10.i.08 Foundations of Ethics

In Foundations of Ethics I am hoping to improve on what I perceived as the tremendous failure of Overview of Philosophy last semester (I just received the student reviews of that course, and their assessment of the experience is much different from mine: the seemed to think the course was roughly a "B", where I gave it a "D". We look for different things in a course, I guess). One of my great concerns was the lack of structure resulting from no textbooks, but the trick in Foundations of Ethics will be to ensure that the focus remains on ethical issues and ethical principles, rather than on historical context, literary criticism, or any other distractions which might arise in reading these texts.

I need to seriously and diligently address the ongoing student complaint about tangents (I've heard it since 1991). Another complaint I frequently encounter is that there is not enough student engagement in discussion.

I asked students to prepare responses to the following:

Why did you take this course rather than another?
What does "ethics" mean to you?
What do you expect to gain in / from this course?
What do you expect from the instructor?
What do you expect from the class environment (esp. other students)?
What specific skills or information do you wish from this course?
List five (5) topics you would be disappointed to miss in this course -- circle the one most important to you and underline the second most important.
Name one topic you most want not to be discussed in the course.

Most of the class period was spent working on the responses.
When I had collected them, I distributed the syllabi; we reviewed the syllabi generally; one student pointed out to me at the end of class that a due date for the first project was listed as today. If they prepare it in class next class session, though, I will be able to return it to them with five days before the next project is due. They did preliminary work on the project in answering my questions.

Before I covered the syllabus, though, I outlined the meaning of several basic terms I will be using over the course of the semester.

First, Ethics I shall use in a technical sense to mean "the study of moral systems to articulate principles of moral valuation". I outlined the distinction between principle (base-line or foundational ideas from which other ideas are generated, and upon which further ideas are logically dependent) and issues or problems (actions or situations to which principles are applied analytically or prescriptively). The definitions I gave in class were worded slightly differently. I was pleased that quite a few students whipped out notebooks and wrote down... well, something, but I presume the terms I was discussing.

I explained further that I distinguish ethics and morality: morality is what ethics studies. To further explain this concept, I started with actions. Actions may be divided into two classes: voluntary actions and involuntary actions. As generally understood, ethics considers only voluntary actions. I suggested that in this course I will not be considering moral valuation of non-human actions. Even if bonobo behavior (for example) may be morally assessed, that will not be a focus of this course. So, while non-human and indeed even inanimate actions exist, only human, and furthermore only human voluntary actions will be considered. I did note that there might be exceptions to this general rule.

"Moral" as an adjective refers to "having to do with actions considered right or wrong", and this is contrasted by "amoral". ("Immoral" is a term I will generally attempt to avoid, but its meaning is essentially "morally wrong").

We could profitably spend some time considering the terms "right" and "wrong" and how they are applied to valuation of actions, but I did not engage any discussion Thursday evening, but very quickly outlined the relationships of terms:

more / moral: an action construed as having moral weight, as having to do with right or wrong (plural forms: mores, morals). These terms refer to individual behaviors, but in essence no valuation of behaviors is made outside of a system of behaviors.

Such a system is called a "morality" (more than one, "moralities"). Maybe more correctly or precisely a morality is a system of behaviors construed as having moral weight. It is possible to abstract or analyze principles from a morality, and a morality may be consciously and deliberately based upon principle. Generally speaking, conscious articulation has occurred in a morality, but the principles may not always be completely rational.

I spoke briefly about the guidelines for this course: while I do not object to witnessing in principle, this course is not to be a pulpit for unattributed ideas. I gave a simple overview of my experience of religion as a basis of my thought, and suggested to students that I felt very passionately about the need for better sympathy for others' views. I said something along the lines of: "I don't mind if you want to witness for the gospel, but tell us that you're doing that -- do it consciously and openly. If you want to turn the wheel of the dharma, that's fine, but don't sneak it in: tell us that that's your intent. This course is not designed to be a catechism class. I'm not going to tell you what you should believe or should do -- even though I have pretty clear ideas about what one should do and what one should believe."

We have still to make the required readings of the disabilities section and the plagiarism section of the syllabus, but I did cover the change to the attendance policy.

Student responses to the survey:

Why did you take this course rather than another?

... this course feels more interesting than the other choices.
... it was an evening class and ... I have more interest in Ethics than the other classes offered.
... to further enhance my knowledge on the subject of Ethics. We touched on the subject in Philosophy and I found those courses interesting so I was hoping this one will be ... equally... interesting.
I didn't have much of a choice in taking this class, however, the course does sound interesting.
I took this course because I am interested in ethics.
It was the only night class available and I have had you once before.
General ethical info, I already learned math in high school.
...I've never really took into account what I thought of something and it seemed like an interesting topic.
Ethics sounds intereting because I sometimes question my morals.
I don't really know the basis of Ethics and what its all about.
I signed up for this course because it was a requirement for my liberal arts credits, and also the fact that I've been intrigued by philosophy mostly because it is a challenge.
...partly because I've taken most of the courses that were offered this semester. However, learning about ethics could prove to be more interesting than my first thought.
I signed up for this course because I needed 3 credits and I didn't want a Friday class. I have no pre-existing interest in philosophy.
I hoped, that by taking this class, I will get a good grasp on the differences between moral and ethics. Its always been unclear to me.
I choose this course because it appeared to be the most relevant to me and my life due to the fact that I analyze everything around me.
...because I liked your P.S.C & A. class [Philosophy Art Craft Science].
I've never had an ethics class, and it interested me. Plus I didn't want another lit. class.
A. don't really have a good understanding on what ethics is B. Because I had a scheduling conflict for another day I needed to pick up extra credits.
It sounded like the liberal arts class that I would be more interested in than all the others. And I like quirky teachers. [Too bad, that.]

What does "ethics" mean to you?

To me, Ethics is another word for questions
... a personal code of right and wrong
... the study of right & wrong, morals; the study of morality
"Ethics", to me, are a set of rules based on morality. The rules can apply to anything from business, to everyday life.
-- I always look a ethics as "right and wrong".
*I don't know?
...the morals that people have. Knowing how to act in certain situations.
...what you and other see as being right and wrong.
... the discussion and study of morals or what's morally right.
...not a whole lot -- I don't know a lot about it.
... certain things in this world that relate to daily life, or things that are further examined about life in general.
...values/morality...
... a set of ideas or values that guide your actions and opinions.
...guideline for people to know what is right and wrong.
...ethics means to find an understanding of our modern culture and why we react to problematic issues the way we do.
...find out what's right and bad.
...a moral code, right and wrong and different people's views on what is right or wrong.
Ethics to me is someone who has good morals or has good habits in a social setting.
...right & wrong, morals, decision making.

What do you expect to gain in this course?

Nothing so far. To push us further than our minds might not handle [sic].

A working knowledge of the history of ethics.

... a better understanding of what "ethics" is.

Truthfully, I'm not quite sure what to expect to gain from this course. I do think that the knowledge I gain on the subject will help me in some way (I don't know how yet).

I expect to gain an understanding of what ethics involves.

I expect to gain more knowledge on ethics and with you as an instructor I know you are knowledgeable and will teach me things. [Aw, shucks.]

I expect to gain information and better understanding about what ethics is, and for the instructor to guide the class through that.

... a more expansive knowledge of what people see as ethics and where it started.

...to questions and examine my morals and see what everyone else's are.

I expect to gain knowledge and understanding about the term ethics. What it means and how it may apply to everyday life.

I am not really sure what to expect from this class. I hope to learn about interesting parts of philosophy that I've been taught before to refresh my mind. I'm glad to be learning more about Plato.

I hope to gain different perspectives on ethical issues whether they are currently controversial or not. I also hope to hear the opinions of the instructor and students. As or the readings it should be an interesting take reading "older" works.

I suppose a basic knowledge of philosophy as it applies to ethics would be ideal.

... a better understanding on the topics of ethics.

... a further understanding of human reactions and actions.

I will like to hear more lectures from you and also want to use the blogs again (for comments or questions).

...To gain the credits, along with the knowledge of the subject.

... better explanation of what ethics is.

... to learn the meaning of "ethics" more thoroughly.

What do you expect of the instructor, and from the class environment?

Some silence during class.

Heated debate, chairs being thrown, crying. I want/hope the readings aren't too dry.

I hope the instructor will move slowly and clearly through this, because I feel I am coming into this course blindly.

This seems like it might be a very discussion oriented class.

I expect a lively environment with lots of input from classmates.

I expect the environment to be courteous to others and if they aren't paying attention, at least be quiet.

From the readings and class I would like the discussions and asking of others what they would do in this situation.

...lots of opinions and discussion.

...class discussions, questions.

What I expect from you is to teach me the beauty in philosophy and give me as much knowledge as you have in this subject manner [dear, dear!]. What I believe i should be doing in class is reading the texts, taking notes, in order to understand what is going on. I feel that the other students in the class should do the same.

I expect the instructor to convey somewhat academic subject matter in a way that makes sense to those of us who don't study it already. Ideally the class environment would provide opportunity for discussion of the readings, so we can get many different view points.

I expect u to be open to questions and bring us, the students, milk and cookies every other week :)
Good conversation, points, thoughtfulness and consideration.

I expect to hear personal thoughts and relevant to our life. I am hoping that this glass will explore serious and in depth conversations. I am hoping that this class will explore serious and in-depth conversations.

Maybe we can visit other people's blogs and write comments.

... I just expect the instructor to teach well.

... being able to feed off my peers' thought to gain my own ideas about ethics.

Mostly debating, discussion, perhaps reading from texts and then discussion.

What specific skills or information do you wish from this course?

Well, you always seem to broaden my vocabulary which is good and there is always a guarantee that you will talk of something which I have never known before. You are a walking encyclopedia, so far.

The ability to see the gray areas in life.

I want to learn about what makes things good and evil, how to judge them, etc.

This is my first ethics class, therefore any information is more that I currently know.

I have no experience with this and therefore don't know what to expect.

To gain better/stronger knowledge in the world of ethics is what I hope to gain.

I would like to learn about Plato more and other people of the time of the history of philosophy. I would be disappointed if I did [not? learn about Plato, Aristotle, and things that involve life itself and why we need to learn about philosophy and its importance.

...not sure surprise me ha ha

Anything because I don't know the subject all that well.

I am eager to see how ethics may or may not play a role in my career.

I don't specifically wish anything, mostly because I'm not quite sure that all of the topics will be.

I don't know what skills or infor specifically and I don't know what topics might even fit into this course. I hope the class as a whole participates more in discussions, if any, and that the topics in someway relate to the subject, ethics.

I have no idea what skills to hope for.