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PHILOSOPHY 290: Social & Political Philosophy (University of Tennessee, Summer 2009)
Course Description This is an introductory survey of contemporary social and political philosophy. It aims to provide students with a general philosophical understanding of key debates in social and political life. These debates concern the nature and institutional preconditions of the various virtues and values we seek to realize in social and political life: justice, liberty, equality, fraternity, efficiency, stability, human flourishing, non-domination, and so forth. [disclaimer--this description was recycled from the Phil 290 I TA'd for Professor Reidy in the spring of 08]
Course Text Will Kymlicka, Contemporary Political Philosophy, Second Edition, Oxford UP, 2002.
Course Requirements Keep up with course readings. Attend class. Conduct yourself appropriately. Three (mainly essay) exams. One philosophical essay, roughly 2000 words. Students must comply with all University requirements regarding academic integrity. Failure to do so may result in a failing grade for the course.
Grading Each of the three exams will account for 20% of your grade. The philosophical essay will account for 30% of your grade. Attendance is worth 5% and participation 5%. All course requirements must be completed to pass the course. So, if you fail to turn in your essay or you do not take an exam, you will receive the grade of incomplete for the course (which magically becomes an F after a year). Grading will be on the standard scale. So, 80-87=B; 88-89=B+; 90 and above = A, etc. Blackboard Site I will maintain a Blackboard site for this course, complete with discussion boards. You are encouraged to use the course site, and to check it periodically for announcements, and so forth. The discussion boards are a good place to kick around ideas with your classmates, and impressive participation there can make up for unimpressive participation in class, thus bolstering your participation grade.
Changes to this Syllabus I reserve the right to change this syllabus during the course of the term. I will not do so unless I have good reason to. Any changes to the syllabus will be announced in class and on the course Blackboard site.
Students with Disabilities Any student unable under ordinary classroom conditions to demonstrate his or her full abilities should discuss his or her situation with the UT Office of Disability Services. I will work with and through that office to insure that every student receives any reasonable accommodation to which he or she might be entitled. Course Schedule
PHILOSOPHY 243: BUSINESS ETHICS (University of Tennessee, Summer 2008)
Required Text Ethical Theory and Business, 8th Edition by Beauchamp, Bowie and Arnold (referred to below as “ET&B”)
Office Hours Wednesdays 1:30-4:30 in 336 SSH. I’m also happy to work around your schedule—just ask. And I’m readily accessible by email and phone prior to 10 p.m. Please don’t hesitate to call if you need help.
Course Requirements 16 Daily Summary/Response Papers (18 minus lowest two dropped)—2.5% each—40% total 4 Exams—15% each—60% total Final Grade—100%
Guidelines for Daily One-page Papers Ideally, these summary/responses will help you study for the exams. Each submission should be 1 page double-spaced with 1 inch margins, comprised of two paragraphs—the first, a summary of the author’s central argument, and the second, your critique of that argument. Papers will be assessed on a ten-point scale for clarity, concision, grammar, comprehensiveness, insightfulness and philosophical rigor. They are due in hard copy at the beginning of class. Since the assignment is designed to evaluate your ability to independently summarize and critique complex material, late submissions will not be accepted.
Guidelines for Exams The exams will contain some combination of T/F, multiple choice, short answer and essay questions. To do well, answer questions accurately, completely and using your best writing skills. Also, be sure to thoroughly explain the concepts you employ (summarize what an author argues if you drop their name) and always provide arguments to support your answers, not simply opinions or feelings. The exams build on one another, such that for any given exam, all material covered up until that point is fair game.
Extra-Credit You can earn 5 extra points on a given week’s exam by bringing a guest speaker to class. Topics should be scheduled to coincide with the topic of the day and need my prior approval. Also, see the attendance policy below. And I may provide additional extra-credit opportunities as the semester progresses.
Academic Dishonesty You cheat, you fail the course and a report is sent to Judicial Affairs. Discussing material with classmates outside of class is fine, but all written submissions must be your original work.
Attendance Policy On top of having to learn very difficult material, I’m a very demanding instructor. To stay above water, most of you will find it necessary to attend class all day, every day. However, if you don’t want to be here, it will show in your attitude and drag the rest of the class down. So, for the sake of those who want to learn, if you don’t want to be here—fine—don’t come. That said, I do have a strong interest in your success—I truly want to help you become a clearer thinker, better writer and more confident arguer—that’s what makes my job worth doing. But I can’t accomplish this if you don’t come to class—my comments on your papers can only do so much good. So, I offer one tangible incentive: students with perfect attendance (never absent, never late, never leave early) for any given week will receive a 3-point bonus on that week’s exam.
Course Schedule Setting the Stage: Philosophical Ethics and Stakeholder vs. Stockholder Theory
Selling Ethically
Ethical Treatment of Employees T June 17 Employment at Will and Due Process by Werhane and Radin, ET&B p 113-121 W June 18 In Defense of the Contract at Will by Richard A. Epstein, ET&B p 121-129 R June 19 Occupational Health and Safety by John R. Boatright, ET&B p 136-146 F June 20 Drug Testing and Employment by Desjardins and Duska, electronic reserve via library website M June 23 Exam 3
Business Abroad
Diversity
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