Values Analysis - David Brown

PHIL/GLST 210: Values Analysis

Fall 1997

INSTRUCTOR: David Brown OFFICE: Rm. 217, Burnham Hall

OFFICE HOURS: TBA and by appointment

PHONE: (873) 7229

This course is an introduction to values analysis. No prior knowledge of philosophy or any other subject is required. We will examine a number of ethical theories, focusing on the various methods used to make value judgments. We will also look at a number of contemporary ethical problems in light of these various theories. The goal of this class is not only to broaden the student's understanding and appreciation of different moral perspectives and how they affect one's values, but also to enable the student to better form and shape their own values by thinking critically about them. This course is writing intensive and will involve class discussions about sensitive ethical issues.

TEXTS:

Morality and Moral Controversies, fourth edition, ed. John Arthur; T

he Abolition of Man, C. S. Lewis;

Moral Philosophy: A Reader, ed. Louis Pojman;

A Rulebook for Arguments, second edition, Anthony Weston (Recommended);

A Practical Companion to Ethics, Anthony Weston;

Handouts and Reserved Readings as needed.

REQUIREMENTS:

15 short papers-2 pages [500 words] (25%);

One mid-term essay-6-8 pages [1500-2000 words] (30%);

One final essay-8-10 pages [2000-2500 words] (35%);

Participation (10%).

(Paper lengths are only suggestions.)

Policies on grading will be discussed in class (Grading policy available at instructor's office).

NB: Late homework will not be accepted.

OUTLINE AND READINGS

Week Beginning /Topic for Week /Reading

24 August Introduction Arthur, pp. 1-4

Weston (Rulebook)

Weston, pp. 85-97 and chs. 1, 2

Lewis

31 August Logic/Critical Thinking Lewis (cont.)

Weston, chs. 3, 4

Pojman, ch. 1

[No Class Monday-Labor Day]

7 September Subjectivism/Relativism Arthur, pp. 108-115

Pojman, chs. 2, 3, 4

Weston, ch. 5

14 September Subjectivism/Relativism (cont.)/Hume Arthur, pp. 44-54

Baier (Reserve)

Pojman, chs. 13,14

21 September Kant Arthur, pp. 55-64

Pojman, chs. 20, 21

28 September Mill Arthur, pp. 65-74

Pojman, chs. 16, 17,

5 October Aristotle Arthur, pp. 30-36

[Drop Date Oct. 8] Pojman, chs. 23, 24,

25, 26

12 October Neitzsche Arthur, pp. 75-82

[Fall Break Oct. 16-19]

19 October Feminist Ethics/Buddhist Ethics Arthur, pp. 83-91

[Paper #1 Due at Beginning of First Class] (Reserves--TBA)

26 October Case Study 1: Animals and Animal Rights Arthur, ch. 5 (not including Callicott);

Cohen (Reserve);

Machen (Reserve)

2 November Case Study 2: TBA Readings-TBA

9 November Case Study 3: Euthanasia Arthur, ch. 6; Sullivan

(Reserve); Rachels

(Reserve)

16 November Case Study 4: Abortion Arthur, ch. 7; Marquis

(Reserve)

23 November Case Study 4 (cont.)

[Thanksgiving Nov. 25-30]

30 November Case Study 5: Affirmative Action Arthur, ch. 17; Steele

(Reserve); West

(Reserve)

7 December Case study 6: Political Correctness Arthur, ch. 18 (Mill, Lawrence and Gunther);

Altman (Reserve); Fish (Reserve)

14 December Finals Week

[Paper # 2 Due on Date of Final. TBA]

(Reading schedule may vary slightly-Changes will be announced in class)

How to Write an Argumentative Paper

1. Before the Outline

a) Explore the assigned question from all sides (What have others said?).

b) Find the various arguments and evaluate them.

c) Form an opinion. Take a stand.

(Does one argument seem more convincing? Will you support a given argument, reject one or more of them, modify an argument, or present your own argument?)

d) Find support for your position. (How will you defend your opinion?)

Determine the type of argument or arguments you will use to support your position.

Find major objections to your position and develop your responses.
Think of possible objections to your position (even though no one has made them) and your responses to those objections.

2. Outline (Lack of a good outline is a major cause of a bad paper)

a) Explain the question you will discuss and make a definite claim.

Present your evidence in an orderly way. Develop one argument at a time. (Make your premises and assumptions clear and explicit.)

Present the objections to your position (mention minor ones you will not discuss and explain why they will not be treated) and your responses.

Present alternatives to your position and your reason for rejecting them.
Summarize your argument and explain how it supports your claim (if your argument is lengthy, summarize each section before you move on).

3. Writing Your Essay

a) Follow your outline.

b) Keep the introduction brief and tightly focused.

c) Use definite, specific, concrete language.

d) Avoid loaded language or jargon.

e) Use consistent terms (stick to one meaning for each term).

f) Give your arguments one at a time.

g) Support objections with arguments.

h) Don't claim more than your evidence has shown, or make your claim too strong.

i) Revise and clarify:

Vigorous writing is concise. A sentence should contain no unnecessary words, a paragraph no unnecessary sentences, for the same reason that a drawing should have no unnecessary lines and a machine no unnecessary parts. This requires not that the writer make all his sentences short, or that he avoid all detail and treat his subjects only in outline, but that every word tell (Strunk and White, The Elements of Style, Third Edition, p. 23).

Do's and Don'ts For Papers (Or, How To Keep The Instructor Happy)

DO:

Use an outline. It is the best way to stay focused and not lose your reader.
Use simple, short, declarative sentences.
Make sure you understand the assignment.
See the instructor if you have questions or problems with an assignment.
Use the guidelines in "How to Write an Argumentative Paper".
Be honest. If you disagree with your classmates or the instructor, let them know. You are not graded on whether or not you agree with anyone.

DON'T:

Don't try to BS. Never pretend to know something you do not understand.
Don't use jargon or cliches.
Don't try to impress. Write your paper as if you were explaining something to a friend.
Avoid weasel words. Take a stand!
Don't make unsupported claims.
Don't appeal to a dictionary to settle anything (except spelling).
Don't use statistics to prove anything. Statistics may be useful as evidence but of themselves prove nothing.