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.
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