PHILOSOPHY 102: INTRODUCTION TO ETHICS AND SOCIAL PHILOSOPHY
Time: Tuesday and Thursday 11:30-12:45 Fall 2010
This course introduces philosophy by focussing on great books which explore theories of justice, political philosophy
and ethics. Part 1 is centered on the classic text of ancient political philosophy, Plato's Republic
(written around 380 B.C.). Plato lived from 428 to 348 B.C. in Athens, Greece. We will discuss what it means to be
a philosopher (as opposed to being a sophist), rival definitions of justice, the difference between public life (being a
citizen) and private life (being a person), questioning authority, the ideal state, virtue, the ruling class and the issue
of slavery. In this part, we will develop an understanding of the difference between legitimate and unacceptable theories
of justice, and focus on obligations among human beings (also known as human centered ethics or anthropocentric
ethics).
Part 2 of this course is centered on the modern classics, Walden, or Life in the Woods published in 1854 by the
American philosopher Henry Thoreau (1817-1862) and On Liberty published in 1859 by English philosopher John Stuart
Mill (1806-1873). Together these great books constitute a large part of the model philosopher today: concerned with
the priority of equal basic liberties and the meaning of a good individual life. We will concentrate on Thoreau’ s
expansion of ethical thinking to include all living beings in a unified social ethics (also known as biocentric ethics).
Environmental justice involves thinking about what we owe future generations, our responsibilities towards nature, and
how we deal with persons or companies that harm our planet. What connections are there between justice and nature?
Mill defends liberal democracy and liberalism against all other political forms of life. We will concentrate on Mill’s
legendary defence of the liberty of thought and discussion and rejection of selling oneself as a slave:
"The principle of freedom cannot require that he should be free not to be free. It is not freedom to be allowed to
alienate his freedom." While Plato is one of the great defenders of the rationality of slavery, Thoreau and Mill are
some of the greatest critics of slavery. How and why are their moral points of view so different? What do these
philosophers prove about the theory of moral relativism and our collective rationality? These three classics show that it
can be great to be a human being when one is able to create thoughts and arguments that influence posterity.
COURSE WORK
20% 1) Short creative writing assignment on Plato (imaginary dialogue, assigned topics only, 1000-1500 words,
must be typed)
10% 2) In-class exercises (unannounced). Examples: Debate or argue professionally about a philosophical
proposition. Or write a comment on the class topic and submit anonymously. The comment is typed up by the
professor and distributed to the class for review purposes. Students who miss these exercises without a legitimate
medical excuse will not be allowed to make up that part of their mark.
30% 3) Short research essay (4-6 pages double-spaced). Due last class, Nov. 30. Must follow
guidelines in handout "Writing a Philosophical Paper." Assigned topics only.
40% 4) Final exam (comprehensive, open textbooks, no notes, date: set by Registrar)
TEXTS (required): 1) Plato: Republic, trans. by G. Grube, revised by C. Reeve. Indianapolis: Hackett, 1992.
2) Walden, by Henry Thoreau. New York: Dover, 1995. 3) On Liberty, by John Stuart Mill. Hackett. Professor:
Tony Couture, office: Main Building, Fourth floor, Room 417. Office phone: 566-0989; home phone: 569-3182.
Office hours: by appointment.
E-mail (use both): tcouture@upei.ca or tcouture@pei.sympatico.ca
