This schedule contains reading assignments and due dates. Note that the schedule may change according to class progress. Changes will be announced in class and will be posted below.

M 9/7     Course Introduction

W 9/9    Moral Emotions

Handout: James Jakob Liszka on “Moral Sentiment”

M 9/14     Subjectivism and Relativism

Moral Philosophy (MP): Pojman, pp. 38-52

Comment #1 is due.

W 9/16   Egoism

MP: Rachels, pp. 79-86

Comment #2 is due.

M 9/21    Ethical Framework: Deontology

MP: Kant, pp. 194-201

W 9/23     Ethical Framework: Utilitarianism

MP: Mill, pp. 141-146

M 9/28      More on Utilitarianism

McKibben, “Reaching the Limit,” library reserve

Comment #3 is due.

W 9/30      Framework Application: Lifeboat Ethics

MP: Hardin, pp. 335-343

Comment #4 is due.

M 10/5      Ethical Framework: Virtue

MP: Mayo, pp. 260-263

Argument Outline #1 is due.

W 10/7      Framework Application: Carbon Footprints

Michael Specter, “Big Foot” in The New Yorker

Also, take both of the following quizzes to measure your carbon footprint. The two models are slightly different. For Comment #5, write down the information you put into each one, your results in terms of “earths needed to support you,” and a reflection on these results in light of the New Yorker article.If the quiz format does not work well for you (e.g., because you live in a dorm), take the quiz in the role of your parents or in the role of what you believe a “typical” American is like.

Model 1: http://www.rprogress.org/

Model 2: http://sustainability.publicradio.org/consumerconsequences/

M 10/12      Ethical Framework: Justice

Excerpt from John Rawls, A Theory of Justice, available on library reserve

W 10/14      Framework Application: Environment, Society, Security

Lester Brown, “Could Food Shortages Bring Down Civilization?” library reserve

Comment #6 is due.

M 10/19      Framework Application: Duties to Others

MP: Singer, pp. 344-352

Comment #7 is due.

W 10/21      Framework Application: Activism

Katchadourian, “Neptune’s Navy”

Greenwood, Ringold, and Kellogg, “Dying for Science?” library reserve

Argument Outline #2 due

M 10/26     The Science of Climate Change

Garvey, Chs. 1 and 2

Comment #8 is due.

W 10/28     Climate Change: Film

Garvey, Ch. 3

M 11/2       Ethics of Climate Change

Garvey, Ch. 4

Comment #9 is due.

W 11/4       Ethics of Climate Change

Garvey, Ch. 5

Comment #10 is due.

M 11/9       Ethics of Climate Change

Garvey, Ch. 6 and Epilogue

Argument Outline #3 due

W 11/11     Review for Exam and Course Wrap-Up

W 11/18     Final Exam is at 9am.