Philosophy 3711, General Ethics
22/01/08 22:38
Philosophy 3711, General Ethics
Students showed excellent grasp of the fundamental and distinct perspectives involved in applying major ethical theories
Students showed excellent grasp of the fundamental and distinct perspectives involved in applying major ethical theories
Philosophy 3711, General Ethics
Students showed excellent grasp of the fundamental and distinct perspectives involved in applying major ethical theories to questions of applied ethics, and demonstrated good use of ethical theories in their arguments. Their critical thinking skills showed marked improvement, particularly in their ability to structure longer arguments, avoid irrelevant reason fallacies, and avoid ad hominem fallacies. There was also some improvement in avoiding strawman fallacies when dealing with opposing arguments; however, that was the area showing least improvement (and very few students progressed all the way to the stage of employing a “principle of charity” in evaluating the arguments they opposed). Though I am almost inclined to regard this as a flaw in our species that is immune to correction, it will certainly be the focus of efforts to improve the course when it is taught this year; and assessing progress in that area will give some limited idea of the degree to which this problem is incorrigible when humans deal with positions and arguments they oppose.
Students showed excellent grasp of the fundamental and distinct perspectives involved in applying major ethical theories to questions of applied ethics, and demonstrated good use of ethical theories in their arguments. Their critical thinking skills showed marked improvement, particularly in their ability to structure longer arguments, avoid irrelevant reason fallacies, and avoid ad hominem fallacies. There was also some improvement in avoiding strawman fallacies when dealing with opposing arguments; however, that was the area showing least improvement (and very few students progressed all the way to the stage of employing a “principle of charity” in evaluating the arguments they opposed). Though I am almost inclined to regard this as a flaw in our species that is immune to correction, it will certainly be the focus of efforts to improve the course when it is taught this year; and assessing progress in that area will give some limited idea of the degree to which this problem is incorrigible when humans deal with positions and arguments they oppose.
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