Douglas Lind: Current and Recent Courses

Required Readings

Tom L. Beauchamp & LeRoy Walters, Contemporary Issues in Bioethics, 6th ed. (Wadsworth, 2003)

David Hume, An Inquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals (1751; Hackett Pub. Co., 1983)

Aldous Huxley, Brave New World (1932; Perennial, 1998)

Immanuel Kant, Foundations of the Metaphysics of Morals, Beck trans. (1785; Macmillan, 1990)

Plato, Euthyphro, Jowett trans. (380 B.C.E.; http://classics.mit.edu/Plato/euthyfro.html)

John Stuart Mill, Utilitarianism (1861; Hackett Pub. Co., 1979)

John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men (1937; Penguin, 1993)

 http://www.cs.indiana.edu/statecraft/civ.dis.html

 Schedule of Topics and Readings

 Week 1 (Aug 26, 28):  Introduction     No Assigned Readings

 Week 2 (Sept 2, 4):  The Structure of Philosophical Ethics

Plato, Euthyphro  Entire Dialogue

Beauchamp & Walters, Contemporary Issues in Bioethics:  “Ethical Theory and Bioethics – Fundamental Problems” (1-12)

 Weeks 3 & 4 (Sept 9, 11, 16, 18):  Eugenics

Beauchamp & Walters, Contemporary Issues in Bioethics:

Daniel J. Kevles, “Eugenics and Human Rights” (457-459)

Buck v. Bell (460-461)

Stephen Jay Gould, “Carrie Buck’s Daughter” (462-466)

Jonathan Glover, “Eugenics: Some Lessons from the Nazi Experience” (467-472)

 Week 5 (Sept 23, 25):  Dangerous People

Beauchamp & Walters, Contemporary Issues in Bioethics:

Tarasoff v. Regents of the University of California (119-123)

Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men    Entire Novel

 Week 6 (Sept 30, Oct 2):  Types of Ethical Theory

Beauchamp & Walters, Contemporary Issues in Bioethics:

“Ethical Theory and Bioethics – Types of Ethical Theory” (12-19)

 Week 7 (Oct 7, 9):  Ethics as Determined by Sentiment

Hume, An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals:

Section I (Of the General Principles of Morals)

Section II (Of Benevolence)

Section V, Part I (Why Utility Pleases)

Appendix I (Concerning Moral Sentiment)

 Week 8 (Oct 14, 16):  Ethics Under the Rule of Reason

Kant, Foundations of the Metaphysics of Morals:

Preface (Search for absolute, necessary a priori laws)

First Section (Acting from Duty, Maxim, Categorical Imperative (Formulation #1))

Second Section (Hypothetical Imperatives, Categorical Imperative (#2)) (22-49)

 Weeks 9 & 10 (Oct 21, 23, 28):  Euthanasia

Beauchamp & Walters, Contemporary Issues in Bioethics:

“End-of-Life Decision Making” – Chapter Introduction (179-185)

“The Oregon Death with Dignity Act” (201-204)

Henk Jochemsen & John Keown, “Voluntary Euthanasia under Control?” (235-240)

Johannes J.M. van Delden, “Slippery Slopes in Flat Countries” (241-243)

 Weeks 10 & 11 (Oct 30, Nov 4):  Ethics in Terms of the Best Consequences Overall

Mill, Utilitarianism:

Chapter I (General Remarks)

Chapter II (What Utilitarianism Is)

 Weeks 11 & 12 (Nov 6, 11, 13): Abortion

Beauchamp & Walters, Contemporary Issues in Bioethics:

 “Abortion and Maternal-Fetal Relations” – Chapter Introduction (263-270)

Roe v. Wade (308-312)

Planned Parenthood v. Casey (312-318)

 Week 13 (Nov 18, 20): Confidentiality and the Right to Know

Beauchamp & Walters, Contemporary Issues in Bioethics:

 “Autonomy Rights and Medical Information” – Chapter Introduction (109-113)

 Mark Siegler, “Confidentiality in Medicine – A Decrepit Concept” (116-118)

 Morton E. Winston, “AIDS, Confidentiality, and The Right to Know” (124-128)

 Week 14 (Nov 25, 27): Fall Recess

 Week 15 (Dec 2, 4): Informed Consent

Beauchamp & Walters, Contemporary Issues in Bioethics:

Canterbury v. Spence (139-141)

Robert J. Levine, “Informed Consent: Some Challenges to the Universal Validity of the Western Model”  (150-155)

Gregory E. Pence, “The Tuskegee Study” (394-401)

William J. Clinton, “In Apology for the Study Done in Tuskegee” (402-403)

 Week 16 (Dec 9, 11):  A Bioethical New World

Huxley, Brave New World    Entire Novel

Course Requirements, Grading, Exams, and Attendance

Final semester grades for this course will be based on several criteria, including short essays, final take-home essay exam, other written work/classroom participation, and participation in WebCT discussion groups.  Throughout the semester, we will assign grades on a numerical basis.  Only in determining the final semester grade will the numerical grades be translated to letter grades.  The total possible points is 200, distributed as follows:

            Four Short Essays                                            60 Points          30% of grade

            Final Take-Home Essay Exam                          60 Points          30% of grade

            Participation & Other Written Work                 40 Points          20% of grade

            WebCT Discussion Group Participation            40 Points          20% of grade

            TOTAL                                                           200 Points

In translating numerical grades to letter grades, we will begin by automatically considering the A/B/C/D cutoff points to be 90%, 80%, 70%, and 60% of the numerical total.  That is, any student accumulating at least 90% of the 200-point total (i.e., 180 points) will receive an A grade.  Similarly, 80% (160 points) is the guaranteed highest B cutoff, 70% (140 points) the guaranteed highest C cutoff, and 60% (120 points) the guaranteed highest D cutoff.  Based on the final distribution of the numerical grades, we will either leave the letter grade cutoffs at those percentages, or curve them downward.  In no event will the percentage cutoffs be raised.

Paper Assignments

This course requires the completion of four short essays.  The essays will be on the following assigned topics:

            Eugenics (Sept 23)

            Of Mice and Men/Tarasoff v. Regents of the University of California (Oct 14)

            Euthanasia (Nov 6)

            Abortion (Nov 20)

The short papers will be graded for writing quality, including grammar, sentence structure, punctuation, and spelling, as well as substantive quality.  Each paper must be typed and may not exceed a designated page length.  Each essay is worth 15 points, making these essays worth 60 points, 30% of your semester grade.

Exams

The course includes a take-home final essay exam.  The exam will consist of a set of essay questions handed out during the final week of class. You will be asked to answer one or two questions.  Your answer(s) should be prepared with the same care you would take in writing a term paper.  We will grade the final exams on the basis of grammatical quality (sentence structure, punctuation, spelling), as well as substantive quality.  We will also implement a strict page limit.  You will have approximately one week to complete the exam.  All final exam answers must be typed.  The final exam is worth 60 points, 30% of your semester grade.

Participation & Other Written Work

While class attendance will not be taken per se, we will note participation or a lack thereof on a daily basis.  Students must come prepared to discuss the course readings, and should expect to be called on to participate in the class discussions.

Part of the participation component is the completion of irregular “Other Written Work” assignments.  These may include short essay assignments, unannounced quizzes, or the completion of a set of questions handed out in one class and due the next, or to be answered in-class by students in groups.  Missed assignments of this nature may not be made up.  This Participation/Other Written Work component of the course counts for 40 points, 20% of your course grade.

WebCT Discussion Group Participation

The final grade-based requirement for the course is participation in WebCT (internet) small group discussions.  All students will be assigned to a small group for WebCT discussion purposes.  You will be expected to use the WebCT discussion feature to discuss the assigned readings with your group members in between class meetings.  Participation in such WebCT discussions is a critical aspect of class preparation.

In addition, periodically throughout the semester you will be given special assignments to complete fully outside of class using the WebCT discussion format.  This WebCT Discussion Group component of the course counts for 40 points, 20% of your course grade.

Schedule for Papers & Exams

            First Short Essay (Eugenics): Tuesday, Sept 23 (Start of Week 5)

            Second Short Essay (Of Mice and Men/Tarasoff): Tuesday, Oct 14 (Start of Week 8)

            Third Short Essay (Euthanasia): Thursday, Nov 6 (End of Week 11)

            Fourth Short Essay (Abortion): Thursday, Nov 20 (End of Week 13)

            Final Take-Home Essay Exam:  Due Thursday, December 18

Due Date Policy

            Paper assignments and the final take-home essay exam must be handed in by the deadlines.  Late papers and exams will be accepted only for good cause and, if accepted, will be down-graded as follows:

                                    1 day late:                                 Minus 3 points

                                    Each additional day late:            Minus an additional point

In calculating points to be subtracted for late papers or exams, all days count, including weekends and holidays.

Academic Honesty

            It is the policy of both the Departments of Philosophy and Biological Sciences to refer all instances of suspected academic dishonesty to the Student Judicial Council.  Any student in this course who submits for credit plagiarized material will receive an F for the semester.

Last update: 12-Jan-2004