Philosophy 211: Contemporary Moral IssuesSpring Semester 20141.10-2.00pmClose/Hipp Building 005Dr. Leah McClimansMy office: Brynes Rm. 426Office hours: Mondays 9.30-10.30am; Tuesdays 10-11am; and by appointmentOffice phone: 803-777-3731Email: HYPERLINK "mailto:[email protected]" [email protected] AssistantsTiffany BeaverSections: 04 & 05Office: Byrnes 429Office hours: Monday 11am-1pmEmail: [email protected] GraySections: 02 & 03Office: Byrnes 446Office hours: Wednesday 11.20am-12.50pmEmail: HYPERLINK "mailto:[email protected]"[email protected] GentrySections: 01 & 06Office: Byrnes 442Office hours: Friday 2pm-4pmEmail: HYPERLINK "mailto:[email protected]" [email protected] Course MaterialDebater’s Guide (DB)Euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Suicide (EPAS)Same-Sex Marriage: Pro & Con A Reader (SSM)Eating Animals (EA)Coursepack #12 (CP): Available at The Kiosk, 211 Main St, The Lofts (it is a 25 foot concession trailor). Here's a link to a map of the location: HYPERLINK "https://webmail.sc.edu/owa/redir.aspx?C=MDho1OH_F02vjWdGgZLVKQyMnbNl39AIYiM9upSr1liTSsymlAxqUSudwgJv86JaeMz-dqy9yjA.&URL=http%3a%2f%2fmaps.google.com%2fmaps%3ff%3dq%26source%3ds_q%26hl%3den%26geocode%3d%26q%3d211%2bMain%2bStreet%2c%2bColumbia%2c%2bSC%26sll%3d37.0625%2c-95.677068%26sspn%3d31.509065%2c56.513672%26ie%3dUTF8%26hq%3d%26hnear%3d211%2bMain%2bSt%2c%2bColumbia%2c%2bRichland%2c%2bSouth%2bCarolina%2b29201%26ll%3d33.988403%2c-81.028901%26spn%3d0.004021%2c0.006899%26z%3d17" \t "_blank" http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=211+Main+Street,+Columbia,+SC&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=31.509065,56.513672&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=211+Main+St,+Columbia,+Richland,+South+Carolina+29201&ll=33.988403,-81.028901&spn=0.004021,0.006899&z=17The hours are Jan 13-February 1, M-F 10-6pm, Sat 10-2pm. Ask for #12. It costs $34.25 and all forms of payment are accepted: cash, credit, debit, checks. You can also find more information at their website: http://www.smarttext.com/Course IntroductionIn this course we will investigate four contentious issues in American society: access to healthcare; euthanasia; same-sex marriage and eating animals. We will investigate these issues from the perspective of moral debate. During the course lectures we will discuss both the content of differentpositions on these four issues and introduce ourselves to the various elements of debating, etc. constructing affirmative and negatives cases, rebuttals. During your sections you will have the opportunity to practice some of the elements of debating; toward the end of the semester you will put them together to participate in SPAR debates.The topics that we are going to discuss are complicated and often many-sided. Perspectives on thesetopics are not always as simple as ‘pro’ or ‘con’. For instance, while some people think that disparities in health should be ameliorated they do not think that universal access to healthcare is the answer; while some think that euthanasia is unproblematic on an individual level, they oppose itas a policy goal; while some think that eating animals is permissible they oppose doing so when animals are raised in factory farms. In this course we are going to explore different aspects of each of these debates, paying careful attention to the nuances of the various positions. Our discussion of and practice in debating will help you to systematize some of these nuances.Learning OutcomesUpon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:Identify the source and function of values through the investigation of contemporary moral issuesDemonstrate an understanding of the importance of values and ethics for the self and for contemporary societyReflect on how values shape personal and community ethics, and decision-makingIdentify and demonstrate appropriate means of communication for varied audiences and purposesReason clearly in speaking and writing to inform, persuade and exchange viewsArticulate a critical informed position on an issue and engage in productive and responsible intellectual exchanges that demonstrate the ability to grasp and respond to other positions as well as to set forth your ownCourse Requirements:There are 6 components to the grade for this class:‘Letter to the Editor’ 15%Mid-term exam 20%6 Pop Quizzes 10%Participation/Attendance 5%Final Project 20%Graded Section Activities 30%Cards from Newspapers 5% (Newspaper assignment 2%; Speeches 3%)Topic Warm-up 5%Group Case Construction 5%Four Step Refutation 5%SPAR Debate 10%Letter to the Editor: This assignment is connected to the activity you will be participating in during sections on the 31th January. In this activity you will be asked to locate three newspaper articles on the debate topic ‘The US Federal Government should provide health insurance to all legal residents.’ You will then locate the useful pieces of evidence in these articles and provide briefs. (These briefs will be the basis of the speeches you give on the 31st in sections.) For this assignment you will use the information in your brief as well as information in the briefs of other students to write a ‘letter to the editor’ of a newspaper. In your ‘letter’ you will be expected to critically examine the topic above in approximately 800-1000 words (2-3 pages double spaced 12 point Times Roman font).Mid-Term Exam: The exam will consist of short-answer questions and mini essay questions. It willbe taken during class time.Pop Quizzes: Over the course of the semester you will have a total of six pop quizzes administered during the Monday/Wednesday lectures. Of these six quizzes only five will count toward your grade, e.g. if you take six then only the highest five grades will count, if you miss one only the five that you took will count. If you take all six and receive a B or better on all six then you will receive two extra percentage points on your mid-term. Pop Quizzes may be given at any time during the class, e.g. beginning of class, end of class, middle of class. I do not offer make-up pop quizzes. If you are absent for a documented good reason then your quiz grade will be determined out of a smaller denominator, e.g. out of 4 if you legitimately miss 1 pop quiz. Trouble finding parking, a previous class running longer than expected, etc. do not count as documented good reasons and willnot warrant an excused pop quiz. Deaths, planned job interviews, sickness with a doctor’s excuse docount as