SYLLABUS PHILOSOPHY 232 TWENTIETH CENTURY ETHICAL THEORY

SEMESTER II Tuesday - Thursday 11:00 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.

Mr. MacKay Office hours: MTWTH 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. or by appointment (King 122)

GENERAL AIM OF THE COURSE: to study some of the writings of some of the major contributors to twentieth century ethical theory.

BOOK TO BUY Steven Cahn and Joram Haber, 20th Century Ethical Theory

FORMAT The course will proceed by lecture and discussion.

EVALUATION will be primarily based on three, equally weighted, c. 3500 word, papers:

the first, on G.E. Moore, or W.D. Ross, due at the end of class on Thurs, March 11*

the second, on C.L. Stevenson, or R.M. Hare, due at the end of class on Thurs, Apr. 15+

the third, on John Rawls, due at the end of the reading period (Tues, May 18#, 4:30 p.m.).

(Consultation on papers, including choice of topics, during office hours or by appointment.)

Regular attendance is expected@, as are preparation for and participation in class discussions.

@ In order to receive credit for this course, you must attend at least 18 class sessions

(i.e., no more than seven absences), to be self-monitored on the Honor System.

PROVISIONAL CALENDAR (subject to revision)

Feb. 9 - 11 Week 1 Intro/G. E. Moore Principia Ethica

Feb. 16 - 18 Week 2 G.E. Moore Principia Ethica

Feb. 23 - 25 Week 3 G.E. Moore Ethics

Mar. 2 - 4 Week 4 W.D. Ross The Right and The Good

Mar. 9 - 11* Week 5 A.J. Ayer Language, Truth, and Logic

Mar. 16 - 18 Week 6 C.L. Stevenson Ethics and Language

SPRING BREAK March 20 - 28

Mar. 30 - Apr. 1 Week 7 C.L. Stevenson Facts and Values

Apr. 6- 8 Week 8 R.M. Hare The Language of Morals

Apr. 13 - 15+ Week 9 John Rawls Various Essays

Apr. 20 - 22 Week 10 John Rawls A Theory of Justice

Apr. 27 - 29 Week 11 John Rawls A Theory of Justice

May 4 - 6 Week 12 Rawls' critics Nozick, Anarchy, State, Utopia

May 11 - 13 Week 13 Other developments

Tuesday, May 18#, 4:30 p.m. Final paper due, on John Rawls