4/25/2024 9:30:02 AM	PHIL 7 Course Outline as of Fall 2011	Changed Course
CATALOG INFORMATION
Discipline and Nbr:  PHIL 7	Title:  MORAL ISSUES
Full Title:  Contemporary Moral Issues
Last Reviewed:2/26/2024

Units		Course Hours per Week			Nbr of Weeks	Course Hours Total
Maximum	3.00	Lecture Scheduled	3.00		17.5 max.	Lecture Scheduled	52.50
Minimum	3.00	Lab Scheduled	0		6 min.	Lab Scheduled	0
		Contact DHR	0			Contact DHR	0
		Contact Total	3.00			Contact Total	52.50
		Non-contact DHR	0			Non-contact DHR Total	0

Total Out of Class Hours:  105.00

Total Student Learning Hours: 157.50

Title 5 Category:  AA Degree Applicable
Grading:  Grade or P/NP
Repeatability:  00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP
Also Listed As: 
Formerly: 

Catalog Description:

An introduction to modern and classical moral theories and their application to selected contemporary moral issues such as euthanasia, abortion, animal rights, and privacy.

Prerequisites/Corequisites:

Recommended Preparation:
Eligibility for ENGL 1A or equivalent

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description:

An introduction to modern and classical moral theories and their application to selected contemporary moral issues such as euthanasia, abortion, animal rights, and privacy.

(Grade or P/NP)
Prerequisites:
Recommended:Eligibility for ENGL 1A or equivalent
Limits on Enrollment:
Transfer Credit:CSU;UC.
Repeatability:00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP

ARTICULATION, MAJOR, and CERTIFICATION INFORMATION

Associate Degree:		Effective:	Fall 1981	Inactive:
Area:	E	Humanities
CSU GE:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
	C2	Humanities		Fall 1981
IGETC:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
	3B	Humanities		Fall 1981
CSU Transfer:	Transferable	Effective:	Fall 1981	Inactive:
UC Transfer:	Transferable	Effective:	Fall 1981	Inactive:
C-ID:
CID Descriptor: PHIL 120	Introduction to Ethics	SRJC Equivalent Course(s): PHIL7

Certificate/Major Applicable: Both Certificate and Major Applicable

COURSE CONTENT

Outcomes and Objectives:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:

1.  Demonstrate an understanding of basic concepts in ethics.

2.  Describe, analyze and evaluate moral theories.

3.  Analyze and evaluate specific philosophical arguments involved in representative comtemporary moral issues.

4.  Compare, contrast and evaluate the application of modern and classical moral theories to contemporary moral issues.

Topics and Scope

1.  Moral concepts

    a.  Moral values

    b.   Intrinsic and extrinsic values

    c.  Normative Ethics

     d.  Applied Ethics

    e.  Relativism and absolutism

    f.   Moral reasoning

    g.  Moral standing

2.  Moral theories, including:

    a.  Utilitarianism

    b.  Contract theory

    c.  Kantianism

    d.  Natural Law Theory

    e.  Moral rights

     f.   Virtue ethics

     g.  Other

3.  Factual background for representative moral issues

    a.  Euthanasia

     b.  Abortion

    c.  Animal rights

    d.  Privacy

    e.  Capital Punishment

     f.  War and terrorism

     g.  Homosexuality

     h.  hate speech

     i. Other  

4.  Philosophical theories and arguments involved in representative moral issues

     a.  Natural law as applied to homosexuality

     b.  Right to life as applied to abortion

     c.  Justice as applied to capital punishment

     d.  Just War Theory as applied to war and terrorism

     e.  Harm Principle as applied to animal rights

     f.  Utilitarianism as applied to animal rights

     g.  Other

Assignments:

1.  Reading assignments of approximately 20 pages per week from course texts and supplementary materials

2.  Approximately 10 quizzes based on the reading assignments

3.  2 to 10 take-home and in-class essay exams

4.  Term paper on a moral issue of 5 pages or longer

5.  Final examination

Methods of Evaluation/Basis of Grade.

Writing: Assessment tools that demonstrate writing skill and/or require students to select, organize and explain ideas in writing.		Writing 30 - 60%
Term papers and written papers
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.		Problem Solving 0 - 0%
None
Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams.		Skill Demonstrations 0 - 0%
None
Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams.		Exams 30 - 60%
Exams and final composed of multiple choice, essay, short essay
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.		Other Category 10 - 20%
Participation and attendance

Representative Textbooks and Materials:

The Elements of Moral Philosophy, 6th ed., James Rachels, McGraw-Hill, 2009.

The Right Thing to Do, 5th ed., edited by James Rachels, McGraw-Hill, 2009.

Contemporary Moral Issues, 3rd ed., Lawrence Hinman, Prentice Hall, 2005.

Taking Sides:  Clashing Views on Controversial Moral Issues, 12th ed., Stephen Sarris, McGraw-Hill/Dushkin, 2009.

Contemporary Moral Arguments: Readings in Moral Issues, Lewis Vaughn, Oxford University Press, 2009.

Analyzing Moral Issues, 5th ed., Judith Boss, McGraw-Hill, 2009.

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