Online · College of Arts & Sciences · Philosophy

Critical and Historical Development of Public Ethics:

Summer D 201930

ETHC-323

Summer D 2019 06/24/2019 to 08/16/2019 Modified 06/10/2019  Contact Information

See detailed faculty information in Blackboard.  Course Description

This course is an introduction to ethical theory to compliment public policy studies. It approaches the subject by way of historical exploration of moral philosophy, integrating areas of Western philosophy of religion, social and political philosophy as necessary. It surveys Western ethical thought by reading selected figures representative of Western ethical traditions. The selected traditions will highlight theoretical developments critical to the ethical dimension of public policy, including virtue theory, utilitarianism, deontological theory, natural law, as well as contemporary theories. Students will interact with the primary writings from representative ethical thinkers. They will explore the differing conceptions of morality with respect to their scope, purpose, and content. In addition, the course will trace the interactions of Western ethical thought with Christian theistic ethics.

Requisites Prerequisites

ETHC 205, 210  Rationale

Operating from a sound, biblical foundation for ethics includes understanding the historical context of many of the competing ethical theories that have arisen and been developed by various thinkers, particularly as part of Western civilization.

 Course Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

A. Develop a critical appreciation for the conceptual connections in moral philosophy between metaphysics, natural theology (i.e. philosophy of religion), and morality.

B. Explain the representative schools of ethical thought germane to public policy, including virtue theory, consequentialism, and deontological theory, as they develop in historical context.

C. Analyze how the traditional moral conscience and its substantive ideas developed in the West.

D. Cultivate a critical ability to evaluate the differences between secular and religious morality.

E. Create a conceptual “toolbox” of ideas, sources, methods, and principles to use in analyzing ethical issues and to defend the

involvement of moral beliefs in culturally sensitive public policy arguments.

 Course Resources

Required Resources

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The resources below are provided in the course at no cost to the student.

Banner, Michael. Christian Ethics: A Brief History. Hoboken: Wiley-Blackwell, 2009.

MacIntyre, Alasdair. A Short History of Ethics: A History of Moral Philosophy from the Homeric Age to the Twentieth Century . 2nd ed. Notre Dame: Univeristy of Notre Dame Press, 1998.

Mitchell, Basil, and J. R. Lucas. Engagement with Plato’s Republic: A Companion to the Republic. New York: Routledge, 2003. Richter, Duncan. Why Be Good? A Historical Introduction to Ethics. New York: Oxford University Press, 2008.

Disclaimer: The above resources provide information consistent with the latest research regarding the subject area. Liberty University does not necessarily endorse specific personal, religious, philosophical, or political positions found in these resources.

Recommended Resource Purchase

Clark, Kelly James, and Anne Poortenga. The Story of Ethics: Fulfilling Our Human Nature. Upper Saddle River: Pearson Education, 2003. ISBN: 9780130978400.

Additional Materials for Learning

A. Computer with basic audio/video output equipment

B. Internet access (broadband recommended)

C. Blackboard recommended browsers (https://liberty.service-now.com/kb_view.do?

sys_kb_id=38a8e4bd75c210c0b9a9ec15cb9606a2)

D. Microsoft Word

E. Turabian Writing Guide: https://www.liberty.edu/casas/academic-success-center/turabian/

(https://www.liberty.edu/casas/academic-success-center/turabian/)

 Course Assignments

  Textbook readings and lecture presentations

Course Requirements Checklist

After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in Module/Week 1.

Discussion Board Forums (5)

Discussion boards are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the student is required to provide a thread in response to the provided prompt for each forum. Each thread must be 400–500 words, include at least 5 references, and demonstrate course- related knowledge. In addition to the thread, the student is required to reply to 2 classmates’ threads. Each reply must be 200–250 words and must include at least 1 reference to the course readings and at least 1 Scripture reference.

Ethical Analysis Papers (3)

The student will write 3 research-based essays in current Turabian format that focus on the topics outlined within the course. Essays 1 and 2 will each be 4 pages and include at least 1 primary and scholarly source, and 3 biblical references. Essay 3 will be 7–10 pages and will trace and analyze the question “Why be moral?” as discussed by the student’s choice of 4 philosophers found in the textbook Why Be Good? Essay 3 will include 8 scholarly and primary source references, and at least 4 biblical references.

 Course Grading

Course Requirements Checklist

10

2 of 6

Discussion Board Forums (5 at 100 pts ea) 500

Ethical Analysis Papers (2 at 150 pts ea, 1 at 200 pts)

500

Total 1010

 Course Policies

 Policies

Late Assignment Policy

Course Assignments, including discussion boards, exams, and other graded assignments, should be submitted on time.

If the student is unable to complete an assignment on time, then he or she must contact the instructor immediately by email. Assignments that are submitted after the due date without prior approval from the instructor will receive the following deductions:

1. Late assignments submitted within one week after the due date will receive a 10% deduction.

2. Assignments submitted more than one week and less than 2 weeks late will receive a 20% deduction.

3. Assignments submitted two weeks late or after the final date of the course will not be accepted.

4. Group projects, including group discussion board threads and/or replies, and assignments will not be accepted after the due

date.

Special circumstances (e.g. death in the family, personal health issues) will be reviewed by the instructor on a case-by-case basis.

Instructor Feedback and Response Time

Responses to student emails will be provided within 36 hours and assignment feedback will be given within 5 days from the assignment due date.

Disability Assistance

Students with a disability and those with medical conditions associated with pregnancy may contact Liberty University’s Online Office of Disability Accommodation Support (ODAS) at LUOODAS@liberty.edu for accommodations. Such accommodations require appropriate documentation of your condition. For more information about ODAS and the accommodations process, including how to request an accommodation, please visit www.liberty.edu/disabilitysupport. Requests for accommodations not related to disabilities or pregnancy must be directed to the Registrar’s Office, which generally handles medical needs support.

If you have a complaint related to disability discrimination or an accommodation that was not provided, you may contact ODAS or the Office of Equity and Compliance by phone at (434) 592-4999 or by email at equityandcompliance@liberty.edu. Click to see a full copy of Liberty’s Discrimination, Harassment, and Sexual Misconduct Policy or the Student Disability Grievance Policy and Procedures.

Course Attendance

In an effort to comply with U.S. Department of Education policies, attendance is measured by physical class attendance or any submission of a required assignment within the enrollment dates of the course (such as examinations, written papers or projects, any discussion board posts, etc.) or initiating any communication with one’s professor regarding an academic subject. More information regarding the attendance policy can be found in the Academic Course Catalogs. Regular attendance in online courses is expected throughout the length of the term. Students who do not attend within the first week of a sub-term by submitting a required academic assignment (such as the Course Requirements Checklist, an examination, written paper or project, discussion board post, or other academic activity) will be dropped from the course. Students who wish to re-engage in the course are encouraged to contact Academic Advising to discuss their enrollment options. Students who begin an online course, but at some point in the semester cease attending, and do not provide official notification to withdraw, will be assigned a grade of “FN”

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(Failure for Non-Attendance). Students wishing to withdraw from courses after the official start date should familiarize themselves with the withdrawal policy.

Grading Scale

ABCDF

900-1000 800-899 700-799 600-699 0-599

For courses with a Pass/NP final grade, please refer to the Course Grading section of this syllabus for the assignment requirements and/or point value required to earn a Passing final grade.

Add/Drop Policy

The full policy statement and procedures are published in the Policy Directory

(https://wiki.liberty.edu/display/IE/Dropping+and+Adding+Online+Classes). Honor Code

Liberty University comprises a network of students, Alumni, faculty, staff and supporters that together form a Christian community based upon the truth of the Bible. This truth defines our foundational principles, from our Doctrinal Statement to the Code of Honor. These principles irrevocably align Liberty University’s operational procedures with the long tradition of university culture, which remains distinctively Christian, designed to preserve and advance truth. Our desire is to create a safe, comfortable environment within our community of learning, and we extend our academic and spiritual resources to all of our students with the goal of fostering academic maturity, spiritual growth and character development.

Communities are predicated on shared values and goals. The Code of Honor, an expression of the values from which our Doctrinal Statement was born, defines the fundamental principles by which our community exists. At the core of this code lie two essential concepts: a belief in the significance of all individuals, and a reliance on the existence of objective truth.

While we acknowledge that some may disagree with various elements of the Code of Honor, we maintain the expectation that our students will commit to respect and uphold the Code while enrolled at Liberty University.

Adherence to the principles and concepts established within facilitates the success of our students and strengthens the Liberty community.

The Code of Honor can be viewed in its entirety at https://www.liberty.edu/students/community-life/graduate-and-online- students/.

 Schedule

                        ETHC 323

Textbooks: Banner, Christian Ethics: A Brief History (2009). MacIntyre, A Short History of Ethics (1998).

Mitchell & Lucas, Engagement with Plato’s Republic (2003). Richter, Why Be Good? A Historical Introduction to Ethics (2008).

Module/Week Reading\&Study Assignments

Points

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    1

MacIntyre: chs. 2–6 Mitchell & Lucas: chs. 1–3 Richter: Introduction, ch. 1 3 presentations

Banner: Introduction, chs. 1– 3

MacIntyre: ch. 9 Richter: chs. 3–4 3 presentations 3 websites

Course Requirements Checklist

Class Introductions DB Forum 1

Ethical Analysis Paper 1

10 0 100

     2

MacIntyre: chs. 7–8

Mitchell & Lucas: chs. 8–9, 11 Richter: ch. 2

2 presentations

1 website

DB Forum 2

100

     3

150

     4

Banner: ch. 4 MacIntyre: ch. 10 2 presentations 3 websites

DB Forum 3

100

  5

MacIntyre: chs. 11–13 Richter: ch. 5

4 presentations

2 websites

DB Forum 4

100

     6

Banner: ch. 5 MacIntyre: ch. 14 Richter: chs. 6–7 5 presentations 4 websites

Ethical Analysis Paper 2

150

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      7

Banner: ch. 6 MacIntyre: chs. 15–17 Richter: chs. 8–9

1 presentation

4 websites

Ethical Analysis Paper 3

200

   8

Banner: chs. 7–8 MacIntyre: ch. 18 Richter: ch. 10

2 presentations 6 websites

DB Forum 5

100

Total 1010

DB = Discussion Board

NOTE: Each course module/week (except Module/Week 1) begins on Tuesday morning at 12:00 a.m. (ET) and ends on Monday night at 11:59 p.m. (ET). The final module/week ends at 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Friday.

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