NORTH SOUTH UNIVERSITY

DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY AND PHILOSOPHY

DHAKA, BANGLADESH

 Course Title: Introduction to Ethics

 Semester: Fall 2020

 Course No: PHI (104) [Section: 16]

 Instructor: Md. Ezazul Karim

 Email- [email protected]

 Phone No- 01819208809

 Class Time: [ST 09:40 AM 11:10 AM]

 Class Room: [TBA_v7]

 Office hour: TBA

 Office Room: North Building (NAC)

  Introduction to the Course Goals:

Ethics is the discipline that evaluates a person's conduct as moral or immoral; within the
discipline of ethics, we mainly have three branches, such as normative ethics, meta-ethics, and
applied ethics. Normative ethics deals with the evaluation of the conduct of a person by means
of standard or norm. Meta-ethics talks about the meaning and nature of ethical terms. Applied
ethics deals with the application of ethics in various dimensions. In this 100 level GED course, we
will explore the different normative ethical traditions, where they are teleological or
deontological or virtue ethics. Furthermore, we will venture into the domain of meta-ethics,
exploring relativism and absolutism. Afterward, we will explore applied ethics, starting from
ethical application in the business to healthcare to legal issues and also environmental issues.
Furthermore, we will see the nuance of morality and terrorism, autonomy, and the interpretation
of justice as fairness. Thus we will be acquainted with different views of ethical thought, all of
which are compelling and interesting in their unique ways.

 Goals of the Course:

 This course aims to view various ethical traditions both in light of their positivity and
negativity; in a more dynamic way.

 It aims to have a broader outlook regarding a greater sphere of the ethical domain than
having a one-dimensional outlook of right and wrong.

 To make one critically analyze and explain one's values and norms and the values and
norms of others.

 Furthermore, mastering the strength to tolerate, appreciating the difference towards

other ethical norms and traditions.
 The outcome of the Course:

 One of the outcomes of the course will be developing reading habits, along with reading
skills. As you are supposed to read study materials for each unit, it will help you develop
the reading habit. And gaining this skill will help you the rest of your life as it will help you
maintain a reading habit in the long run.

 Students will acquire the art of self-expression. Students will be habituated to express
themselves regardless of whether they are being criticized or not. This will come in play
as there will be compulsory group discussion for everyone. For example, students will be
asked to discuss various topics in their exams. By doing so, they will be able to express
themselves.

 They will also develop the skills of argumentation, analysis, comparison, and critical
evaluation. They will acquire this through writing assignments or taking exams regarding
the study materials, where they have to demonstrate the ability of analysis, comparison,
and critical evaluation.

 Another outcome is learning various concepts. By this, you will be able to define them, as
the original thinkers have used them, and you will also be able to use them yourself in
various arguments.

 Expectation towards the students

 The students are expected to be present in each class on time unless they have some
major issues so that they cannot participate or be late. In that case, the student needs to
inform the course instructor and describe the reason for his or her absence or being late
to the class.

 During the class, the students are expected to concentrate and be mindful of the topic
being taught. It is appreciable that the student reads about the topic that the class is going
to be before coming to the class as the instructor of the class will provide the study
material a few days before the class.

 The students must turn on the camera if it is an online class.

  Course Work

There will be a midterm exam and a final exam. The instructor will provide the question of the
exams via electronic media. Regarding the midterm and the final, there will be a quiz of 15 marks,
and the rest of the exam will be written questions consisting of 30 marks. Regarding the written
questions the students will have to choose to answer some questions, among many. Each
question will have a few segments, divided into sections such as remembrance, understanding,
application, analysis, and evaluation. Each question should be answered between 250-300
words. The students must not be absent during the midterm or finals unless providing proof of
their justified absence; otherwise, they will get a 00 in that specific exam, and there will not be
any chance to retake it.

 Grading:

Numerical Scores Letter Grade Grade Points

93 and above A 4.0
90-92 A− 3.7
87-89 B+ 3.3
83-86 B 3.0
80-82 B− 2.7
77-79 C+ 2.3
73-76 C 2.0
70-72 C− 1.7
67-69 D+ 1.3
60-66 D 1.0
Below 60 F* Failure 0.0
  Mark Distribution:
Attendance and Cooperation: 10%
Midterm: (Quiz 15% + Written Question 30%) = 45%
Final Exam: (Quiz 15% + Written Question 30%) = 45% -
In Total: 100%

 Recommended Books:

 Boatright, John & Patra, Bibhu; Ethics and the Conduct of Business, New York: Pearson,
2014.
 Fiala, Andrew & Mackinnon, Barbar; Ethics Theory and Contemporary Issues, London:
Cengage Learning, 2014.
 Haque, Nayeema; Applied Philosophy: A New Horizon of Thought, Dhaka: Jatya
Shahitto Prokash, 2015.
 Hartman, Laura & Desjardins, Joe; Business Ethics Decision Making for Personal Integrity
& Social Responsibility, New York: McGraw Hill, 2010.
 Mou, Bo; History of Chinese Philosophy, New York: Rutledge, 2009.
 Singer, Peter; Practical Ethics, London: Cambridge University Press, 2000.
 Solomon, Robert & Higgins, Kathleen; The Big Questions: New York, Cengage Learning,
2010.
 Stephen Nathanson; Terrorism and the Ethics of War, London: Cambridge University
Press, 2000.
 Tannsjo, Torbjorn; Understanding Ethics: An Introduction to Moral Theory, London:
Edinburgh University Press, 2009.
 Velasquez, Manuel; Business Ethics Concepts and Cases, New York: Pearson, 2013.
 Warburton, Nigel; Philosophy the Basics, New York: Rutledge, 2000.
  Course materials:

The course materials will be provided by the instructor of the course via electronic media. The
students do not need to buy any books or other study materials for the course. Before each class,
the instructor will upload the study materials via electronic media, and the students can simply
download them.

Units Section & Topic Readings

Unit 1: introduction Introducing Ethics; (Lecture: 1) (Lecture: 1) Personal Materials

Normative Ethics, Meta Ethics & will be Provided to the Class.
Applied Ethics.

Section 1: (Lecture: 2) Hedonism- (Lecture: 2) Materials from the

Psychological & Ethical Hedonism Book by: Solomon, Robert &
Unit 2: Teleological Ethics Higgins, Kathleen; The Big
Questions.

Section 2: Classical Utilitarianism: (Lecture: 3) Materials from the

(Lecture: 3 ) Jeremy Bentham & Book by: Tannsjo, Torbjorn;
John Stuart Mill Understanding Ethics: An
Introduction to Moral Theory.

Section 3: (Lecture: 4) (Lecture: 4) Materials from the

Contemporary Utilitarianism: Book by: Tannsjo, Torbjorn;
Reverse Utilitarianism, Understanding Ethics: An
Preference Utilitarianism, Act vs Introduction to Moral Theory.
Rule Utilitarianism.
Unit 3: Deontology (Lecture: 5) Kantian Deontology (Lecture: 5) Materials from the
Book by: Tannsjo, Torbjorn;
Understanding Ethics: An
Introduction to Moral Theory.

(Lecture: 6) Aristotelian Virtue (Lecture: 6) Materials from the

Unit 4: Virtue Ethics Ethics & its Similarity with the Book by: Tannsjo, Torbjorn;
Middle Path of Other Traditions. Understanding Ethics: An
Introduction to Moral Theory.

Unit 5: Meta Ethics (Lecture: 7) Moral Relativism & (Lecture: 7) Materials from the
Moral Absolutism Book by: Fiala, Andrew &
Mackinnon, Barbara; Ethics
Theory and Contemporary Issues.

Section 1: Business Ethics:

Unit 6: Applied Ethics  (Lecture: 8) Corporate (Lecture: 8) Materials from the

Social Responsibility Book by: Hartman, Laura &
Desjardins, Joe; Business Ethics
Decision Making for Personal
Integrity & Social Responsibility.
  (Lecture: 9) Whistle (Lecture: 9) Materials from the
Blowing Book by: Boatright, John & Patra,
Bibhu; Ethics and the Conduct of
Business.

 (Lecture: 10) Affirmative (Lecture: 10) Materials from the

Action Book by: Velasquez, Manuel;
Business Ethics Concepts and
Cases.

Section 2: Medical Ethics:

 (Lecture: 11) Abortion (Lecture: 11 & 12) Materials from

the Book by: Singer, Peter;
 (Lecture: 12) Euthanasia Practical Ethics.

--------------Midterm---------------

Section 3: Legal Ethics:

(Lecture: 13) Theories of (Lecture: 13) Materials from the

Punishment: Deterrent, Research paper by: Karim, Md.
Reformative & Retributive. Ezazul; Comparative Analysis
among the Theories of
Punishment.

Section 4: (Lecture: 14) (Lecture: 14) Materials from the

Environmental Ethics Book by: Tannsjo, Torbjorn;
Understanding Ethics: An
Introduction to Moral Theory.

Section 5: (Lecture: 15 & 16) (Lecture: 15 & 16) Materials from

Morality and Terrorism; & the book by: Stephen Nathanson;
Media’s Interpretation. Terrorism and the Ethics of War.
 Section 6: (Lecture: 17) (Lecture: 17) Materials from the
Autonomy book by: Haque, Nayeema;
Applied Philosophy: A New
Horizon of Thought.

Section 7: (Lecture: 18) (Lecture: 18) Materials from the

Responsibility Towards Parents: Book by: Mou, Bo; History of
Confucius & Mohist Approach. Chinese Philosophy.

Section 8: (Lecture: 19) Political

Succession: Tradition (Confucius) (Lecture: 19) Materials from the
vs. Merit (Mohist) a Chinese Book by: Mou, Bo; History of
Philosophical Approach. Chinese Philosophy.

Unit 7: Justice Section 1: Interpretation of

Justice:

 (Lecture: 20) Plato &

Aristotle on Justice.

 (Lecture: 21)
Machiavellian View on
Justice. (Lecture: 20, 21, 22 & 23)
Personal Materials will be
Provided to the Class.
 (Lecture: 22) John Rawls
on Justice.

 (Lecture: 23) Islamic View

on Justice.
 Final Exam as Scheduled by the
University

 Statement on Class Environment:

As we are educated human beings, we must develop respecting others and others' opinions. We
must respect other people's viewpoints. We may disagree with others, but we must give them
the scope to express themselves. Because of that reason, it will be highly appreciated if everyone
maintains a friendly attitude regarding others and other views. We must agree to disagree in a
cultured manner. If there is anything that bothers others, they should express it in a polite and
gentle manner so that others can actually understand where they are coming from. In case there
is an internal issue in the class or even any special need for anyone, the student can at once
inform the instructor of the course.

 Statement on Plagiarism:

Education should be an experience that has a touch of novelty in it. As the students are expected
to have a good sense of academic integrity because of that reason, plagiarism will not be allowed.
If a student plagiarizes, they might have to retake the exam or the course or even get expelled.