Ms. Mendoza's Classes
  • About Me
  • Japanese Tutoring

Philosophical Readings

Meta-Ethics and Normative Ethics:

Ethical Relativism: Rosenstand pp. 105-9, 115-133
Primary reading: Of Cave Dwellers and Spirits: The Problem with Moral Absolutes (pp.137)

Ethical Egoism: Rosenstand pp. 172-86
Primary reading: Excerpt from Republic (pp. 187), The Ethics of Emergencies (pp. 195), Excerpt from Atlas Shrugged (pp. 207), The Gift of the Magi

Utilitarianism: Rosenstand pp. 213-242
Primary reading: Excerpt from Of the Principle of Utility (pp. 243), Excerpt from Utilitarianism (pp. 245), The Blacksmith and the Baker (pp. 248), The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas (pp. 252)

Deontology: Rosenstand pp. 263-284
Primary reading: Excerpt from Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals (pp. 285), Excerpt from The Metaphysics of Morals (pp. 287)

Theories of Justice: Rosenstand pp. 315-42, 346-50
Primary reading: The UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights (pp. 342), Justice as Fairness (pp. 346), The Victim and the Justification of Punishment (pp. 350)
Case Study: Minority Report/ Gattaca

Theories of Virtue:
Reading: Rosenstand pp. 371-394,
Primary reading: Euthyphro (pp.395), Apology (pp.398),
Rosenstand pp. 416-437,
Primary reading: Nicomachean Ethics (pp.437), Nicomachean Ethics (pp.441), The Flight of Icarus (pp.443)

Review Paper: This is a 8-10 page paper in which you will choose a piece of literature you have read, a movie or television series you have seen, a piece of music or a work of art, and, with reference to its content, discuss the important moral content that it attempts to convey. It is due on the day of your final exam (Tuesday, Dec. 18). Refer to the handout and rubric for specific details.


Applied Ethics:

The Death Penalty and Punishment
Executing the Innocent
Punishment
Against the Sanctity of Life
The Ultimate Punishment: A Defense

War, Terror and Peace
Terrorism and the Collapse of Moral Authority
The Rhetoric of Evil
A Crime or Act of War?
The War on Terrorism: its Moral Justification and its Limits
Justice Will Be Done

World Hunger
Suffer the Little Children
World Hunger
Reaching the Limit
  • About Me
  • Japanese Tutoring