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PHIL 247
- Practical Ethics -
Instructor: Phil Smolenski
Email: p dot smolenski at queensu dot ca
Office: Watson Hall 310
Office Hours: Mon. 1:30-2:30 or by appointment
Lecture: JEFFERY 126 (Mon: 11:30-1:00 & Thurs: 1:00-2:30)
Announcements
Sample Questions for Final Exam
I've posted the final exam questions under the "Assignments" tab on the website. Thursday's lecture will be an Exam Review and Q&A. Please come prepared with questions. The aim the session will mainly be to clarify course content and the nature of the questions; not provide you with answers for the sample questions.
TA Office Hours
The TAs will be holding open office hours this week (Week 10) in anticipation of the upcoming term paper. Please feel free to drop by, but booking an appointment during these times is encouraged to avoid waiting around for your TA to finish with another student.
Jared: Mon., Nov. 16 @ 2:30-4:00 and Thurs., Nov. 19 @ 2:30-4:00 - WAT 013 (basement)
Aaron: Mon., Nov. 16 @ 2:30-3:30 and Thurs., Nov. 19 @ 2:30-3:30 - WAT 341 (Philosophy Lounge)
Gord: Mon., Nov. 16 @ 2:30-3:30 and Thurs., Nov. 19 @ 2:30-3:30 - WAT 113 (1st floor TA office)
Coady Topic Posted and Further Torture Readings
1) Under the assignments tab you'll find the final term paper topics on C.A.J. Coady and Supreme Emergency posted. Please remember: the question is asking you to take a stance on whether sub-state groups should be able to appeal the Supreme Emergency clause. While you need to show an awareness of Coady's position, the question is asking you to defend your own take on the issue, so when you answer the question bear in mind how Coady might respond to your position.
2) For anyone who is interested in some further reading on Torture from someone with first hand experience of America's utilization of torture, I direct you to a latter by Capt. Ian Fishback to Sen. John McCain, which can be found on the Washington Post's website. More information about Fishback can be found on his wikipedia entry, also referenced below.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/27/AR2005092701527.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ian_Fishback
3) Finally, a colleague from this history department recommended a good play, which was adapted into a movie, that addresses the issue of torture. Death and the Maiden (play by Ariel Dorfman; 1994 film directed by Roman Polanski)
Term Paper Topics and Deadline
Term paper topics have been posted under the relevant assignments tab on the website. I will be spending the first part of Thursday's lecture discussing each of the questions.
Also, the deadline for the term paper has been extended to the following Monday, November 23rd at the beginning of lecture. Papers submitted after lecture will be considered late.
Week 9: Torture Readings Update
Because we're running behind schedule, to get back on track we'll only be reading Henry Shue's article for Week 9, Monday. We will not be covering the Allhoff reading.
Parfit's Non-Identity Problem
Darek Parfit, Reasons and Persons, "The Non-Identity Problem"
For anyone whose interested in looking at the non-identity problem in more depth, I've uploaded the selection from Parfit's book. The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy also has a great entry on the non-identity problem: http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/nonidentity-problem/
Sandel Readings Announced
Sandel, "Part II: Incentives" [43-91]
Students are encouraged to read as much of the chapter on incentives as possible. Reflective summaries can be written on any part of the chapter, however the lecture will focus on certain poritons of the reading.
Lecture on Introduction to Moral Reasoning - Slides Posted
While I won't be posting my lecture slides from class, I'm posting the slides from the lecture on 'Introduction to Moral Reasoning' as a .pdf file. I know that some students joined part way into the term, so these may be useful for newcomers to philosophy, or for anyone who wants to review the material on moral reasoning.
Introdution to Moral Reasoning:
Lecture Slides
** NOTE: I can't seem to upload the pdf copy of my slides...for anyone whose interested , please email me. **
Revised Grade Distribution for Reflective Summaries
Currently, each reflective summary is worth 15% of your final grade. However, if students demonstrate on improvement on the second or third reflective summary, the highest grade will be valued at 20%, and the lowest at 10%, of your final grade, respectively.
Welcome to the PHIL 247 Website!
Welcome to the course website for PHIL 247 - Practical Ethics! On the website you'll be able to find important information about the course, along with a link to the course readings. In the coming months, you'll also be able to find a list of topics for the term paper, and eventually the sample exam questions. For the time being, I'll try to post important announcements on the homepage.
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