THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN ONTARIO

LONDON CANADA

DEPARTMENT OF PHILOSOPHY 2001-2002 COURSE OUTLINE

Philosophy 461F (001)

Instructor: Professor T. Isaacs, TC 321, 661-2111, ext. 85747

E-mail: tisaacs@julian.uwo.ca

Classes: Tuesdays 9 a.m. to noon, TC340

Office hours: Mondays 11-noon, Wednesdays 2-3, and by appointment.

Please read and follow the list of Department of Philosophy procedures on this outline. Students are responsible for being aware of and following these procedures.

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COURSE DESCRIPTION

An examination of the issues surrounding the possiblity of moral responsibility, the nature of and justification of punishment especially in terms of its relationship to human agency and moral responsibility. Though the focus of the course will be individuals, we’ll spend a little time on the issue of collective agency and the possibility of punishing collective agents.

Requirements:

(a) 5 critical commentaries on the week’s readings, 2-3 pages (20%). You may choose for which classes to prepare your commentaries. Commentaries are due at the end of the class for which they were prepared. Please have them ready in time for class, as we’ll use them as a basis for class discussion. You may not turn in a comment sheet for credit if you are absent from the relevant class;

AND EITHER

(b) 1 term paper, 15 pages, due December 4 (80%)

OR

(c) 1 short paper, 6-7 pages, due October 23 (30%) AND 1 longer paper, 9-10 pages, due December 4 (50%)

The penalty for late papers is 3 marks per day including each day of the weekend, for up to one week. After one week a grade of zero will automatically be assigned. Penalties may be waived with notification from your Dean’s office explaining that you have provided adequate documentation of a medical reason.

Required Readings:

A coursepack of readings, available from Inprint (lower level, UCC).