UNL philosophy 106 Becker

Philosophy 106

Professor Becker Spring, 1996

Office Hours, Etc.

Instructor's Name: Edward Becker
Instructor's Office: Oldfather Hall, 1037
Office Hours: Mondays and Wednesdays, 10:00 to 11:00 am, and by appointment
Office phone: 472-2404

Texts

Required: Sterba (ed.), Morality in Practice, fourth edition.
Optional: Rosenberg, The Practice of Philosophy, second edition.

These texts should be available in both book stores. Be sure to get the fourth edition of the Sterba; it differs considerably from the second.

All references in the following section are to Morality in Practice and will usually be given according to the number of the selection. Example: "#1" refers to the article by Hospers on Libertarianism.

Readings

Jan. 9: No assignment

A. The Distribution of Income and Wealth
Jan. 11: Introduction to Part I; #1
Jan. 16: #2
Jan. 18: #s 5, 6 & 7

B. Abortion
Jan. 23: No assignment
Jan. 25: Introduction to Part III
Jan. 30: #13
Feb. 1: #15
Feb. 6: #16
Feb. 8: #14
Feb. 13: #s 20, 21
Feb. 15: No assignment
Feb. 20: Hour exam

C. Euthanasia
Feb. 22: #18
Feb. 27: #19
Feb. 29: #s 22, 23

D. Affirmative Action
Mar. 5: Introduction to Part V
Mar. 7: #32
Mar. 12: #s 33, 36

E. Pornography
Mar. 14: Introduction to Part VI
Mar. 26: #37
Mar. 28: #38
Apr. 2: #s 39, 40

F. Gay and Lesbian Rights
Apr. 4: Introduction to Part IX; #50
Apr. 9: #51
Apr. 11: #52 - Paper due
Apr. 16: #53
Apr. 18: #s 54, 55

G. War and Humanitarian Intervention
Apr. 23: Introduction to Part XII, #68
Apr. 25: #s 69, 70

Apr. 29: Final exam (10:00 a.m.-12:00 noon)

Exams and Grading

There will be an hour exam, a 4-6 page paper, and a final exam. The hour exam will consist either of two essay questions or of one essay question and five short answer questions. The final exam--which, incidentally, will be comprehensive--will consist either of three essay questions or of five short answer questions and two essay questions. On the hour exam each essay question will be worth ten points, and each short answer question will be worth two points. On the final exam each essay question will be worth fifteen points, and each short answer question will be worth three points. Thus the number of points possible on the hour exam will be twenty, and the number of points possible on the final will be forty-five. The paper, which should be typed, will be worth twenty points. In addition you will receive from zero to fifteen points for your attendance and participation in sections. Total possible points for the entire semester: 100.

The exam questions and the paper will not be assigned letter grades. Instead you will be given a numerical score ranging from zero to the highest possible score. Scores in the middle of the range are average and correspond to a grade of "B" or "C"; thus you do not need 70% to get a passing grade on a question or an exam.

Your final grade will be determined in most cases by your position on a curve based on your total number of points for the hour exam, the paper, the final exam, and class participation. The curve is constructed as follows: top 15%-A; next 15%-B+; next 20%-B; next 15%-C+; next 20%-C; next 5%-D+; lowest 10%-D. Failing grades are "off the curve," and are assigned only when students do not take the required exams or when, in the opinion of the instructor, the student either has learned virtually nothing in the course or is unable to do college work. The curve is not applied mechanically. Every grade is checked to make sure it is reasonable in the light of the instructor's and the section leader's knowledge of the student's work. In some cases a student may be assigned a grade different from the one dictated by the curve.

All students in the class, including graduating seniors, are expected to turn in the paper on time and to take all of the exams. Make-up exams are normally given only in cases of serious illness on the part of the student or serious illness or death in the student's immediate family. Any requests for make-up exams should be addressed to the instructor before the exam in question. Although reasonable requests involving problems other than illness or death will be considered, such requests will be granted only in cases of genuine hardship.