PHIL 160: EXPLORING ETHICS
University of Tennessee, Martin
6/1/2025
BASIC INFORMATION
Course Section: all on campus and online sections of PHIL 160 taught by James Fieser
Course Title: Exploring Ethics
Meeting Time and Place: online, asynchronous
Course Credit Hours: 3
Textbook: Moral Issues that Divide Us, by James Fieser
Posted online for free at storage.googleapis.com/jfieser/Index.html and on Canvas
Faculty Contact Information:
Dr. James Fieser
Office: Humanities 216A
Office Hours: MWF 1:00-2:00, and by appointment
E-Mail: jfieser@utm.edu (preferred method of contact)
COURSE INFORMATION
Course Content: (1) Ethical Theory, (2) Sex, (3) Drugs, (4) Censorship, (5) Abortion, (6) Euthanasia, (7) Capital Punishment, (8) War, (9) Animals, (10) The Environment.
Course Description (from UTM Catalog): A topical introduction to the main theories and problems in ethics, including utilitarian, Kantian, and virtue theories, and contemporary issues such as abortion, euthanasia, animal rights and environmental ethics.
Course Resources: all material for this course is available through the course Canvas page.
Humanities Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs): (1) Students will analyze major primary sources of the humanities. (2) Students will examine the diversity of human experience in various humanistic media. (3) Students will recognize the continuity and change within the human experience as understood in the humanities.
Course Communications: email will be the primary means of communication outside of class. I try to answer all email messages within a few hours. During the semester I will email a few short messages to the entire class.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND EXPECTATIONS
Course Assignments: Within each module, there are five types of assignments: (1) videos, (2) readings, (3) study questions, (4) discussion board comments, and (5) tests. Each of these is described below. Assignment due dates are posted on Canvas, and might change as the semester proceeds.
Videos: All lecture videos are linked within each Canvas module.
Readings: All the reading assignments for this course are posted online and on Canvas, free of charge, and most of it comes from book chapters that I have authored.
Study Questions: All the reading material in the course has accompanying study questions that appear at the bottom of each chapter, 21 questions per chapter in a given module. These must be submitted through Canvas.
Tests: All tests will be on Canvas, and there will be a test for each module consisting of 20 questions. The time limit for the tests is 15 minutes. The tests will be video monitored and require use of a suitable computer with a functioning webcam. All tests are open-book and open-note.
Attendance: For on campus sections, attendance is required and will be taken regularly. You are allowed ten discretionary absences, with no penalty. If you go over ten, I will only evaluate the legitimacy of excuses on finals day, so you need to save all your written excuses until that time; please do not show them to me until then. Students who miss class are expected to view the relevant lecture video posted on Canvas.
Attendance: For on campus sections, attendance is required and will be taken regularly. You are allowed six discretionary absences, with no penalty. If you go over six, I will only evaluate the legitimacy of excuses on finals day, so you need to save all your written excuses until that time; please do not show them to me until then. Students who miss class are expected to view the relevant lecture video posted on Canvas.
Ten Commandments of Classroom Conduct: (1) Do not come to class if you are ill; (2) Do not show up late for class; (3) Shut off and put away all electronic devices; (4) Do not sneak out of class after attendance; (5) Do not leave the room once class starts unless you tell me beforehand; (6) Do not chat with students around you; (7) Do not study material for a different class during this one; (8) Do not be disrespectful to me or other students in the room; (9) Do not pack your things until I tell you that class is over; (10) Do not cheat on exams and assignments, including use of AI; at any time during the semester, I may discuss your submitted assignments with you to verify your authorship.
Required Equipment: Access to a Windows or Apple computer with a webcam and microphone that can run the required test monitoring software (i.e., the Proctorio extension for the Chrome web browser).
Extra Credit and Lottery Scholarships: No extra credit will be available for this course; students on scholarships should take notice of this.
UNIVERSITY POLICIES
Academic Integrity: The University of Tennessee at Martin has chosen as its primary objective quality undergraduate education. Commitment to this objective must include an obligation by all members of the University community to promote and protect the highest standards of integrity in study, research, instruction and evaluation. Dishonesty or unethical behavior does not belong at an institution dedicated to the promotion of knowledge and learning. Integrity of the academic process requires fair and impartial evaluation by faculty and honest academic conduct by students. Specific integrity attributes can be found: www.utm.edu/departments/conduct/new_academic_integrity.php
Standard of Conduct: When persons enroll in The University of Tennessee at Martin, they retain the rights and duties of a citizen. Additionally, they must assume the duties and observe the regulations imposed by the University community. Specific conduct attributes can be found: www.utm.edu/departments/conduct/conduct.php
Disability Services: The University of Tennessee provides reasonable accommodations (academic adjustments and auxiliary aids) to ensure equal access to educational content and university programs for students with disabilities. Students who are eligible for and who request accommodations through the Disability Services office must provide instructors with a letter of accommodation. The Disability Services office is located in the Student Success Center, 203 Clement Hall, (731) 881-7605.
KEY CAMPUS RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS
Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog: Listing of academic programs, courses, and policies (www.utm.edu/catalog.php).
Important Dates: add/drop, payments (www.utm.edu/departments/registrar/registration.php).
Student Success Center: Academic support resources (www.utm.edu/departments/success/).
Student Health and Counseling Services: Mental and physical health services (www.utm.edu/departments/shcs/).
Library: Access to library resources, databases, course reserves, and services (www.utm.edu/library.php).
Help Desk: computer and technology assistance (731-881-7900, www.utm.edu/help)
Syllabus Subject to Change: The instructor reserves the right to revise, alter or amend this syllabus as necessary. Students will be notified in writing / email of any such changes.