hey everyone, test

here is us in class blogging right now and losing our confusion

Class assigments

For everyone's reference, whenever you are confused about what the homework assignment is for any class, just check on the class calendar on the right side of the blog. Once you click on the calendar, you'll see the calendar displaying a whole month, with the days we meet highlighted (I think in blue). If you click on any specific day, the details concerning that day will open up, letting you know exactly what the reading is, page numbers, etc.

On an unrelated note, whenever you post something to the blog, please do everyone a favor and check your spelling... and if I ever misspell something, whoever catches me first gets some extra credit... but if you catch something and it's actually spelled correctly, I get to... I'll figure something out later.

The Income Tax

Here is the video I told you about exploring the legality of the income tax. Although I am posting this here, don't assume that I am condoning not paying taxes. This is simply meant to be informative and something interesting to think about.

Although there may be no explicit law stating that income (not for profit) can be taxed, there are three different types of laws you should be aware of: statutory law, case law, and administrative law.

Statutory law is enacted by congress through the regular process of legislation. Case law is law that is decided in court cases (like Roe v. Wade, for instance). Administrative law gives government agencies the power to create rules that can be legally enforced just like statutory and case laws. This last type would be what gives the IRS the power to tax citizens, even though there is no explicit law written by congress supporting it.

What I am not sure about is whether this administrative law (if it exists) would or would not violate the 16th amendment to the constitution. Anyone know?

Plato's Euthyphro

Following this link will take you to a file hosting service from which you can download a pdf version of the reading due January 31st, which is Plato's dialogue entitled Euthyphro. The language used in the dialogue is rather easy to understand, but Socrates' mastery of logic and and a cross-examination method, actually known as the socratic dialectic (in his honor), combined with the fact that he is making a point that was philosophically unprecedented, will probably have you spinning in circles. Don't worry if this is the case. The Rachels book will help you understand Socrates' points, and I'll do the same during class.

For those of you who work more efficiently through auditory perception, you can also follow this link to listen to an mp3 version of the same dialogue from LibriVox.

Confirming subscriptions

This post is simply a way for you guys to check whether your membership in the blog was successful. If it was, then you should either get an e-mail about it, or should be able to see it in whatever rss feeder you use.

If you thought you subscribed successfully, and didn't receive any notification, let me know.

BLOG POST??

Posted by Pamela

Okay, I think this the way to post to the Blog

Here is my question for thought

By changing the scenario, does it change our view?

This was the example in chapter one

Jodi and Mary were conjoined twins, they need to be separated in order for one to live.

If nothing is done both twins will die.

When they are separated Jodi will live Mary will die.

At the time of separation Mary is still alive.

Let's change the original example to the following

Baby Thersea was born an identical twin, we will call her Betty and all she needs to survive is a liver and kidney transplant.

Baby Thersea is her only match

Baby Thersea will die anyways in a matter of days and her organs at that point will be no good for the transplant.

If nothing is done both twins will die.

Would it be ethical to end baby Thersea's life earlier in order to save her twin Betty?

Why is it presumed to alright to end Mary's life earlier in order to save Jodi's?

Pamela Finnerty

Welcome!

Welcome to the exciting world of ethics!

In this class we are going to learn a number of very fascinating philosophical theories concerning ethics. As the course progresses, and we learn and analyze these theories, we will also learn how to think critically about ethics, and how to frame ethical positions based on general principles. Ethics, in its most basic definition, is the study, as Socrates stated, of "how we ought to live."

One of the most important things you will get out of this course, I hope, is the ability to think critically and rationally. Unlike most other classes, which emphasize the memorization of large sets of data, this class will require you instead to apply your brain to a small, but varied typology of conceptual moral problems that have puzzled thinkers for centuries. You will learn how to analyze a seemingly simple and intuitive idea, such as whether some end may justify the means, and understand its logical implications, as well as the conceptual problems it might produce for some other idea, or even for itself. At first you might find this difficult (in some cases, maybe even painful), but as you start to develop your critical thinking skills, you will find that, with practice, it becomes much easier and even fun. You will probably also find yourself applying these skills in other classes, as well as out of the academic world, and that's the idea.

It is important that you understand that you do not have to agree with any of the theories we cover during the semester. The purpose of this class is not to change your mind but to expose you to new ways of looking at social problems, so that you understand that moral issues are often much more complex than you realize. While we do this, you will probably find that there are weaknesses in your previously held beliefs, or that they are in need of some modification and strengthening. Whether you change your mind is ultimately up to you. What is required of you is that you understand how the theories work, why they have been proposed, and how they would apply to different situations. One of the conditions you'll have to meet in order to succeed in this class is simply to keep an open mind, so that you can at least understand different points of view, even if you disagree with them.

As with any given population, some of you are probably not computer literate, some of you are probably trying to hack into this blog as we speak, and most of you are probably somewhere in between. I have chosen this medium for many reasons, perhaps the most important of which are that, unlike with most regular web-sites, updating it does not require anyone to be in a specific physical location, and because it is extremely easy for you to participate.

This means that all of us can access it and interact as frequently as we may find it necessary. Since we only meet once a week, and the reading material might be difficult to understand on occasion, this blog will provide a helpful tool to clarify any ambiguities and roadblocks you might encounter along the way.

The idea behind this blog is that anyone can post entries here (I'll go over the details and limitations of how to do this in class). Occasionally I'll post entries clarifying and expanding on some of the ideas we discuss in class, as well as providing links to primary and secondary material from which you might benefit.

However, I will not be the only person to "blog" here. If you find yourself confused about any given topic, or if you want to throw an interesting idea out there to stimulate some discussion, you can post your own entries and someone will respond in the "comments" section below your post, creating a discussion thread to which everyone can contribute. I urge everyone to participate.

On the right side of the blog, you will also find some relevant links, such as the class syllabus (in the form of an online calendar). You will also find various ways of subscribing to this blog, either through an rss reader or through your e-mail address, whatever you think will be easier and more convenient for you. When you subscribe to a web-page such as this, your subscription system will automatically notify you when changes have been made to the site, keeping you up to date with any new entries that are posted here.

So, play around with the links, and if you have any questions, just go to the "comments" section below and ask away. See you next week!