Nipissing U.  PHIL 2525

Contemporary Moral Issues

Ursula Stange   H350G     x4309     ursula(at) stange(dot)com

 

"Empty is the argument of the philosopher which does not relieve any human suffering." 
Epicurus

 

Useful and/or Entertaining Pages

Academic Research / Writing  (Purdue OWL)

Nip Calendar Description of this Course

Lecture Readings   2008/2009

PHIL 2525 Syllabus 2008 /2009

Nipissing's Policy on Academic Dishonesty

Nipissing University Home Page
My Other Courses
 

My Home Page
2525 Email Exchange Group -- sign up

 

NOVEMBER 17th

I've put the revised essay questions (for the midterm) on the readings page, but you can also print them from here.   The only change was essay question 4.  The new version reads... 4) Discuss the moral skepticism of Protagoras.

NOVEMBER 2nd

I've read through your further responses to the movie and edited and compiled a sample of them.  Click here if you'd like to read them.   I'm surprised that no one mentioned the Ring of Gyges.   You remember the story early in the course about how we would all be tempted if we were certain that we could get away with bad things.   Judah is assured by his brother that he will not be connected to the crime.    And he eventually refuses to believe in a God that could find him out.   He says that God is a luxury he cannot afford.   

 

SEPTEMBER 21st

These are the movies recommended by your fellow students....

I (heart) Huckabees
Sicko
Shadows and Fog
Million Dollar Baby
A Walk to Remember
Of Mice and Men
Gattace
Sophie's Choice
Minority Report
Waking Life
Equilibrium
12 Monkeys
The Memory Keeper's Daughter
At the End of the Day: The Sue Rodriguez Story
C.R.A.Z.Y.
Stranger than Fiction
Loving Annabelle
Gladiator
Next
Apt Pupil
Eraserhead

SEPTEMBER 18th

Just a correction to the schedule of lectures....In your syllabus and in the link to Lecture Readings above, I mistakenly had Study Week listed after the fourth lecture, but it should be listed as following the fifth lecture for my Bracebridge students and following the sixth lecture for my North Bay students.   I've now noted this in the link above, but please make these changes on your handout.   I will also mention this in class, but wanted to make sure that everyone was aware of this.   Sorry for the confusion.

SEPTEMBER 16th

For my Bracebridge students:

My bus from North Bay to Bracebridge arrives at 6:20.   Please forgive my few minutes' lateness. 

Rest assured I will be there.  

SEPTEMBER 11th

In relation to the Ring of Gyges, we will look at last week's reading about doping in sports: 

Good Sport, Bad Sport .

We'll also consider this story:

How to Punish a Cyber Bully

Also, don't forget to sign up for the 2525 Email Exchange Group

SEPTEMBER 2nd

The Canadian War Museum   

Deadly Medicine:  Creating the Master Race   until Nov. 11th

 

AUGUST 31st

Ethics in the news:    Art or child abuse?

Another point of view:   How far must we fall before an artist throws up?

and another:   Olympia Nelson hits back at naked art fury

What is at issue here?

Is it's copying of an older photo relevant?

IsOlympia's defence of the picture relevant?

How does the fact that the photographer is the girl's mother affect your judgement?

On another note:    I now pronounce you...friend and friend.

 

AUGUST 30th

Ethics in the news:   Pigeons self-aware?

What is at stake here?

How should these results affect our actions regarding pigeons?   Or other animals?)

I invite all of you to join the email exchange group (I'm being polite; it's actually mandatory).

You will be asked to enter a name and a password (you make them both up unless you already belong to yahoogroups).   You will be asked to write to the moderator (me) for approval to join.  Please make sure to put your real name in this query.  Also indicate whether you are in North Bay or Bracebridge.   I will speak in class about the purpose of and requirements for participation.

AUGUST 29th

Getting started with Ethics in the News:   Consider this story....

In Texas School, Teachers Carry Books and Guns

Editorial:   No guns in the classroom

What is at stake here?

What do the two sides claim as their main concern?

On what basis can we choose?

 

Welcome to this class page for the 2008/2009 academic year.    I hope you find the entries  informative, engaging and sometimes entertaining.    As we proceed, I hope that you will contribute articles and webpages that you find helpful.   I will publish them for the rest of the class's benefit.    Newest entries will always appear at the top.   This blog is required reading.  It will update you on additional required readings that will be discussed in class.

Readings for the first four weeks will be handed out in class and are also accessible in the links box at the top.

Future readings will be published as we go along and will also be accessible above.     

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Pre-August 28th, 2007

In the meantime...read, read, read

2007/2008 blog

Ethics Updates 

Ethics Updates....Classical Texts   

Ethics    Wikipedia

 

Ethics in the news...

Treating (or Not) the Tiniest Babies     Peter Singer

Unborn babies targeted in crackdown on criminality   Guardian Unlimited

I Lost My Son to a War I Oppose. We Were Both Doing Our Duty     By Andrew J. Bacevich

Steven Pinker's review of All About Evil