reasoning, Ethnic America, and Preferential Policies, An International Perspective, plus handouts. Possible topics: capitalism, socialism, discrimination, affirmative action, abortion, sexual ethics, capital punishment, etc. Final Exam, 7:00 PM, Thursday, December 10, CC 205. During the semester, one moral problem that I am particularly interested in addressing is the moral basis of capitalism and the free market. Despite the fall of communism in Eastern Europe in 1989-91 and the looming financial and other problems of European socialism, the Canadian health care system, and American social welfare programs like Social Security and Medicare, socialistic criticisms of capitalism and the free market nevertheless are often credulously repeated, indeed assumed, in academic or political discussions, and the moral case for capitalism is rarely stated: the way people talk after the so-called "decade of greed" (the 80's), one might think that a moral case for capitalism is a contradiction in terms. I am concerned that nothing of the sort be assumed, especially after the historic events at the end of the 80's. Since I have been dealing with this issue in class, my feeling is that people seem to know more about Marxism (or at least uncritically or perhaps unknowingly repreat Marxist principles), than about the accurate history and the moral foundations of the free market system. Recent debates about proposed reforms of health care, welfare, insurance, rent control, the minimum wage, etc. also seem to reflect more in the way of socialistic assumptions than any understanding of the workings of the free market. My views, so that you will be forewarned, are generally those of Classical Liberal or Libertarian thought, advocated by people like Thomas Jefferson and philosophers like John Locke and John Stuart Mill. This is neither "liberal" nor "conservative" in the present common use of those terms--especially when the term "liberal" now means almost exactly the opposite of what it originally meant. The Left/Right political spectrum has become increasingly deceptive and useless. A version of the "Nolan Chart" or "Diamond Quiz" will be included with the syllabus to show a possible two dimensional, rather than one dimensional, political classification. My website also contains a three dimensional classification: https://www.friesian.com/quiz.htm No one need agree with me in this class, and I hope that everyone will state their honest beliefs; but, as in all my classes, you will be expected to know what I have said and to be familiar with the content of the course. ATTENDANCE: This is primarily a lecture class: tardiness and absences, including going home at the break, thus will result in missing material that cannot be found in the texts or in other sources. As you will see, I disagree with our textbook on many issues. That may be confusing, since you will find the book saying one thing and me another. On the other hand, you do get two (or more) sets of opinions for the price of one in this class, and you are free to agree with the textbook (or someone else) rather than me. But believe me that you will not do well in the class unless you are present for the lectures or arrange to obtain lecture notes, and it is your responsibility to arrange with others to obtain the materials for classes that you miss. Some people make it a habit of going home at the break. They should realize that they seriously jeopardize their chances in this class. Lectures may be tape recorded. Some people find that very helpful. Attendance will be taken for each class meeting. Excessive absences (more than 3 classes) may subject you to exclusion or reduction in grade. It is your own responsibility to drop the class if you wish to do so (final drop date: November 20). You will not be penalized if absent for religious, work- related, or serious personal reasons, but I will exclude people if in my judgment their absences are so numerous as to preclude a proper understanding of the course. Holidays this semester are Labor Day, September 7, Admission Day, September 8, Veteran's Day, November 9, and Thanksgiving, November 26-27. If you miss class because of Rosh Hashanah (September 21-22) or Yom Kippur (September 29-30), you should simply inform me, before or after, so that I will not mark you absent. The last day of this class is Thursday, December 3rd. Anyone who persistently disrupts my class by talking, leaving early, arriving late, repeatedly leaving & returning, or through any other distracting and inconsiderate behavior may be summarily excluded. If you do not want to be here, don't come in the first place. OFFICE HOURS: My office hours are MWF 7:40-8:00 & 9:00-10:00 AM, TuWTh 6:30-7:00 PM, and by appointment in CC 224. The phone number is (818) 947-2467. This is a direct line, and no one else will answer the phone. You should call during office hours. If you call at other times, you can leave messages on voicemail. Do not leave messages for me to call you, without the times you can be reached at your number. Feel free to ask questions by e-mail: kross@friesian.com TESTS: There will be one midterm exam, two quizzes, and a final. The quizzes will be multiple choice, but the other exams will include multiple choice, short answer identifications, and essay questions. The midterm will be a take-home test, with a brief multiple choice part taken in class. The final exam will include a take-home essay, but the in-class part will include another essay and the other kinds of questions. It will be comprehensive. If you miss the final and cannot take it at another time I have scheduled, you cannot make it up during the current semester and will be credited with an F unless you request an Incomplete--which you may do simply by leaving a message for me before I turn in the grades. Point values are assigned to grades as follows: F=0, D=3, C=6, B=9, A=12. Minuses subtract one point, and pluses add one. A C+ is thus worth 7. The midterm grade is worth 1/4 of the course grade, the quizzes 1/8 each, and the final 1/2. The course grade is therefore calculated in this way: {[2x(Midterm) + (Quiz I + Quiz II) + 4x(Final)]/8}. Missed tests or quizzes will count as F's unless made up. For the purpose of the following rule, the grades of the two quizzes will be combined. If that grade or the midterm grade (or an F for a missed midterm) will be dropped if the grade is improved by the substitution of the grade of the final with the penalty of one letter grade (subtracting 3 points). For instance, an A+ (13) on the final means that a midterm grade, or a combined quiz grade, lower than a B+ (10) is replaced with a B+. If the course grade is as much as 10 (B+), without rounding, an A will be awarded. If a 7 (C+), a B; a 4 (D+), a C; and a 1 (F+), a D. In all the work you do in my classes, you are not expected to agree with me on any issue; but you are expected to know what has been presented in the course, both in the lectures and in the books, and to present reasons or arguments for any views you wish to advocate. Outside materials or opinions are welcome so long as they are not a substitute for awareness or discussion of the materials of the course. You are expected to do your own work, so do not prepare common essays with your study partners. On a test, if I read an essay that I have already read, I will grade it down, regardless of how the original essay may be have been graded. Also, you may quote from my handouts in essays, but it is not acceptable to write an essay that reproduces the handouts verbatim, especially when it is without attribution. I reserve the right to exclude or fail anyone who turns in work that they have not done themselves, who plagiarizes, or who cheats in any other way.