University of Waterloo
Department of Philosophy
PHIL 221
Ethics
Fall 2014
Wednesday and Friday, 10:30-11:50, EV3 4412
INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION
Instructor:
Office:
Office Phone:
Office Hours:
Email:
Mathieu Doucet
HH 328
519-888-4567 ext. 32824
Mon. 3:00 – 4:00, Wed. 2:00 – 3:00
[email protected]
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COURSE DESCRIPTION
Moral philosophy is the systematic attempt to provide an answer to what is perhaps the
most important question of all: how should we live our lives? This course is an historical
introduction to three of the major movements in moral philosophy. We will focus on the
central texts of each of these movements: Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics (written
around 330 BCE), Immanuel Kant’s Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals (1785),
and John Stuart Mill’s Utilitarianism (1861). Each of these books defends a very
different vision of the good life, of the nature and value of happiness, and of what makes
an action, or a person, morally worthy. We will conclude by considering a variety of very
different skeptical critiques of the project of moral theory.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
By the end of the course, you should be able to:
 Summarize and distinguish the central tenets of several influential moral theories.
 Clearly explain, in writing, key concepts and arguments in moral philosophy.
 Apply positions and concepts from moral philosophy to real-world moral issues.
 Critically evaluate the strengths, weaknesses, implications, and assumptions of
positions and arguments in moral philosophy.

This course will help develop the skills to:
 Read and critically evaluate primary philosophical texts from distinct historical
periods.
 Discuss and debate issues, arguments, texts, and figures in moral philosophy
with peers in small groups and in full classroom discussion.
 Write clear, well-structured explanations and assessments of philosophical
arguments.
LEARNING ACTIVITIES
In order to achieve these objectives, you should:
• Treat your classmates with respect.
• Do the readings prior to class. Most of the readings are relatively short, but they
can be difficult. You will get the most out of the class if you read them carefully
and more than once, both before and after the class.
• Bring a copy of the text to class.
• Be in your seat ready to participate at the beginning of class, and remain until the
end of class.
• Take notes in class and review them.
• Be an active participant in class discussion.
• Ask questions of the Professor when you are unclear about concepts.
• Put serious thought into your written assignments.
• Finally, come to class ready to fully participate in a discussion about interesting
and important questions about e nature of the good life.
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REQUIRED TEXTS




J.S. Mill, Utilitarianism
Immanuel Kant, Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals
Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics
Additional required readings will be available online on the course LEARN site.
The University Bookstore stocks the Hackett publishing Company editions of each of
the required texts. Hackett editions are inexpensive and widely available used, but you
are free to use other editions/translations if you have them.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND ASSESSMENT
Assessment
Date
Weight
Reading Responses
5 throughout the term
20%
In Class Debates
4 throughout the term
5%
Argument Summary
Oct. 10
20%
Moral Analysis
Nov. 14
20%
Term Paper
Dec. 5
35%
Reading Responses
 Reading Responses involve writing short answers to a series of questions. You
will be required to identify the main conclusion of the reading to which you are
responding, highlight the strongest reason that the author gives in defence of that
conclusion, and raise a question of your own about the conclusion or the
argument.
 You can submit a Response to any of the readings, though some readings will be
better suited than others.
 Reading Responses will be completed via LEARN’s Quiz function.
 Reading Responses are due by 11:59 pm the day prior to the class in which we
will discuss the reading. For example, a Reading Response on Hooker’s “Rule
Consequentialism”, which we discuss on Sept. 26th, must be submitted by 11:59
pm on Sept. 25th.
 You must complete at least 5 Reading Responses throughout the term. You may
complete more, and your best 5 grades will count.
 You must complete at least 2 reading responses by Oct. 8th.
In Class Debates
 We will hold 4 in class debates (Oct. 1, Oct. 17, Nov. 12, Nov. 26).
 In each debate, you will first discuss an issue in a small group before convening
for a larger group discussion.
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
Attendance earns you 1% per debate. If you attend all 4, you earn an additional
1%, for a total of 5%.
Argument Summary
 In approximately 2 pages, you will be asked to summarize, in your own words,
one of the main arguments encountered in the readings. Specific instructions will
be distributed via LEARN by Sept. 24th. The assignment is due via LEARN on
Oct. 10th.
Moral Analysis
 You will be asked to find an article (in a magazine, newspaper, website, or blog)
that describes, discusses, or relates to a philosophically interesting issue moral
issue.
 Your task will be to analyse, in approximately 2 pages, the philosophical issue as
it emerges in the article, and to apply some of the concepts discussed in the
class to that issue.
 The Moral Analysis is due on Nov. 14th. Detailed instructions will be provided via
LEARN by Oct. 29th.
Term Paper
 You will be asked to write an essay of approximately 5 pages explaining and
taking a stand on one of the debates discussed in the course. The Term Paper is
due on Dec. 5th. Specific instructions will be provided via LEARN by Nov. 14 th.
Submitting Assignments
 All assignments (the Argument Summary, Moral Analysis, and Term Paper) must
be submitted online via LEARN in the relevant Dropbox. Hard copes will not be
accepted.
 Assignments must be prepared for anonymous review. This means that you
should not include your name anywhere on the paper, or in the file name of the
document you submit to the Dropbox.
COURSE POLICIES
Late Policy
Late work is subject to a penalty of 5% per day, unless you have prior approval (via the
Special Arrangements Request Form) or medical documentation. No late submissions
will be accepted once graded assignments have been retuned to the class.
Special Arrangements Request Form
If circumstances in your life pose an obstacle to your getting your work in on time, you
may complete a special arrangements request form (available on the LEARN site for the
course) to propose an alternative arrangement. This form must be submitted 48 hours
before the due date for the work. Submitting the form doesn't guarantee that your
proposed special arrangement will be approved. However, the professor will give all
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requests serious consideration. Special arrangements requests received after this 48
hour cut-off will not be considered without medical or similar documentation.
Electronic Device Policy
Laptops are permitted in class, but if do you use a laptop, you must confine your use of
it to course-related activities such as taking notes and reviewing readings.
There are some very good reasons restrict the use of your laptop in class. First,
there is increasing evidence that students who multi-task on laptops during class learn
less effectively than those who do not: unless you can be certain you will use your
laptop exclusively for taking notes and reviewing the readings, you are likely to retain
more information if you take notes by hand.
Even more importantly, the same evidence shows that students who sit within
view of someone else’s multi-tasking laptop screen also score lower on subsequent
tests than those who did not, even if they did not use laptops themselves. In other
words: if you’re on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter during class, you’re not only
undermining your own efforts to learn, but those of your classmates as well. So: if you’re
going to use a laptop, choose a seat (at the back or sides of the class) where your
screen will not be a distraction to others.
You are not permitted to use your phone during class. This includes sending
and/or reading text messages. Simply leave your phone in your pocket or your bag.
LEARN site and email
The course LEARN site is an important part of the class. It is where you will find
readings, submit assignments, and track your grades. It is also where I will post course
news, links to relevant news stories, and participate in online discussion.
I will occasionally send important emails concerning (for instance) readings,
assignments, updates to the schedule, or (if they should arise) last-minute emergencies.
Those emails will automatically go to your University of Waterloo email address. It is
your responsibility to either regularly check your UW email account, or update arrange
to have your UW emails forwarded to your preferred account (gmail, rogers, etc…) To
do so, log onto WatIAM, click “Update Profile”, and select the “Email Configuration” tab.
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COURSE OUTLINE
The final schedule of readings is subject to fine-tuning, with advance notice. Students
are responsible for doing the assigned readings before the corresponding class. The
classroom meetings are intended to supplement, problematize, and clarify the readings,
not replace them.
Topic
Introduction
Consequentialism
Deontology
Date
Sept. 10
Sept. 12
Sept. 17
Sept. 19
Sept. 24
Sept. 26.
Deadline to drop with 100%
refund and no grade of WD.
Oct. 1
Oct. 3
Oct. 8
Oct. 10
Virtue Ethics
Oct. 15
Oct. 17
Oct. 22
Oct. 24
Deadline for 50% tuition
refund.
Oct. 29
Oct. 31
Nov. 5
Nov. 7
Critiques of moral
theory
Nov. 12
Nov. 14
Last day to withdraw with
grade of WD
Nov. 19
Nov. 21
Nov. 26
Nov. 28
Readings and Assignments
N/A
Mill, Utilitarianism, Chapter 1
Mill, Chapter 2
Mill, Chapter 3
Singer, ‘Famine, Affluence, and Morality’
Smart, ‘Extreme and Restricted
Utilitarianism’; Hooker, ‘Rule
Consequentialism’
Debate (no reading)
Kant, Groundwork for the Metaphysics of
Morals, Preface and First Section
Kant, First Section (continued) and
Second Section
Kant, Second Section (continued)
Argument summary due via LEARN
Korsgaard, ‘The Right to Lie’
Debate (no readings)
Annas, ‘Being Virtuous and Doing the
Right Thing’
Class cancelled
Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, Book I
Aristotle, Books II-III
Aristotle, Book X
Cahn, ‘The Happy Immoralist’ and ‘THI: A
Sequel’; Kleignig, ‘Happiness and Virtue’
Debate (no reading)
Held, ‘Feminist Transformations of Moral
Theory’
Moral analysis due via LEARN
Wolf, ‘Moral Saints’
Nagel, ‘Moral Luck’
Debate (no reading)
Essay workshop
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Academic Integrity
Academic Integrity: In order to maintain a culture of academic integrity, members of the
University of Waterloo are expected to promote honesty, trust, fairness, respect and
responsibility.
Discipline: A student is expected to know what constitutes academic integrity, to avoid
committing academic offences, and to take responsibility for his/her actions. A student who is
unsure whether an action constitutes an offence, or who needs help in learning how to avoid
offences (e.g., plagiarism, cheating) or about “rules” for group work/collaboration should seek
guidance from the course professor, academic advisor, or the Undergraduate Associate Dean.
When misconduct has been found to have occurred, disciplinary penalties will be imposed
under Policy 71 – Student Discipline. For information on categories of offenses and types of
penalties, students should refer to Policy 71 - Student Discipline.
Grievance: A student who believes that a decision affecting some aspect of his/her university
life has been unfair or unreasonable may have grounds for initiating a grievance. Read Policy 70
- Student Petitions and Grievances, Section 4.
Appeals: A student may appeal the finding and/or penalty in a decision made under Policy 70 Student Petitions and Grievances (other than regarding a petition) or Policy 71 - Student
Discipline if a ground for an appeal can be established. Read Policy 72 - Student Appeals.
Other sources of information for students
Academic integrity (Arts) Academic Integrity Office (uWaterloo)
Accommodation for Students with Disabilities
Note for students with disabilities: The AccessAbility Services office, located in Needles Hall
Room 1132, collaborates with all academic departments to arrange appropriate
accommodations for students with disabilities without compromising the academic integrity of
the curriculum. If you require academic accommodations to lessen the impact of your disability,
please register with the AS office at the beginning of each academic term.
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