PHIL 2306:
The systematic evaluation of classical and/or contemporary ethical theories concerning the good life, human conduct in society, morals, and standards of value.
In the event of an emergency or announced campus closure due to a natural disaster or pandemic, it may be necessary for Panola College to move to altered operations. During this time, Panola College may opt to continue delivery of instruction through methods that include, but are not limited to: online learning management system (CANVAS), online conferencing, email messaging, and/or an alternate schedule. It is the responsibility of the student to monitor Panola College's website (www.panola.edu) for instructions about continuing courses remotely, CANVAS for each class for course-specific communication, and Panola College email for important general information.
Regular and punctual attendance of classes and laboratories is required of all students. When a student has been ill or absent from class for approved extracurricular activities, he or she should be allowed, as far as possible, to make up for the missed work. If a student has not actively participated by the census date, they will be dropped by the instructor for non-attendance. This policy applies to courses that are in-person, online, hybrid, and hyflex.
Attendance in online courses is determined by submission of an assignment or participation in an activity. According to federal guidelines, simply logging into a distance learning course without participating in an academic assignment does not constitute attendance. Distance learning is defined as when a majority (more than 50%) of instruction occurs when the instructor and students are in separate physical locations. Students must engage in an academic activity prior to the course census date.
When an instructor feels that a student has been absent to such a degree as to invalidate the learning experience, the instructor may recommend to the Vice President of Instruction that the student be withdrawn from the course. Instructors may seek to withdraw students for non-attendance after they have accumulated the following number of absences:
Fall or spring semesters:
3 or more class meeting times per week - 5 absences
2 class meeting times per week - 3 absences
1 class meeting per week - 2 absences
The student is responsible for seeing that he or she has been officially withdrawn from a class. A student who stops attendance in a class without officially withdrawing from that class will be given a failing grade; consequently, the student must follow official withdrawal procedures in the Admissions/Records Office.
Please note: Health Science and Cosmetology courses may require more stringent attendance policies based on their accreditation agencies. Please see the addendum and/or program handbook for further information concerning attendance.
Panola College welcomes pregnant and parenting students as a part of the student body. This institution is committed to providing support and adaptations for a successful educational experience for pregnant and parenting students. Students experiencing a need for accommodations related to pregnancy or parenting will find a Pregnancy and Parenting Accommodations Request form in the Student Handbook or may request the form from the course instructor.
Use of generated AI Permitted under some classroom circumstances with permission.
There are situations throughout the course where you may be asked to use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to explore how they can be used. Outside of those circumstances, you should not use AI tools to generate content that will end up in any student work (assignments, activities, discussion responses, etc.). In such cases for Option #2, no more than 25% of the student work should be generated by AI. Use of any AI-generated content in this course without the instructor’s consent qualifies as academic dishonesty and violates Panola College’s standards of academic integrity.
The systematic evaluation of classical and/or contemporary ethical theories concerning the good life, human conduct in society, morals, and standards of value.
Upon completion of this course, the student should demonstrate a mastery of the
following learning outcomes:
1. Read, analyze, and critique philosophical texts.
2. Define and appropriately use important terms such as relativism, virtue,
duty, rights, utilitarianism, and autonomy
3. Demonstrate knowledge of major arguments and problems in ethics.
4. Present and discuss well-reasoned ethical positions in writing.
5. Apply ethical concepts and principles to address moral concerns.
6. Apply course material to various aspects of life.
7. Discuss ways of living responsibly in a world where people have diverse
ethical beliefs.
Course Content:
A general description of lecture/discussion topics included in this course are listed in the
Learning Objectives section of this syllabus.
Students in all sections of this course will learn the following content:
1. What is Ethics?
2. Logic
3. Aren’t Right and Wrong Just Matters of Opinion?
4. Can We Have Ethic Without Religion?
5. Argument Analysis
6. Virtue Ethics
7. Utilitarianism
8. Kantian Ethics
9. Feminist Ethics
10. Evolutionary Ethics
11. Egoism
12. Intuitionism
13. Christian Ethics
14. Applied Ethics
This class will convey the course material through lectures, discussions,
primary/secondary documents, guest speakers, instructional videos and PowerPoint
presentations. Reciprocally, students are expected to take notes, listen proactively, ask
questions, conduct service learning, and read the textbook. Instructional methods for
this course will vary depending upon the instructor, term, and format (online v. face-to-
face).
Classroom Policies:
Assignment Weight:
1. 10% – Reading Questions: Reading the course material is vital. These
assignments are intended to keep you accountable for completing the
required reading.
2. 10% – Quizzes: Quizzes are not timed and can be taken an unlimited times. If
you take a quiz more than once, your highest score will be kept.
3. 15% – Discussions: Discussions provide opportunities to explore philosophical
questions, analyze arguments, and engage respectfully with classmates.
Students will apply philosophical concepts to contemporary issues and reflect
on enduring questions about knowledge, reality, ethics, and society.
4. 25% – Exams (Mid-term & Final): Your exams will be timed and can only be
taken once. The questions will be based 100% on the quizzes.
5. 15% – Text Analysis: Students will read, analyze, and critique primary
philosophical texts. Through these assignments, students will develop their
ability to interpret philosophical arguments, apply critical thinking skills, and
communicate their analysis in clear, well-supported writing.
6. 20% – Final Project. This paper is due near the end of the term.
7. 1% – Extra Credit. These are the only opportunities for additional credit in the
course.
Extra Credit & Bonus Points: This course has a total weight of 105%, which gives you
some wiggle room to miss some of the shorter assignments without affecting your final
grade. If you complete all the assignments, you will receive bonus points.
Deadlines, late work, and excuses: I assume that at some point in this semester, you
will have something, whether planned or unexpected, that will require you to miss an
assignment deadline. This is why I have built in 105 points of total grading, even though
you are only graded on a 100-point scale. Therefore, I will not extend deadlines for any
assignments. Grades on assignments turned in late will be reduced as follows:
o Up to 24 hours late (up to 1 day): 10% reduction
o 24-48 hours late (up to 2 days): 20% reduction
o 48-72 hours late (up to 3 days): 30% reduction
o 72-96 hours late (up to 4 days): 40% reduction
o Over 96 hours late (more than 4 days late): 50% reduction
Generally, skipping an assignment and catching up with the material would be better
than getting stuck in a repeated pattern of staying behind and turning in late work.
No late work will be received after the late assignment deadline found in the course
schedule.
Accommodations: It is the student's responsibility to confirm and arrange
accommodations with disability services and the instructor.
Artificial Intelligence: All AI-related issues are subject to PANOLA's Scholastic
Dishonesty policy.
Cell Phones: Non-class-related use of cell phones is not allowed during all class activities
unless otherwise granted by the instructor. If an offense to this policy occurs, the
student may fail the course.
Computer Problems: You should develop a backup plan should your computer system
or your Internet provider fails. Computer or internet connectivity issues are not valid
excuses for missing a deadline. The college provides many opportunities for using
computer equipment, as do many public libraries.
Conduct: Students are not allowed to be disruptive or disrespectful during class. If
an offense to this policy occurs, the student may be asked to leave class and may fail the
course.
Consumption: Smoking or the use of any tobacco product (including smokeless tobacco,
e-cigarettes, e-cigars, vape pens, mods, pod mods, Juul, Suorin, IQOS, Elf Bar, etc.) is not
allowed at any location on any PANOLA campus. This includes the prohibition of e-
cigarettes, or any electronic nicotine, or other substance, delivery device. The
consumption of food or drink is not allowed during class activity unless otherwise
granted by the instructor. If an offense to this policy occurs, the student may fail the
course.
Flexibility: This syllabus reflects the minimum requirements of our professional
relationship over the semester. The instructor reserves the right to make adjustments to
the syllabus when an urgent need for the class is required. He will not make adjustments
in such a way as to harm the students’ chances of successfully mastering the course
material. By remaining in the class, the student agrees to the terms and conditions
stated herein and signifies that he or she understands what constitutes academic
dishonesty and the penalty for engaging therein.
Recordings: Students are not allowed to record class activities, discussions, instruction,
etc., unless otherwise granted by the instructor.
Displaying knowledge of a variety of philosophical problems by writing an essay in which
they explain two or more different philosophical positions.
Applying critical thinking skills by writing an essay in which they explain and assess the
strengths and weaknesses of a philosophical position or theory.
Developing an informed personal reaction to a philosophical issue by writing an essay in
which they explain and justify their personal response to a philosophical issue.
Assessment and Assignment Rules
1. Academic Freedom and Instructor Discretion: The government department recognizes
the necessity of academic freedom. As such, each instructor maintains the right to
stipulate rules in addition to this syllabus concerning assignments, make-up work,
grading rubrics, classroom recordings, excused absences, extra credit, and any other
matters within the individual course offerings. All of the supplemental rules must be
made available to the students at the start of the semester or in advance of the
completion of individual assignments.
2. Academic Freedom and Code of Etiquette: The government department recognizes the
right of the instructor and the students to address controversial subjects. This right to
academic freedom is recognized as the principle by which truth may be pursued.
Consequently, the department firmly upholds the right of instructors to appropriately
express in writing, speaking or action their understanding, opinions, and knowledge on
controversial subjects. Moreover, no student’s grade shall be diminished because of an
appropriately expressed political opinion. However, the freedom of speech does not act
as an excuse for inappropriate language or behavior as it is possible to freely discuss
controversial issues without being obscene. Obscenity consists of language and behavior
that lacks academic value, is repugnant to the standards of the community, and/or
contains libel or slander. Moreover, the freedom of speech does not act as an excuse for
violating standards of academic honesty or poor performance on assignments. The
instructor and the college reserve the right to remove students from the class and hold
disciplinary actions in accord with college policy for obscene language or behavior.
3. Academic Honesty: The central theme of education is the enlightenment of the mind.
This can only be achieved by hard, honest work. Consequently, cheating and plagiarism
are strictly prohibited in the course. A student must not receive from or give to any
other student information, answers, or help during an exam. A student must not "steal";
the answers from an unsuspecting student during an exam. A student must not use any sources for answers during an exam (including, but not limited to notes, books, or
electronic devices) without prior authorization from the professor. A student must not
obtain exam questions illegally, tamper with the exam questions, nor change the results
of an exam after it has been graded. Moreover, students are prohibited from
plagiarizing any assignments. Plagiarism consists in the taking of another person's ideas,
words, or information and claiming those properties as one's own. Properly quoting and
citing borrowed information is NOT plagiarism. However, since academic integrity is
based on the originality of a student's work, no student may submit an assignment that
contains an excessive amount of properly cited material. The standards and violations of
academic honesty shall be further defined by the individual instructor (in accord with
college policy). Individual instructors reserve the right to employ any ample means for
proving academic dishonesty. Students have the right to contest a plagiarism or
cheating claim through the college appeals process.
Grade Scale (based on 1000 total points possible)
A = 89.5-100
B = 79.5-89.49
C = 69.5-79.49
D = 59.9-69.49
F = 0-59.49
George Matthews, Introduction to Philosophy: Ethics
Matt Deaton, Ethics in a Nutshell
Students will be required to read the textbooks and other provided materials.
N/A
- Courses conducted via video conferencing may be recorded and shared for instructional purposes by the instructor.
- For current texts and materials, use the following link to access bookstore listings: https://www.panolacollegestore.com.
- For testing services, use the following link: https://www.panola.edu/student-services/studentsupport/academic-testing-center.
- The Accommodations & Disability Support (A&DS) Office at Panola College provides and facilitates support services and accommodations for students with disabilities. The A&DS office works under the federal guidelines included in Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the American with Disabilities Act. Please contact the Accommodations & Disability Support (A&DS) Office located in the Charles C. Matthews Student Center or go to https://www.panola.edu/disabilitysupport for more information.
- Withdrawing from a course is the student’s responsibility. Students who do not attend class and who do not withdraw will receive the grade earned for the course.
- Student Handbook (located in the Panola College Catalog)