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Enter The LyceumPHIL 120
Introduction to Ethics
📄 Course Syllabus
Download the complete Spring 2026 syllabus for detailed course policies, schedule, and requirements.
Download Syllabus (PDF)📅 Schedule
Section: TBD, Spring 2026
Prerequisites: None
Format: Online/Canvas
📚 Credits
Credit Hours: 3
Prerequisites: None
IAI Number: H4 904
👨🏫 Instructor
Professor: Steven Austin
Email: [email protected]
Office: S226
Phone: 875-7211, x6392
Course Description
This course introduces students to the systematic study of moral philosophy. We will examine fundamental questions about right and wrong, good and evil, virtue and vice. What makes an action morally right or wrong? Are there universal moral truths, or is morality relative to culture or individual preference? How should we live our lives?
Through careful analysis of major ethical theories—including virtue ethics, deontology, consequentialism, and care ethics—students will develop the critical thinking skills necessary to engage with contemporary moral dilemmas. We will apply these frameworks to pressing issues such as capital punishment, euthanasia, animal rights, environmental ethics, and social justice.
As Socrates famously asked: "How should one live?" This course provides the philosophical tools to thoughtfully examine that question for yourself.
Learning Objectives
Upon successful completion of this course, a student should be able to:
1
Ethical Theory
Identify and explain the major ethical theories including virtue ethics, deontological ethics, utilitarianism, and care ethics.
2
Moral Reasoning
Analyze moral arguments using logical principles and identify common fallacies in ethical discourse.
3
Applied Ethics
Apply ethical frameworks to contemporary moral issues and articulate well-reasoned positions on controversial topics.
4
Critical Evaluation
Critically evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of different ethical perspectives and compare competing moral claims.
5
Philosophical Writing
Construct clear, coherent written arguments that demonstrate philosophical reasoning and engagement with primary texts.
6
Reflective Practice
Reflect on personal moral beliefs and values in light of philosophical inquiry, demonstrating intellectual humility and openness to revision.
The Socratic Method
AI Philosophy Tutor
"I cannot teach anybody anything. I can only make them think." — Socrates
Engage in philosophical dialogue with an AI tutor trained in the Socratic method. Ask questions, explore ethical dilemmas, and sharpen your moral reasoning through guided inquiry—just as students did in the Agora of ancient Athens.
Begin Your InquiryMajor Topics
Part I: Fundamentals of Ethics
- Ethics and the Examined Life
- Subjectivism, Relativism, and Emotivism
- Evaluating Moral Arguments
Part II: Normative Ethics
- Moral Relativism and Objectivism
- Consequentialist Theories: Utilitarianism
- Nonconsequentialist Theories: Kant and Duty
- Virtue Ethics: Aristotle and Character
- Ethics of Care and Feminist Ethics
Part III: Applied Ethics
- Abortion and the Rights of Persons
- Euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Death
- Capital Punishment
- Drug Use, Harm, and Personal Liberty
- Sexual Morality
- Environmental Ethics
- Animal Rights
Part IV: Ethics in Society
- Political Violence: War and Terrorism
- Economic Justice and Global Poverty
- Equality and Affirmative Action
- Free Speech and Its Limits
Resources & Deeper Inquiry
Required Materials
📖 Required Textbook
- Doing Ethics: Moral Reasoning, Theory, and Contemporary Issues
- Author: Lewis Vaughn
- Publisher: W.W. Norton & Company
- Edition: 6th Edition (or as specified in syllabus)
📄 Additional Resources
- Primary source readings from classical philosophers (provided on Canvas)
- Case studies and contemporary articles
- Documentary films on ethical issues
🖥️ Technology Requirements
- Access to Canvas Learning Management System
- Word processing software (Microsoft Word recommended)
- Reliable internet connection for online course activities
Grading & Assessment
Your final grade is determined by the total points you earn across all graded activities.
Grading Scale
A: 90-100
B: 80-89
C: 70-79
D: 60-69
F: 0-59
Note: Grading breakdown is subject to change. See syllabus for specific point values and assignment details.
Course Policies
📧 Attendance & Participation
Regular participation is essential for success in this course. For online sections, this means consistent engagement with course materials and timely completion of discussion posts. Philosophy is best learned through dialogue and active engagement with ideas.
⏰ Late Work
Assignments are due at the specified date and time. Late submissions will be accepted up to 48 hours after the deadline with a 10% penalty per day. Extensions may be granted for documented emergencies with advance notice when possible.
🎓 Academic Integrity
Philosophy requires original thinking. All work submitted must be your own. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in disciplinary action including possible failure of the course. When in doubt about proper citation, ask.
💬 Respectful Discourse
Ethics courses require discussing controversial topics. Students are expected to engage respectfully with views they may disagree with. The goal is understanding, not winning arguments. All perspectives will be given a fair hearing in this classroom.
♿ Accessibility
Students with disabilities who need accommodations should contact the Office of Disability Services and inform the instructor as soon as possible to arrange appropriate support.
Ready to Examine the Good Life?
Join us in exploring the fundamental questions of how we should live.
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