PHL100: Problems of Philosophy
Park 305, MWF 11:30 am - 12:25 pm
Professor: Craig DeLancey
Office: Piez Hall 225
Office Hours: MWF 10:00 -- 11:00 a.m., M 3:00-4:00, and by appointment
Email: delancey@oswego.edu
Current Assignments
25-29 April: discussion of Hobbes and Rawls (for this we will just refer to class notes).
29 April to 4 May: topic: environmental ethics and bioethics. Can philosophical ethics guide us on issues of duties to non-human or even post-human or transhuman organisms? Bring a clone to class if you have one.
6 May: wrap up, review.
11 May: final exam, in class, 10:30 - 12:30. Covered will be all topics, but with special focus on ethics since we won't have tested on that before. All prior exam questions are eligible, as are reading study questions as given above. The exam will be part multiple choice and part short answer. You are asked to sit one seat apart or more, not diagonally behind anyone, and not near your usual cohorts. Bring paper and pens. Note that the notes and discussion that Sober provides is generally excellent. You will find it helpful to look at his discussions of each of the relevant topics.
Study questions include all past exam study questions, and any reading study questions, and the following:
- What is the principle question of ethics?
- What is hedonism?
- What is consequentialism?
- What is utlitarianism?
- What kind of thing can be good, according to Kant?
- What is Kant's categorical imperative?
- What are the presuppositions of contract theory?
- What does Sartre mean when he says you are "condemned to be free"?
- Describe Hobbes's contract theory and his conclusions.
- Describe the Rawls's notion of the veil of ignorance. What kind of social arrangement should we seek when behind the veil, according to Rawls?
- What is instrumental value? What is intrinsic value?
- Describe and contrast animal rights ethic, biocentric individualism, and the Land Ethics.
Tentative Assignments (subject to revision)