Ethics and Social Institutions

Fall 2004 Syllabus for ESI 101: Introduction to Ethics and Social Institutions

ESI 101: INTRODUCTION TO ETHICS AND SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS Professor Jeff Konz

Fall 2004 251-6570, jkonz@unca.edu, KH 156

MWF 10:00-10:50 Office Hours TR 10-11, MW 1:20-2:20

ESI 101 incorporates elements from multiple disciplines, including philosophy, economics, political science, and sociology. The course--and concentration within Interdisciplinary Studies--was added to UNCA=s curriculum in 2001 after an extensive planning process which began in 1997. This particular course is designed to both introduce students to the issues addressed in the Ethics and Social Institutions Concentration and to satisfy the objectives of General Education Social Science courses. As described in the catalog, this course studies:

“. . .the ethical implications of both the processes and the outcomes of social decision-making. Students will acquire an understanding of the structure of social institutions and the processes through which social choices are made. Central to the analysis is a study of ethics as a criterion for assessment of social decision-making with emphasis on the study of particular issues of social choice.”

To accomplish these objectives, we will first examine a variety of ethical theories laid out in Douglas Birsch’s Ethical Insights (2^nd ed.), focusing on the fundamental principles of each theory, and consider the process of ethical evaluation using these ethical theories. We will then move on to social ethics and a consideration of what exactly we mean by the concepts of Justice and Human Rights. Finally, we will consider the structure, operation, and outcomes of a variety of social institutions in light of the ethical theories that were developed in the first part of the course. Note that I’ve tried to make this class appropriate for students from multiple disciplines and at various levels—freshmen and seniors have both done well or badly in this class!

There are two texts required for this course:

Douglas Birsch, Ethical Insights: A Brief Introduction (2^nd ed.), McGraw-Hill (2002)

Anthony Arblaster, Democracy (3rd ed.), Open University Press (2002)

Other readings will be available on reserve at the library.

GRADING

Over the course of the semester, you will:

1) Take three exams. These exams will be taken in class, scheduled at least one week in advance, and will focus on objective material from class lectures and readings.

2) Write three essays 3-5 pages long. These essays will ask you to apply the ethical theories that we will be learning about and will not involve any outside research. You will be allowed to revise and resubmit these essays if you please.

3) Take a comprehensive final exam. The final is scheduled Friday, December 10, 10:00-12:30.

4) Participate in class. Participation includes contributing to class discussion, asking questions, engaging with guest lecturers, office hour visits, email questions, etc. Note that participation is important, counting as much as your final exam. Please take it seriously from the beginning.

Your final grade will be calculated as follows:

Exams (10% each) 30%

Essays (10% each) 30%

Participation 20%

Final Exam 20%

Over the course of the semester, we will be drawing on the expertise of several of my faculty colleagues at UNCA through guest lectures. These will be announced in advance as well.

SCHEDULE OF READINGS

I. Introduction: Ethics, Morals, Values, Laws? Birsch, Ch. 1

II. Ethical Theories: Motives and Justification for Action

God: Divine Command Birsch, Ch. 2

Culture: Ethical Relativism Birsch, Ch. 3

Self: Ethical Egoism and Subjectivism Birsch, Ch. 4

Duty: Kant and the Categorical Imperative Birsch, Ch. 5

Utility: Bentham, Mill, and Utilitarianism Birsch, Ch. 6

Rights: Moral, Natural, Civil, and Human Birsch, Ch. 7

Virtue: Aristotle and the Flourishing Life Birsch, Ch. 8

Care: A Feminist Ethics? Birsch, Ch. 9

III. Using Ethical Theories: Formulating and Applying an Ethical Worldview Birsch, Ch. 10

IV. Capitalism: Property Rights and the Free Market

1) The Economic Problem

Heilbroner, R. 21st Century Capitalism, Ch. 2

2) Defining Capitalism

Bishop, J. D. AEthics and Capitalism: Defining the Issues,@ in Ethics and Capitalism, pp. 3-48

3) Free Markets

Heilbroner, R. 21st Century Capitalism, Ch. 5

Evensky, J. AEthics and the Invisible Hand,@ in Journal of Economic Perspectives 7:2 (Spring 1993), pp. 197-205

Shleifer, A. “Does Competition Destroy Ethical Behavior?” in American Economic Review 94:2 (May 2004), pp. 414-418

4) Private Property

Usher, D. AThe Justification of Private Property,@in Bishop, ed., Ethics and Capitalism, pp. 49-80

V. Democracy: Liberalism and Federalism

1) Defining Democracy Arblaster, Ch. 1

2) Modern Democracy

a) Popular Sovereignty Arblaster, Ch. 5

b) Majority Rule? The People? Arblaster, Chs. 6-7

c) Pure and Representative Democracy Arblaster, Ch. 8

d) Dissent and Freedom Arblaster, Ch. 9

3) Democratic Elites: A Ruling Class of AExperts?@

Bachrach, P., from AThe Theory of Democratic Elitism,@ in Green, ed., Democracy, pp. 126-130

Dewey, J., from The Public and Its Problems, in Green, ed., Democracy, pp. 120-125

4) Capitalism and Democracy

Friedman, M., from Capitalism and Freedom, in Green, ed., Democracy, pp. 146-152

Macpherson, C. B., from Democratic Theory: Essays in Retrieval, in Green, Democracy, pp. 153-57

VI. Punishment: Reform, Retribution, or Revenge?

Verhovek, S., AOut on Parole 26 Years, Suddenly a Fugitive,@ New York Times, April 26, 2001, pp. A1, A18

1) Virtue and Reform Plato, in Murphy, pp. 8-13

Morris, in Murphy, pp. 154-168

2) Retributivism Kant, in Murphy, pp. 14-20

Morris, in Murphy, pp. 74-93

3) Utilitarian Perspectives Bentham, in Murphy, pp. 21-35

4) Revenge and Victim=s Rights Murphy, in Murphy, pp. 132-151