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MIAMI
DADE COMMUNITY COLLEGE CRITICAL
THINKING/ETHICS 3
CREDITS Reference #: 079731 Time:
Tuesday and Thursday, 11:15am – 12:30 p.m., Room 1390
Instructor: Mark Neunder Office: 1370 Semester/Year: Spring 2000-2 Phone: 305-237-6265 Office Hours: As posted E-mail: mneunder@mdcc.edu Course Description: This course is intended to develop skills in critical thinking by examining various topics in professional ethics and the principles of critical thinking. Students will study methods of effective reasoning, reflect critically upon their own values and ethical standards, develop a philosophical understanding of the nature of work, and formulate a professional code of conduct. Course Mechanics: Class time will be spent discussing the topic material designated for that day by the lesson plan. The discussion will be directed toward clarifying the major issues of the subject matter and will presume that the student has already read the assigned material. It is imperative that students be prepared for each class discussion not only to get the most out of the class but also to contribute their own insights and criticisms and thereby demonstrate their depth of comprehension and critical capacities. Purpose: The purpose of this course is to introduce the student to both the methods of critical thinking and of business ethics as well as the fundamental theories of ethics. Students need to understand the basic techniques of critical reasoning and of ethical deliberation. How does this course advance/fit the College mission? Because this is a course in philosophy, it necessarily requires that students become acquainted with the perennial questions of ethics that have been treated in the history of Western culture. Beyond that, students will learn to sharpen their observational skills, analytic as well as synthetic thinking, and writing abilities and communication skills. It is precisely this kind of breadth of knowledge and intellectual maturity that is expected of college graduates. Writing Across the Curriculum Component: Students will be required to write regular essay quizzes commenting on philosophical issues raised in the readings. These essays will involve close readings of the text as well as critical reflection upon them. Skills Component: As with any philosophy class, there will be heavy emphasis on clear articulation skills, the ability to reason and justify one’s own assertions, and to see the implications and ramifications of theoretical positions. Developing these skills will be a major focus of the course and, indeed, will be necessary for passing the course. Objectives: It is the objective of this course to acquaint the student with ethics by giving them a deeper appreciation of social controversies. It is also an objective to develop the student’s critical thinking skills so as to evaluate claims made in business, politics, ethics, and other cultural issues. More generally, it is the aim of this course to familiarize students with the discipline of philosophy, its ubiquitous presence in all areas of reflective human experience and the value of the examined life. Finally, it is the aim of this class to equip students with the tools necessary to make informed and intelligent judgments. Students will need to hone their skills as both analytic and synthetic reasoners as well as their observation and communication skills. This course will involve experiencing, thinking, talking and ultimately writing about philosophical issues. Learning Methods: The course will be primarily lecture and discussion in format. Students will learn reasoning skills in debates with the instructor. They will learn close reading skills through essay quizzes on the readings. Students will be tested on comprehension of lecture material on the exams. Lastly, they will exercise their own philosophical and reasoning skills in all these modes. Course
Competencies:
Students will demonstrate an understanding of the principles of
critical thinking by:
1.
Defining key vocabulary terms such as argument, conclusion,
premise, deduction, induction, deductive validity, inductive strength,
soundness, and fallacy. 2. Distinguishing between deductive and inductive reasoning. 3. Identifying basic patterns of valid and invalid deductive reasoning. 4. Applying various logical techniques to evaluate deductive arguments as valid or invalid. 5. Identifying basic patterns of strong and weak inductive reasoning. 6. Applying various logical techniques to evaluate arguments as sound or unsound. 7. Applying various logical techniques to evaluate inductive arguments as strong or weak. 8. Identifying examples of logical fallacies. 9. Applying problem solving and decision making strategies to problems that arise in the workplace. Students will
demonstrate an understanding of ethics by: 1. Defining key vocabulary terms such as ethical theory, rights, and ethical dilemma. 2. Comparing and contrasting the terms moral and ethical. 3. Articulating various traditional theories of ethical conduct (such as utilitarianism). 4. Systematizing their own values and ethical standards in the form of ethical conduct. 5. Describing different theoretical frameworks for resolving ethical dilemma. Students will demonstrate an understanding of the
principles of professional ethics by: 1. Applying insights from the study of ethics and the philosophy of work to develop a professional code of conduct. 2. Explaining the nature and purpose of work within the framework of different economic philosophies. 3. Articulating their own views concerning the nature and purpose of work. 4. Explaining different views on the ethics of work and working relationships in society. Students will apply critical thinking skills to
the study of professional ethics by: 1. Applying insights from the study of ethics and the philosophy of work to develop a professional code of conduct. 2. Identifying various ethical issues that arise in the workplace, such as age discrimination, affirmative action, sexual harassment, employee privacy, whistle blowing, and the balance of employer and employee rights. 3. Identifying different positions that one might adopt on these issues. 4. Applying logical techniques to evaluate the arguments for and against these positions. 5. Applying their own theories of ethical conduct of formulate positions on issues in professional ethics. 6. Applying logical techniques to support whatever positions they have adopted. 7. Resolving actual ethical dilemmas within different theoretical frameworks. COURSE
OUTLINE
Text: William H. Shaw and Vincent Barry. Moral Issues in Business 8th edition. Wadsworth Publishing Co., 2001. Back to
Syll
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