Tanauan Institute

Tanauan Batangas

Course Syllabus
Ethics.

WEEK 1
I. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES:
To state the significance of moral problem in philosophical thought; to review
historical developments in Ethics as a philosophical discipline; to define some basic terms in
Ethics

II. TOPICS/SUBJECT MATTER:

LESSON 1: ETHICS: AN INTRODUCTION
The Significance of moral problem in philosophical thought; A ‘Review of Related
Literature’; Definition of some terms in Ethics

III. READING/S:
Internet article: “Ethics 101: A primer”
site: www.OurHappySchool.com (the article can be found by searching its title through
the site’s own search engine)

IV. SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES:

A. Discussion of the prescribed reading (“Ethics 101: A Primer”); Instructing the students to
answer any or all of the 'Guide Questions' in the online reading.

B. Assignment for next topic: Read in the site the lecture for next topic (“What moral
theory…”); In the comment section below the lecture, answer Guide Question # 2 (2-3
sentences only; to be checked by the Prof./Asst. Monitor); Bring a printed copy of the
lecture in class.

V. EVALUATION: Automated Online Fun Quiz Games:

Ethics A Primer: A Fun Quiz Game
»
Ethics General Subject Areas: A Fun Quiz Game

WEEK -2
I. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES:
To give guidelines on how to choose a moral theory to follow; to enumerate some
facts about morality; to identify some characteristics of a good moral theory

II. TOPICS/SUBJECT MATTER:

LESSON 2: GUIDELINES in CHOOSING a GOOD MORAL THEORY
The (6) Features of morality; The (7) Characteristics of a good moral theory

III. READING/S:
“What moral theory are you following?”
 site: www.OurHappySchool.com (the article can be found by searching its title through
the site’s own search engine)

IV. SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES:

A. Review of the last topic; Discussion of the prescribed reading (“What moral
theory…”)
B. Assignment for next topic: Read in the site the reading for Lesson 3; In the comment
section below the lecture, state why the lecture is important (2-3 sentences; to be
checked by the Prof./Asst. Monitor/President of the class)

WEEK 3
I. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES:
To enumerate the secularists’ various explanations on undeniable facts about
morality; to identify the flaws of secularists’ explanations; to comparatively assess
the theists’ explanation on moral obligation’s binding force

II. TOPICS/SUBJECT MATTER:

LESSON 3: ANALYSIS OF SECULARISTS’ EXPLANATIONS ON SOME ETHICAL FACTS
1. ‘Sense of moral obligation is just the effect of social conditioning’;
2. Moral Law as Herd instinct; 3. Moral Law is just a Social convention; 4. “What men
actually do”; 5. “The behavior that happens to be useful or that pays”; The theists’
explanation on moral obligation’s binding force.

III. READING/S:
“Secularists’ explanations on some ethical facts”
site: www.OurHappySchool.com (the article can be found by searching its title
through the site’s own search engine)

IV. SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES:

A. Recap of the last topic; Discussion of the prescribed reading (“Secularists’
explanations…”)

B. Assignment for next topic: Read in the site the reading for next lesson; In the
comment section below the lecture, answer Guide Question #2 (2-3 sentences; to be
checked by the Prof./Asst. Monitor); Bring a printed copy of the lecture in class.

WEEK 4
I. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES:
To define (cultural) relativism in Ethics; to enumerate the consequences of
taking Cultural Relativism seriously; to identify the flaws of the theory; to identify
what one can learn from the theory; to name a culture-neutral standard of right and
wrong

II. TOPICS/SUBJECT MATTER:

LESSON 4: THE CULTURAL RELATIVISM IN ETHICS
The Cultural Differences Argument; The Consequences of Taking Cultural
Relativism Seriously; Why There is Less Disagreement in Ethics Than It Seems; How
All Cultures Have Some Values in Common; What Can Be Learned from Cultural
Relativism; A Culture-Neutral Standard of Right and Wrong; Why Thoughtful People
May Be Reluctant to Criticize Other Cultures; Judging a Cultural Practice to Be
Undesirable

III. READING/S:
“Cultural Relativism: A challenge in Ethics”
site: www.OurHappySchool.com (the article can be found by searching its title
through the site’s own search engine)

IV. ACTIVITIES:
A. Recap of the last topic; Discussion of the prescribed reading (“Cultural Relativism
…”)

B. Assignment for next topic: Read in the site the reading for next lesson; In the
comment section below the lecture, answer Guide Question #3 (2-3 sentences; to be
checked by the Prof./Asst. Monitor); Bring a printed copy of the lecture in class.

WEEK 5

I. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES:
To define Subjectivism & Emotivism in Ethics; to enumerate the consequences
of taking Subjectivism seriously; to identify the importance of reason in Ethics; to
name some ‘moral facts’ & ‘proofs’ in Ethics

II. TOPICS/SUBJECT MATTER:

LESSON 5: THE SUBJECTIVISM IN ETHICS
Simple Subjectivism; Emotivism; Emotivism, Reason, and “Moral Facts”; The
importance of reason in Ethics; Proofs in Ethics

III. READING/S:
“Subjectivism: Another Challenge in Ethics”
site: www.OurHappySchool.com (the article can be found by searching its title
through the site’s own search engine)

IV. ACTIVITIES:
A. Discussion of the prescribed reading (“Subjectivism …”)
B. Review for Midterm Exam

C. Assignment for next topic: Read in the site the reading for next Lesson; In the
comment section below the lecture, answer any of the Guide Questions (2-3
sentences; to be checked by the Prof./Asst. Monitor); Bring a printed copy of the
lecture in class.
 Semis Coverage

WEEK 6
I. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES:
To enumerate the various moral foundations put forward by non-theists; to
identify the flaws and disadvantages in explaining morality using these moral
foundations

II. TOPICS/SUBJECT MATTER:

LESSON 6: ANALYSIS OF NON-THEISTS’ MORAL FOUNDATIONS
1. Convention, human experience, human need & human reason; 2.
Utilitarianism; 3. Deontological Theory; 4. Culture: Morals are mores; 5. Right is
Moderation; 6. Right is what brings pleasure; 7. Right is what is desirable for its own
sake; 8. Right is indefinable

III. READING/S:
“Non-theists’ moral foundations: An analysis”
site: www.OurHappySchool.com (the article can be found by searching its title
through the site’s own search engine)

IV. ACTIVITIES:
A. Recap of the previous lessons; Discussion of the prescribed reading (“Non-theists’
moral foundations…”)

B. Assignment for next topic: Read in the site the reading for next Lesson; In the
comment section below the lecture, state why the lecture is important (2-3
sentences); Bring a printed copy of the lecture in class

V. EVALUATION:(Professor’s discretion)

WEEK 7
I. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES:
To prove the superficiality of the alleged richness’ of life in atheistic-
naturalistic-materialistic worldview; to identify the ironies and inconsistencies in
upholding this worldview; to prove its inability to account for moral obligation; to
show its inability to explain the case of compassionate tear and virtues like self-
sacrifice

II. TOPICS/SUBJECT MATTER:

LESSON 7: ANALYSIS OF ATHEISTIC-NATURALISTIC-MATERIALISTIC WORLDVIEW AS
AN ETHICAL FOUNDATION
The superficiality of the alleged richness’ of life in atheistic-naturalistic-
materialistic worldview; The ironies and inconsistencies in upholding this worldview;
The ‘leaps of faith’ in atheism; Inability to truly account for morality; The case of
‘compassionate tear’ and self-sacrifice in atheism

III. READING/S:
“Atheistic-naturalistic-materialistic worldview: tenable?”
site: www.OurHappySchool.com (the article can be found by searching its title
through the site’s own search engine)

IV. ACTIVITIES:
A. Recap of the previous lessons; Discussion of the prescribed reading (“Atheistic-
naturalistic-materialistic…”)

B. Assignment for next topic: Read in the site the reading for the next Lesson; In the
comment section below the lecture, answer Guide Question #3 (2-3 sentences; to be
checked by the Prof./Asst. Monitor); Bring a printed copy of the lecture in class.

V. EVALUATION: (Professor’s discretion)

WEEK 8
I. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES:
To prove the Darwinist-evolutionist worldview’s inability to satisfactorily
explain the origin of human life; to identify the flaws of Evolution’s implicit
reasoning; to prove Darwinism’s inability to account for morality

II. TOPICS/SUBJECT MATTER:

LESSON 8: ANALYSIS OF DARWINIST-EVOLUTIONIST WORLDVIEW AS A BASIS IN
MORALITY
Inability to explain the origin of life; The flaws of Evolution’s implicit reasoning;
‘Against common sense’; ‘Darwinism can not account for Morality’

III. READING/S:
“Darwinist-evolutionist worldview: some defects”
site: www.OurHappySchool.com (the article can be found by searching its title
through the site’s own search engine)

IV. ACTIVITIES:
A. Discussion of the prescribed reading (“Darwinist-evolutionist…”)

B. Assignment for next topic: Read in the site the reading for the next Lesson; In the
comment section below the lecture, answer Guide Question #2 (2-3 sentences; to be
checked by the Prof./Asst. Monitor); Bring a printed copy of the lecture in class.

V. EVALUATION: (Professor’s discretion)