ECTS - Introduction to Ethics

Atılım University - ECTS INFORMATION GUIDE

Introduction to Ethics (HUM322) Course Detail

Course Name Course Code Season Lecture Hours Application Hours Lab Hours Credit ECTS
Introduction to Ethics HUM322 General Elective 3 0 0 3 4
Pre-requisite Course(s)
N/A
Course Language English
Course Type Elective Courses
Course Level Bachelor’s Degree (First Cycle)
Mode of Delivery Face To Face
Learning and Teaching Strategies Lecture, Discussion, Question and Answer.
Course Coordinator
Course Lecturer(s)
  • Staff
Course Assistants
Course Objectives This course aims at introducing the central topics of ethics to the students, examining the works of the important philosophers in this field and showing the development of thinking on ethics.
Course Learning Outcomes The students who succeeded in this course;
  • The students who succeeded in this course; - Recognise the need for ethical thinking. - Analyse the pros and cons of a course of action. - Learn the different types of ethical principles, values and virtues. - Articulate philosophically an ethical judgment. - Learn the historical development of ethical thinking. - Detect the upsides and downsides of each type of ethical theory.
Course Content Analysing and discussing the central topics of ethics, such as egoism, eudaimonism, utilitarianism, the moral law and the ethics of self-determinism; also, examining the ethical thinking of Plato, Aristotle, Hume, Kant, Mill, Bentham and Sartre.

Weekly Subjects and Releated Preparation Studies

Week Subjects Preparation
1 (I. Introduction: What is Ethics?) The Problems of Ethics: An Example. Socrates and Thrasymachus. The Subject of Ethics. An Alternative Conception of Morality. An Introduction to Ethics, pp. 1-14. Routledge Companion to Ethics, pp. 31-40. Living Philosophy, pp. 19-45.
2 (I. Introduction: What is Ethics?, cont’d) Two Types of Ethical Theory. The Problem of Deontology. The Idea of a Moral Community. Ethical Theories and Moral Ideals. An Introduction to Ethics, pp. 14-24. Routledge Companion to Ethics, pp. 41-62. Living Philosophy, pp. 46-95.
3 (II. Egoism) The Wise Pursuit of Happiness. The Concept of Happiness. The Primary Argument for Egoism. Psychological Egoism. An Alternative Argument for Egoism. An Introduction to Ethics, pp. 25-39. Routledge Companion to Ethics, pp. 111-121. Living Philosophy, pp. 26-41.
4 (II. Egoism, cont’d) The Hobbesian Program. Troubles with the Hobbesian Program’s Derivations. Troubles with the Hobbesian Program’s Scope. Thrasymachus’ Challenge Again. An Introduction to Ethics, pp. 39-55. Routledge Companion to Ethics, pp. 88-98. Living Philosophy, pp. 27-29, 170-177.
5 (III. Eudaimonism) Egoism v. Eudaimonism. The Platonic Form of Eudaimonism. Perfectionist Objections to Hedonism. Epicurus’ Answer. Mill’s Defense of Hedonism. An Introduction to Ethics, pp. 56-70. Routledge Companion to Ethics, pp. 52-62. Living Philosophy, pp. 26-41.
6 (III. Eudaimonism, cont’d) Plato’s Ethics. Rationalism v. Naturalism. Aristotle’s Naturalism. A Problem in Aristotle’s Program. Prospects for Contemporary Eudaimonism. An Introduction to Ethics, pp. 71-92. Routledge Companion to Ethics, pp. 478-489. Living Philosophy, pp. 30-33, 227-236.
7 Midterm The questions prepared by the course instructor.
8 (IV. Utilitarianism) Impartiality. Two Problems. Consequentialism. Mill’s Restatement of Utilitarianism. An Introduction to Ethics, pp. 93-107. Routledge Companion to Ethics, pp. 144-155. Living Philosophy, pp. 118-127.
9 (IV. Utilitarianism, cont’d) An Inconsistency in Mill’s Restatement. Rule Utilitarianism. Act Utilitarianism Revisited. Is Act Utilitarianism Self-Refuting? When Act Utilitarianism Ceases to Be an Ethical Theory. An Introduction to Ethics, pp. 107-122. Routledge Companion to Ethics, pp. 181-191. Living Philosophy, pp. 127-136.
10 (V. The Moral Law) Two Theories of Moral Law. Divine Command Theory. Rational Intuitionism. Ethics and Mathematics. An Introduction to Ethics, pp. 123-140. Routledge Companion to Ethics, pp. 99-110. Living Philosophy, pp. 99-117.
11 (V. The Moral Law, cont’d) Kant’s Way. Formalism in Ethics. The Problem with Kant’s Formalism. An Introduction to Ethics, pp. 140-156. Routledge Companion to Ethics, pp. 156-167. Living Philosophy, pp. 63-95.
12 (VI. The Ethics of Self-Determination) Kant’s Step Into Metaphysics. The Formula of Humanity. Is the Formula of Humanity an Independent Principle? The Formula of Autonomy and the Kingdom of Ends. Answering the Charge of Excessive Formalism. An Introduction to Ethics, pp. 157-173. Routledge Companion to Ethics, pp. 456-466. Living Philosophy, pp. 99-117.
13 (VI. The Ethics of Self-Determination, cont’d) Rationalism Revisited. Personal Autonomy. Existentialist Ethics. The Excesses of Existentialism. Existentialist Ethics Pruned of Excess. An Introduction to Ethics, pp. 174-195. Routledge Companion to Ethics, pp. 230-240. Living Philosophy, pp. 137-160.
14 (VII. Practical Reason) Meta-Ethics. Meta-Ethical Disputes: An Illustration. Aristotle’s Answer and an Existentialist Response. Can There Be Motives That Aim at Doing Evil for Its Own Sake? The Obsolescence of Aristotle’s Answer. The Eliminability of Teleological Explanations. An Introduction to Ethics, pp. 196-216. Routledge Companion to Ethics, pp. 253-320. Living Philosophy, pp. 301-315.
15 (VII. Practical Reason, cont’d) Modern Skepticism about Practical Reason. Hume’s Meta-Ethics. Practical Reason in Modern Philosophy. Kant’s Notion of Practical Reason. Freedom and Reason. An Introduction to Ethics, pp. 216-232. Routledge Companion to Ethics, pp. 320-365. Living Philosophy, pp. 206-224.
16 Final Exam The questions prepared by the course instructor.

Sources

Course Book 1. John Deigh, An Introduction to Ethics [Etiğe Giriş], Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2010.
2. John Skorupski (ed.), Routledge Companion to Ethics [Routledge Etik El Kitabı], London: Routledge, 2010.
3. Ray Billington, Living Philosophy: An Introduction to Moral Thought [Yaşayan Felsefe: Ahlak Düşüncesine Bir Giriş], London: Routledge, 2003.

Evaluation System

Requirements Number Percentage of Grade
Attendance/Participation - -
Laboratory - -
Application - -
Field Work - -
Special Course Internship - -
Quizzes/Studio Critics - -
Homework Assignments - -
Presentation - -
Project - -
Report - -
Seminar - -
Midterms Exams/Midterms Jury 1 40
Final Exam/Final Jury 1 60
Toplam 2 100
Percentage of Semester Work
Percentage of Final Work 100
Total 100

Course Category

Core Courses X
Major Area Courses
Supportive Courses
Media and Managment Skills Courses
Transferable Skill Courses

The Relation Between Course Learning Competencies and Program Qualifications

# Program Qualifications / Competencies Level of Contribution
1 2 3 4 5
1 Adequate knowledge in mathematics, science and subjects specific to the computer engineering discipline; the ability to apply theoretical and practical knowledge of these areas to complex engineering problems.
2 The ability to identify, define, formulate and solve complex engineering problems; selecting and applying proper analysis and modeling techniques for this purpose.
3 The ability to design a complex system, process, device or product under realistic constraints and conditions to meet specific requirements; the ability to apply modern design methods for this purpose.
4 The ability to develop, select and utilize modern techniques and tools essential for the analysis and determination of complex problems in computer engineering applications; the ability to utilize information technologies effectively.
5 The ability to design experiments, conduct experiments, gather data, analyze and interpret results for the investigation of complex engineering problems or research topics specific to the computer engineering discipline.
6 The ability to work effectively in inter/inner disciplinary teams; ability to work individually
7 Effective oral and writen communication skills in Turkish; the ability to write effective reports and comprehend written reports, to prepare design and production reports, to make effective presentations, to give and to receive clear and understandable instructions.
8 The knowledge of at least one foreign language; the ability to write effective reports and comprehend written reports, to prepare design and production reports, to make effective presentations, to give and to receive clear and understandable instructions.
9 Recognition of the need for lifelong learning; the ability to access information, to follow recent developments in science and technology.
10 The ability to behave according to ethical principles, awareness of professional and ethical responsibility; X
11 Knowledge of the standards utilized in software engineering applications
12 Knowledge on business practices such as project management, risk management and change management;
13 Awareness about entrepreneurship, innovation
14 Knowledge on sustainable development
15 Knowledge on the effects of computer engineering applications on the universal and social dimensions of health, environment and safety;
16 Awareness of the legal consequences of engineering solutions
17 An ability to describe, analyze and design digital computing and representation systems.
18 An ability to use appropriate computer engineering concepts and programming languages in solving computing problems.

ECTS/Workload Table

Activities Number Duration (Hours) Total Workload
Course Hours (Including Exam Week: 16 x Total Hours) 16 3 48
Laboratory
Application
Special Course Internship
Field Work
Study Hours Out of Class 14 3 42
Presentation/Seminar Prepration
Project
Report
Homework Assignments
Quizzes/Studio Critics
Prepration of Midterm Exams/Midterm Jury 1 4 4
Prepration of Final Exams/Final Jury 1 6 6
Total Workload 100