GE 106: Ethics
This course will study principles in ethics by surveying the philosophers: Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. Many of the questions relevant today were addressed by these three individuals who initiated a revolution in thought altering the course of Western Civilization and laying the groundwork for future discoveries in science, politics, psychology, and philosophy. Students will: explore their methods for teaching critical thinking skills; value open dialogue with others; and appreciate the impact ethical decisions will have on their personal and professional lives.
- Appreciate the Socratic method as a tool for critical thinking & engaging in dialogue with others
- Demonstrate familiarity with major ideas in ethics stemming from the western philosophical tradition
- Embrace virtue ethics by understanding a positive vision of human behavior which expands a person's range of choices
- Recognize the conflict between morality, self-interest and the dynamic between religion and ethical norm
General Education Objectives: When the course is completed:
• Students will be able to develop new ideas for something that already exists
• Students will be able to research accurately
• Students will be able to openly consider alternative points of view
• Students will be able to make ethical decisions.
Lectures (TBD), Videos, Required reading selections from an e-book(to be provided), Group Discussions
The entire course is accessible on the Canvas Learning Management System (LMS) and is designed to allow you to move through each Module at a reasonable pace. Each Module has theme-related questions which will direct the discussion for that week.
Communication: Email through Canvas is the preferred and best method of communication. If you are having any issues with that system, you may contact me at the email address above. Usually, I will respond to all messages within 24 hours and if you contact me on Friday or over the weekend, I will respond on Monday. You may also schedule a meeting with me; see “Office Hours” in the “Course Information” section for further details.
Incomplete Policy: Students will not be given an incomplete grade in the course without sound reason and documented evidence as described in the Student Handbook. In any case, for a student to receive an incomplete, he or she must be passing the course.
Instructor Requirements: Keeping up with the assigned readings, answering the Knowledge & Progress check questions, completing all quizzes, watching all videos along with participation in the Discussion Board, and submission of the final paper are required for students to be successful.
Student Evalua
|
Final Paper |
300 points |
|
Participation in the Weekly Discussion Board |
200 points |
|
Knowledge/Progress Checks |
110 points |
|
Two Quizzes |
100 points |
|
Total Points Possible |
710 points |
tion:
Grading Scales
A = 90% - 100%
B = 80% - 89%
C = 70% - 79%
D = 60% - 69%
F = below 60%
(tentative and subject to change)
Week |
Subject Matter |
Assignment |
|
One |
Course Introduction Thinking Philosophically; Impact of Socrates and Plato |
Read Intro and Begin Apology, Sections 1 & 2
|
|
Two |
Critical Thinking 101 |
Finish Apology Sections 1 & 2 |
|
Three |
The Value of Rational Discourse Quiz #1 |
Apology Sections 3 & 4 |
|
Four |
Relation of Justice/Injustice to Ethics |
The Republic Books 1 & 2, selected sections |
|
Five |
Emotions and Ethics |
The Republic Book 4 selected sections |
|
Six |
True vs. False in The Allegory of the Cave Final Paper Topic Assigned; FYI: the HJC Writing Lab is a very useful resource |
The Republic Book 7, selected sections |
|
Seven |
How Ethics Impacts Society? Quiz #2 |
The Republic Book 9, selected sections |
|
Eight
|
Thinking and Acting with a Purpose |
Nicomachean Ethics selected passages |
|
Nine |
The Habit of Virtue |
Nicomachean Ethics selected passages |
|
Ten
|
Ethics and Friendship Final Paper due last week of class |
Nicomachean Ethics selected passages |
|
*Eleven |
Ethical Choices & Happiness *Extra credit for 10-week quarters |
Nicomachean Ethics selected passages |
Emails will be responded to no later than 48 hours or by the end of business on Monday for mail received over the weekend.
Academic Honesty Policy
The college has a firm policy against academic dishonesty, including cheating or plagiarism. Students guilty of academic dishonesty will be administratively dropped from the course with a grade of ‘F’ and subject to disciplinary action, which may include suspension and dismissal.
Please refer to the Academic Honesty Policy for detailed information.
Late Assignment Policy
Meeting deadlines, being dependable, and applying appropriate time management are all foundational elements of professional behavior. These same attributes are also required while participating in college courses because the skills, knowledge, and student learning outcomes must be obtained in a specific order and within a certain amount of time.
We at HJC understand that sometimes students encounter circumstances that make it difficult to always meet the required course deadlines. This Late Work Policy is in place to accommodate that. In all circumstances, whenever possible, contact your instructor when you anticipate that you will be submitting work late.
The deadlines for most courses typically follow the pattern below, but it is your responsibility to confirm this and be aware if there are any assignments that may have different deadlines for one reason or another.
The first post in each Discussion Board is usually due on the Wednesday night of each module/week.
Most other assignments are due by 11:59 pm on Sunday evening of each module/week.
- All assignments must be submitted by the required due date.
- Missing assignments due to absence must be submitted within 1 week of return.
- Late submissions of assignments will result in a reduction of 10% of the total points possible per day (e.g., 1 day late = -10%, 2 days late = 20%, etc.) up to one week. Anything over 1 week late will result in a grade of 0.
- To receive full credit for late work, students must provide documentation for an excused absence, or it will be subject to the same treatment as any other late work. Documentation examples include court documents, hospitalization, etc.
Instructors may also choose to deduct less points at their discretion.
If for some reason a student temporarily loses the ability to connect to Canvas due to technical issues it is the student’s obligation to submit assignments by the original due dates. Temporary remedies can be connecting via a public WiFi spot, using school facilities to connect, or use of private networks through friends and family.
In extreme cases, when none of these solutions are available, the student may contact their instructors through other means and ask permission to submit their work directly, in a method that can be received by the instructor. Under no circumstances can methods of delivery outside of Canvas be used without explicit instructor permission. (If this ever happens the instructor should somehow note it).
Minimum Technology Requirements
Having access to a reliable desktop or laptop is required for HJC online courses. This requirement ensures students have the essential technologies to complete online courses successfully. Mobile devices, such as mobile phones and tablets may be utilized as additional tools to assist with completing online courses.
Online video conferences and calls are often the best way for instructors to assist students in many situations. A web camera and microphone are necessary for successful online conferences.
Safari and Chrome: Office 365 is designed to work with the current version of the Safari and Chrome browsers. Microsoft Edge: Office 365 is designed to work with the latest version of the Microsoft Edge browser.
Internet Explorer: Office 365 is designed to work with Internet Explorer 11. We recommend that you upgrade to Internet Explorer 11 if you are using an earlier version. Office might continue to work with versions of Internet Explorer other than Internet Explorer 11, but Office can’t provide any guarantees.
Firefox: Most Office 365 apps are designed to work with the current version of Firefox.
Some courses may have additional technology requirements beyond those listed here. Additional requirements will be listed in your Canvas course room.
Basic Office 365 apps are free and available to students with their HJC Outlook account. For additional questions and help with the required technologies, please contact help@hjc.edu
Minimum Technical Skills Requirements
To complete online courses successfully, you must be able to perform the following basic technical skills before starting the class
- Use the learning management system, Canvas
- Use HJC email with attachments
- Download, save, and upload files in Canvas
For additional questions regarding the required technologies, please contact help@hjc.edu
Technology Support
To be a successful online learner, certain technologies are necessary. Please keep in mind that certain classes may have additional technical requirements. You should be able to find additional technical requirements in your syllabus or your canvas course room. If you have any questions about the technology requirement, please do not hesitate to reach out to us at 304-697-7550 or support@hjc.edu
Accessibility Information
Huntington Junior College is committed to full compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. For additional information, please access accessibility policy. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us at 304-697-7550 or pjustice@hjc.edu if you have any additional questions.
Copyright Policy
As an institution of higher education, Huntington Junior College strongly believes in intellectual property. As such, Huntington Junior College respects intellectual property and has made it a priority to ensure all employees and students respect the copyrights of others. If you have any questions about our copyright policy, please access the copyright policy.
Privacy Policy
The college understands the importance of protecting your information and privacy. Our Privacy Policy provides additional information on the Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act.
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Other Student Success Services
Please access Student Success page for other student success services information, such as financial aid, lab hours, parking, library, transcripts, and career services on the college
If you need to speak with a person regarding any college policies and guidelines, please don't hesitate to get in touch with the college at 304-697-7550
This information is standard for each course but specifics may vary based on the delivery method of the course you are taking. Please follow the information provided by your instructor.
This syllabus is subject to change.