Introduction to Virtue Ethics

Objective

• Examine the principles of Virtue Ethics

Agenda

• No Written Warm-Up.  
• Virtue Ethics Assignment (see right bar) - due Monday @ Start of Class
• Discussion
• Work Time
• Work on your projects!
• See yesterday's optional modification.

The Categorical Imperative

Objective

• Evaluate Kant's conception of freedom and ethical duty.

Agenda

• No Written Warm-Up.   Take some time to appreciate everyone's costumes.
• Kant 
• The Categorical Imperative
• First Formulation
• Second Formulation
• The Murderer Problem
• Lesson in Lying
• Work Time
• A modification to your project...
• You need to represent specific positions in your project.  But you don't need to do two philosophers anymore, exactly.
• Option A:  At least two philosophers representing opposing positions on the issue.  One must be from the unit list.
• Option B: At least two forms of moral reasoning (Categorical, Consequentialist, or Virtue Ethics).  You should reference at least one philosopher from the unit list or independent research (not someone from a previous unit).

What is Freedom?

Objective

• Evaluate different views on personal and political ethical debates

Agenda

• Warm-Up #25: Define freedom.
• Utilitarianism Clarification
• An argument for justice from a Utilitarian perspective
• Kant - What is freedom? (PowerPoint)
• Work Time

Ethics Project (Day 1)

Objective

• Evaluate different views on personal and political ethical debates

Agenda

• Warm-Up #24: Do you agree with Bentham (it's all relative) or Mill (some things are better than others) in the debate over higher and lower pleasures?
• Utilitarianism Wrap-Up
• Higher vs. Lower Pleasures Discussion
• What does it mean for public policy?
• Work Time
• Pick Topic
• Preliminary Research
• Facts, Info
• Conventional Viewpoints
• Brainstorm Philosophers
• Ask Mr. M!
• Vote

Utilitarianism (Day 3)

Objective

• Analyze the utilitarian position on ethical decisions

Agenda

• Warm-Up #23: Briefly describe one criticism of utilitarianism.
• Utilitarianism
• Quantifying Utility
• Higher vs. Lower Pleasures
• Work Time
• Vote

Utilitarianism (Day 2)

Objective

• Analyze the utilitarian position on ethical decisions

Agenda

• Warm-Up #22: Is there a fundamental difference between the "switch" and "fat man" examples in the Trolley Problem?  Would you do the same action in either case?  Justify your choice, and explain any inconsistency between the two decisions.
• Utilitarianism
• Queen vs. Dudley & Stephens
• Quantifying Utility
• Work Time

Utilitarianism (Day 1)

Objective

• Analyze the utilitarian position on ethical decisions

Agenda

• Warm-Up #21: When you ask yourself, "What's the right thing to do" in a situation, what sort of factors do you consider?
• Utilitarianism
• Trolley Problem
• Doctor
• Moral Reasoning
• Bentham
• Queen vs. Dudley & Stephens
• Quantifying Utility
• Work Time

Presentations / Review / Project

Objective

• Analyze consciousness, memory, and free will.

Agenda

• No Written Warm-Up
• Presentations
• Alex Sands
• Haley Williams (maybe)
• V Sauce: What is consciousness?
• Discussion
• Test #4: Identity
• Questions - Choose One
• What makes you... you? (Dollhouse, Eternal Sunshine, V Sauce, Ship of Theseus)
• Do people have free will?  (Community, Eternal Sunshine)
• Is it ever better to forget the past?  (Dollhouse, Eternal Sunshine)
• For each question, you ought to engage the issue DEEPLY, this means the following:
• A clear and organized essay with introduction, thesis, and conclusion
• Present at least two contrasting views on the issue, representing them as strongly as possible.
• Explain problems & complications that you see in one or more of the views you presented.
• Establish a clear position on the issue.  This might be one of the views you presented, a blend of the two, or a separate original thought.
• Project - Ethics
• Description (see sidebar)
• Work Time

Presentations (Day 2)

Objective

• Evaluate Haidt and Greco-Roman philosophy on Happiness in the context of our lives

Agenda

• No Written Warm-Up
• Odds & Ends
• Prepare for presentations
• Print papers
• Fix Up / Finish / Print Warm-Ups (due Tomorrow)
• Presentations

Presentations (Day 1)

Objective

• Evaluate Haidt and Greco-Roman philosophy on Happiness in the context of our lives

Agenda

• No Written Warm-Up
• Odds & Ends
• Prepare for presentations
• Print papers
• Fix Up / Finish / Print Warm-Ups (due Tomorrow)
• Secret special project!
• Mr. M takes inventory of projects
• Presentations

Happiness Project Day

Objective

• Analyze issues of consciousness, free will, and identity.

Agenda

• Warm-Up #20: Do you believe in free will, determinism, are you unsure, or believe in something in between?  Explain why you believe that, and how you think this ought to affect your actions (if at all).
• Work Time
• Work on projects (due Monday!)

Remedial Chaos Theory

Objective

• Analyze issues of consciousness, free will, and identity.

Agenda

• Community - Remedial Chaos Theory
• Discussion
• Work Time
• Work on projects

Man on the Street

Objective

• Analyze issues of consciousness, free will, and identity.

Agenda

• No Written Warm-Up
• Watch Dollhouse S1E6 - "Man on the Street"
• Continue @ 10 minutes in
• Discussion
• Work Time
• Work on projects
• Prepare for test

Test #3: Happiness

Objective

• Describe the main ideas of Haidt, the Stoics, the Epicureans, the Cynics, and Aristotle.

Agenda

• No Written Warm-Up
• Test #3: Happiness
• Dollhouse (Part One) - Stop @ 10 Min ~ Joel Miner's House
• Discussion
• Work Time
• Work on projects
• Prepare for test

Aristotle / Projects

Objective

• Analyze Artistotle's arguments for a happy life

Agenda

• No Written Warm-Up
• Discuss Aristotle
• Work Time
• Work on projects
• Prepare for test

Aristotle

Objective

• Analyze Artistotle's arguments for a happy life

Agenda

• No Written Warm-Up
• Aristotle Assignment
• Happiness Review
• Happiness PowerPoint
• Discussion
• Work Time
• Work on projects

Happiness Hypothesis VI

Objective

• Analyze & Evaluate The Happiness Hypothesis

Agenda

• Warm-Up #19: Describe one idea from your reading that you found interesting or useful.
• Discussion: The Happiness Hypothesis (Chapter VI)
• Work Time
• Work on projects

Project Day II

Objective

• Analyze & Evaluate The Happiness Hypothesis

Agenda

• No Written Warm-Up
• Today is a project day, or as Sam would say, "a do whatever you want day."
• Work Time
• Reading The Happiness Hypothesis (part four - Chapter VI - due Thursday)
• Work on Happiness Projects
• Conference w/ Mr. M about project ideas