PHIL 2 - Introduction to Philosophy: Ethics
Instructor: Abrol Fairweather
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Course Description
Problems of good and evil, right and wrong, individual and/or social action. Principles, criteria or starting points for these issues and decisions as discussed and developed in great writings of the philosophical-literary tradition.
To take this class, you must have daily access to a computer with an Internet connection, an email account, and experience using a web browser. You will also need to update your email address in CLASS-Web when you register.
Check the college catalog for CSU/UC transferability and to see if this course meets AA/AS degree requirements.
This class begins June 16 and ends July 24.
On-Campus Meetings
There are no required on-campus meetings for this class. You can attend an OPTIONAL, on-campus orientation to Online Learning on either June 11 from 7-8:30 p.m. in Room 2420, June 12 from 1-2:30 p.m. in Room 2420, or June 18 from 7-8:30 p.m. in Room 2412. Learn more about these orientations, which are NOT course-specific.
How This Class Operates
This is not a self-paced class; there are due dates throughout the semester that you are expected to meet, just like in a traditional, face-to-face class.
This class is divided into seven modules, and each module contains various activities. You will only be able to access the current module. Each module lasts approximately three weeks.
The learning objectives for this course are to:
- analyze philosophical statements about ethical conduct
- discuss philosophical documents concerning individual and communal social behavior
- discuss philosophical ideas concerning the common good
- demonstrate understanding of principles and criteria for evaluating contemporary ethical issues
- apply understanding gained through this work to the dilemmas of daily life
Class Activities
You will have numerous discussion assignments throughout the course. Your submissions on the Discussion Boards are one of the main ways that the instructor will evaluate your consistent engagement with course material. Doing well in the course requires doing well on these assignments.
You will regularly be asked to submit a Reading Summary. This provides direct evidence that you have done the assigned reading and are able to explain the main themes from the text in your own words. The instructor will use these assignments to assess your fundamental comprehension of course material and the consistency of your work in the class.
How Students are Graded
Each module will be worth approximately 50 points. Grades are determined by the following percentages:
100-90% = A
89-80% = B
79-70% = C
69-60% = D
59% and below = F
Discussion Assignments
The specific content for each discussion assignment will vary with the specific assignment. However, in each case, the instructor will look to see that you have adhered closely to the assignment topic as described in the discussion thread left by the instructor and that you adhere to the guidelines below. The instructor will use these guidelines to grade your discussion assignments.
- Stay On Topic: It is very important to stay on topic.
- Do The Reading: Equally important is that your submission demonstrate that you have done the relevant reading. This is accomplished by citing specific material from the text or relevant web sites and explaining in your own words the meaning of the selected passages.
- Analyze Material: Ultimately, the instructor wants to see your individual analysis of course material as guided by the assigment guidelines. This can be done in many ways: asking questions, making distinctions, real life applications, raising objections, expanding principles into new areas, playing the Devil's Advocate, drawing conclusions. Show that you are directly engaging with the relevant course content as directed by the assignment description. This often distinguishes very good work from good work.
Succeeding in an Online Course
Students who succeed in online courses tend to be independent, self-motivated learners with good computer skills. If you are a procrastinator who relies heavily on the instructor for motivation, can't use a computer too well, have taken less than 21 units of college credit in your lifetime, and/or have a grade-point-average under 2.0, you should probably consider enrolling in a face-to-face course instead.
Also, don't enroll in this class if you believe the myth that learning online requires less effort than learning face-to-face. This course covers the same content and has similar activities as the face-to-face version of the course; only the method of delivery changes.
LPC offers a tutorial called "Succeeding in an online course" that will not only tell you if you are a good fit for online learning, but it also offers many strategies -- among other pertinent information -- that will help you succeed online. Please complete the tutorial.
Blackboard
This course will use the Blackboard course management system as its virtual classroom. To learn how to log in to Blackboard, go to the Blackboard Login Procedures page. Once you enroll, you will not be able to log in until the first day of class.