This course applies the ethical theories studied in Philosophy 331 (or in the first half of Philosophy 330) to several contemporary moral questions, where the questions chosen are of particular interest to the medical, business, legal, and other professions. These questions include the rights and responsibilities of professionals, patients, and consumers; euthanasia and abortion; sexual harassment and affirmative action; the social and financial responsibilities of corporations; human sexuality, pornography, and the family; the role of the law in legislating and enforcing morality. Three credits.

Prerequisite: Philosophy 331 (or the first half of Philosophy 330)

• The class will have a 'lecture and discussion' format. The professor will introduce a topic with a summary of the relevant arguments or a commentary on a text. This will be followed by questions and discussion of the material by the class as a whole (e.g., points of clarification or criticism and of comparison; comments on the relations between or among different issues).
• Students are expected to have prepared the readings before class, to attend all of the classes and to participate in discussion.
• Students who have more than 3 unjustified absences in a term will be penalized.
• It is essential in learning how to do philosophy that students be prepared to ask and answer questions in class.
• Students should make a point of reading and reviewing the material on these web pages.

Course Outline:

• Review of ethical theories; contract theories (Rawls)
• The Rights and Responsibilities of Legislators
• Freedom of Speech and Censorship
• Punishment and Capital Punishment
• The Rights and Responsibilities of Patients and Health Care Professionals
• Euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Suicide
• Abortion
• The Rights and Responsibilities of Consumers and Corporations
• Affirmative Action
• Workplace Ethics and Sexual Harassment
• The Rights and Responsibilities of Citizens
• Gender Roles, Marriage, Sexual Morality, and the Family
• Hunger and Poverty

Texts / Readings:

available from the instructor / articles from philosophy journals and books

Group presentations - 20%
Written assignment (March) - 35 %
Final examination (April) - 45 %