College of San Mateo

Contemporary Social and Moral Issues

David G. Danielson contact

Dave’s Home Page

Philosophy Department Web Page

Course Info

Course Description	Readings/ Assignments	Required Materials	Other Resources	Grading Info	Other Info

Course Description

This is a course on ethics. We will examine in depth the complexity of Ethical issues and decisions. We will look at the philosophic grounds for making certain ethical decisions. Most of the time we will examine and discuss a variety of practical ethical concerns, situations that call for an ethical response.

The course will consist of some lectures, in-class discussions of issues and discussion of articles written on these issues. During the course you will be participating in small/large group discussions. And you will participate as a member of a group project.

The goal of this course is not to try and change anyone's views about any of these issues. Rather it is an attempt to broaden our understanding of the issues, and gain an awareness of the complexity of the decisions connected with these issues. Since the topics are connected very closely with values and beliefs, the class is designed to allow persons to hear other points of view as well as express their own views.

For a copy of the Syllabus click here. TTH Class,

Notebook update

Logic Handout Logic Worksheet

Writing Center Workshops

ESL Workshops

ePortfolio

eportfolio instructions

ePortfolio Link

WAC Survey

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Readings

  The readings for the class are listed on the syllabus which you can download above. The readings for each week ought to be read before the first class of the week. This will allow discussion on the topics. The homework assignments are due on Thursdays except where indicated in class.

Ethical Theories – Here are links to very good explanations of the theories. Dr. Sandra LaFave’s site.

Utilitarianism

Kant’s Deontological Theory

Class Presentations

When you have chosen a reading to present to the class, meet with me briefly in the office during the week before your presentation. On the date of your presentation, which is usually a Thursday, you may read your summary or give a presentation on the reading. You must submit a summary at the end of that class session. The summary should not include any quoted material. Please put the ideas into your own words. The grade for the assignment is based upon the summary and not on the "quality" of the presentation.

Service Learning

The Service Learning assignment is an opportunity for you to work in some area that is related to Ethics, or deals with a moral issue. These can be quite broad in interpretation. The goal is for you to find some place to work for 7 - 10 hours which will broaden your awareness of services and opportunities in the community. There are several websites below that can aid you in finding service opportunities. While you are working, please record your experiences in the notebook. At the end of the semester, there will be two options for the assignment. 1) Write a 1 - 2 page summary of what you did, where you did it, and what you learned. or 2) Give a short presentation on what you did etc. on the date of the final exam.

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Required Materials

Required Text: Today's Moral Issues, Bonevac Amazon (Correct edition)

Recommended Text: How to Get the Most Out of Philosophy, Soccio (ABE Books)

Recommended Text: Ethical Insights: A Brief Introduction, Birsch (ABE Books)

Philosophy Notebook

You will also need to keep a philosophy notebook. We will be discussing this in class regularly. The 1st 10 minutes of each class will be spent writing. The initial assignment can be downloaded here. Notebook

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Other Resources

Below are some websites that may be of help during the semester.

An article entitled “Everybody Does It.” This is about cheating.

Charity Navigator

An good way to find out Service Learning opportunities http://www.volunteermatch.org/ another site is

http://www.smccd.net/accounts/csmconnects/organizatn_list.htm

http://www.volunteerinfo.org/index.htm and another at http://www.goserv.ca.gov/index.asp

This is a link to the Josephson Ethics Institute http://josephsoninstitute.org/

This is a link to Ethics on the Web. http://commfaculty.fullerton.edu/lester/ethics/ethics_list.html

This is a link to a Philosophy Encyclopedia. http://plato.stanford.edu/

This is a link that has a comprehensive list of philosophy websites. http://www.earlham.edu/~peters/philinks.htm

Death Penalty Site

Interesting Prison Story

A site that has a slide show of lynching photos. Here.

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Grading Information

Grades:

* There will be two mid-term exams and a final. The 1st exam is worth 10%, the 2nd is worth 30% and the final is worth 10%. Total = 50% of the final grade.

* There will be homework/ in-class writing assignments based on the readings, video clips and the lectures. Total = 24% of the final grade. [The first assignment is included below.]

* There will also be a philosophy notebook to complete worth 7%.

* There is a class presentation worth 7%.

* There is a Service Learning project worth 7%

* The last 5% of the grade are based on attendance and participation.

 A good reference on Plagiarism is located HERE

Other Information

 Please make an effort to be on time. Arriving late disrupts the learning environment. If you need to leave a little earlier please do so. The classroom will always be open early so there will be a place to come and study, read, or write in the notebook.

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Philosophy Department
Date of last update8/23/07
Direct Questions or comments about this page to danielson@smccd.net
This page was developed and is maintained for the Collegeof San Mateo by the Philosophy Dept.