PHIL 2525 Contemporary Moral Issues Lecture 1

PHIL 2525Contemporary Moral IssuesLecture 1 Lec 1

Philosophy • PHIL is both a study and a practice • PHIL means the ‘love of wisdom’ • Wisdom is as wisdom does • The purpose of wisdom? • Nietzsche, Clint Eastwood, Woody Allen, Eric Hoffer, Hume, Socrates, Epictetus, Henry Miller • http://fog.ccsf.cc.ca.us/~bgeis/philo/philosophy.html

The Biggest Question…. • Does it matter how I live my life?

Canadian War MuseumWhat is a museum for?Who is a museum for?

Dresden Feb. 1945

Canadian War MuseumWhat is a museum for?Who is a museum for?

Reading and writing in philosophy • Thinking and reading and thinking about the issue • From first intimations to second thoughts • Refining the claim • Supporting the claim • Putting it together and checking it twice

Marking scheme & Textbook • Written Work 40 • Attendance 10 • Participation 10 • Midterm 10 • Final Exam 30

The Walrus and the CarpenterTenniel’s drawing The sun was shining on the sea,Shining with all his might:He did his very best to makeThe billows smooth and bright--And this was odd, because it wasThe middle of the night. The moon was shining sulkily,Because she thought the sunHad got no business to be thereAfter the day was done--"It's very rude of him," she said,"To come and spoil the fun!"

The sea was wet as wet could be,The sands were dry as dry.You could not see a cloud, becauseNo cloud was in the sky:No birds were flying overhead--There were no birds to fly. • The Walrus and the CarpenterWere walking close at hand;They wept like anything to seeSuch quantities of sand:"If this were only cleared away,"They said, "it would be grand!"

"If seven maids with seven mopsSwept it for half a year.Do you suppose," the Walrus said,"That they could get it clear?""I doubt it," said the Carpenter,And shed a bitter tear. • "O Oysters, come and walk with us!"The Walrus did beseech."A pleasant walk, a pleasant talk,Along the briny beach:We cannot do with more than four,To give a hand to each."

The eldest Oyster looked at him,But never a word he said:The eldest Oyster winked his eye,And shook his heavy head--Meaning to say he did not chooseTo leave the oyster-bed. • But four young Oysters hurried up,All eager for the treat:Their coats were brushed, their faces washed,Their shoes were clean and neat--And this was odd, because, you know,They hadn't any feet.

Four other Oysters followed them,And yet another four;And thick and fast they came at last,And more, and more, and more--All hopping through the frothy waves,And scrambling to the shore.

The Walrus and the CarpenterWalked on a mile or so,And then they rested on a rockConveniently low:And all the little Oysters stoodAnd waited in a row. • "The time has come," the Walrus said,"To talk of many things:Of shoes--and ships--and sealing-wax--Of cabbages--and kings--And why the sea is boiling hot--And whether pigs have wings."

But wait a bit," the Oysters cried,"Before we have our chat;For some of us are out of breath,And all of us are fat!""No hurry!" said the Carpenter.They thanked him much for that. • "A loaf of bread," the Walrus said,"Is what we chiefly need:Pepper and vinegar besidesAre very good indeed--Now if you're ready, Oysters dear,We can begin to feed."

"But not on us!" the Oysters cried,Turning a little blue."After such kindness, that would beA dismal thing to do!""The night is fine," the Walrus said."Do you admire the view? • "It was so kind of you to come!And you are very nice!"The Carpenter said nothing but"Cut us another slice:I wish you were not quite so deaf--I've had to ask you twice!"

"It seems a shame," the Walrus said,"To play them such a trick,After we've brought them out so far,And made them trot so quick!"The Carpenter said nothing but"The butter's spread too thick!“ • "I weep for you," the Walrus said:"I deeply sympathize."With sobs and tears he sorted outThose of the largest size,Holding his pocket-handkerchiefBefore his streaming eyes.

"O Oysters," said the Carpenter,"You've had a pleasant run!Shall we be trotting home again?'But answer came there none--And this was scarcely odd, becauseThey'd eaten every one.

The Walrus and the CarpenterTenniel’s drawing Why did I choose this poem? What can the story teach us? Layers of reading…surface, analogy, metaphor, parable

The Walrus and the CarpenterTenniel’s drawing Species specific arrogance Animal Rights Political interpretations Religious interpretations

Theories about… • human happiness • human obligations • human rights • human sociability • human governance • Etc. • Stoicism • Epicureanism • Utilitarianism • Egoism • Etc.

Some philosophers who addressed these questions: • Socrates • Plato • Aristotle • Hobbes • Kant • Mill • etc.

We will practice… asking good questions thinking beyond the first easy answers supporting our conclusions judging the reasons offered in support of other viewpoints changing our minds when the other side has better reasons

Philosophy in the News:U of T bans bottled water Sept. 11, 2011 Social justice group helps campuses with gradual phase-out A day is coming where there will be no plastic water bottles on campus. This coming year food services departments, campus cafes, libraries, and other buildings will be phasing out the use and sale of plastic water bottles. http://thevarsity.ca/articles/47145

Philosophy in the News:U of T bans bottled water “Water is a public resource and basic human right,” said Ando Petro, member of PWI {student organization called Public Water Initiative}. “So when you are making it okay for people to pay for water like you do with bottled water, then you are commodifying this public resource and basic human right and that makes it okay to say that only those who can afford it can have access to water.”

Ethics in the news…“Too good to play?” • “Nine-year-old Jericho Scott has been banned from pitching in a New Haven, Conn. youth baseball league because he throws so hard that he frightens the other players, according to league officials.”

Ethics in the news…“Too good to play?” • What are the ethical questions here? • What rights are the two sides defending? • Is there some middle ground?

Art or Child Abuse?Olympia Nelson taken by her mother 2003Beatrice Hatch taken by Lewis Carroll 1873

Evelyn Hatch taken by Lewis Carroll

Other 19th C. artistic photography • Taken by Julia Margaret Cameron, British photographer • Does it make a difference that a woman took the picture? Does it matter who the child is?

Cheaters do prosper, but... • ....in Canada, of 20,000 first-year students at 11 post-secondary schools, 53 per cent admitted to plagiarism... • 73 per cent said they had cheated in high school...

Dear Prudence, I have done something so vile that I can't stand to look at myself in the mirror. I have a younger sister who is stunningly beautiful, while I'm rather plain by comparison. Growing up, my boyfriends all lost interest in me once they set eyes on her. When I was dating the man who is now my husband, I was afraid that the same thing would happen. As a preventative measure, before he even met her, I told him that she slept around a lot and as a consequence had contracted HIV. Needless to say, he never showed any interest in her. Several years and two kids later, my husband is always asking about her health. She's even asked me why my husband always seems so concerned about how she's doing. He's the sensitive type, and I know that he worries about her. I want to come clean, but how can I explain such a horrible lie? —Sister Is Healthy As a Horse

Dear Sister, Shades of Rachel and Leah crossed with the daughters of King Lear. I understand your self-loathing because not only is your original lie chilling, but you have let this tale fester for so long. It's a miracle you weren't found out by your husband expressing his concern to other family members. However, the good news is that you recognize how sad and ugly your actions were, and you want to make amends. Although your sister was the subject of your lie, your husband is the object of your deceit. Go someplace private and tell your husband there is a part of your life that you never fully discussed with him. Say that when you were growing up, your sister's beauty was a kind of torture for you.

Whenever a boy showed any interest in you, as soon as he gazed upon her, he couldn't even remember your name. Explain that you know jealousy is a terrible, destructive emotion and you hate how you let it scar your youth. Then say that when you met him, you were so immediately happy with him that you were tormented by the thought that he might be attracted to your sister. (By this point, he should be starting to get your drift.) Confess that you told the terrible lie about her being HIV-positive just so it wouldn't happen. Add that what you did is not a comment on his character but on your insecurity. Say your sister is in perfect health, but your lie has made you sick at heart, and all you can do is beg his forgiveness. —Prudie http://www.slate.com/id/2224925?obref=obinsite

PHIL 2525 Contemporary Moral Issues Lecture 1