Syllabi for Young

PHI2600 Ethics and Critical Thinking

PHI 2600 Course Syllabus

Ethics and Critical Thinking: CRN 23232
Spring 2025 
ONLINE

I: Contact Information

Roger Young, MA             ryoung46@valenciacollege.edu

Please refer to me as ‘Mr. Young,’ ‘Professor Young,’ or simply ‘Roger.’

I check my Canvas inbox regularly between 9am and 5pm, Monday-Friday.  I will almost always respond to students within 48 hours.  If for some reason I fail to do this, please send a follow up email.  Please remember to be courteous, clear, and thorough in your communication.  We can also set up Zoom sessions.  If you want to speak via Zoom, reach out to me via Canvas messenger to request a meeting.  Please provide two times at which you'll be available, and I'll set it up!  

DO contact me if:

  • You have a question involving matters relevant to class, including lecture or reading materials, quizzes and assignments, etc.
  • You have come across an article, video, or some other form of media that is relevant to what we’ve been discussing in class.
  • You are requesting a phone call or Zoom meeting
  • You are experiencing problems accessing something on Canvas AND you have documented proof (e.g., a screenshot) of the issue included as an attachment.

Please do not contact me if:

  • You are reaching out regarding a Canvas problem, missed assignment, etc. without documented proof of extenuating circumstances.  
  • You are asking a question that can be answered by referring to the syllabus. 

 


 

II: Course Information

Common Course Number: PHI 2600
Course Title: Ethics & Critical Thinking
Contact Hour Breakdown: Cr: 3, Contact 3, Lab: 0
Discipline: Philosophy
Prerequisites: ENC 1101 or ENC 1101H, IDH 1110
Corequisites: None

Text:  

  • Ethics: Theory and Contemporary Issues. Barbara Mackinnon and Andrew Fiala. (any edition, required/strongly recommended)
  • A Concise Introduction to Logic. Patrick J. Hurley. (Relevant sections provided in Canvas)

I have posted relevant sections of Hurley to our homepage, as well as the first chapter you'll need (Ch. 4) from MacKinnon and Fiala, for your convenience. 

Catalog Description: Study of major theoretical principles on which claims to good life and moral action have been based, such as hedonism, utilitarianism and rationalism.  Each theory illustrated by representative selections from works of great philosophers from classical period to 20th century.  Gordon Rule course which requires demonstration of college level writing skills through multiple assignments.  Minimum grade of C required if used to satisfy Gordon Rule requirement. 

Professor’s Description:  It’s 2025 and stuff is weird.  It seems like the lines between right and wrong, true and untrue are blurred now more than ever.  It seems like there are so many issues and yet so few solutions!  The function of philosophy is to clarify thought.  Thus, a philosophical approach to these issues should help bring those lines into focus.  In this class, you’ll learn a little about how to do philosophy, as well how to apply your new philosophical skills to some of the most pertinent ethical issues at hand in the modern world. 

Learning Outcomes:

  • Demonstrate a dynamic understanding of argumentation in its various forms.
  • Demonstrate a broad understanding of key ethical theories.
  • Identify assumptions inherent to ethical theories.
  • Construct and deconstruct tenable ethical arguments.
  • Demonstrate college-level writing.

 

III: Student Success

There are 215 total points possible in this course.  Here's how the grading breaks down: 

  • 2 Philosophical Journey reflections, 15 points each, 30 points total
  • 2 module assessments, 20/35 points each, 55 points total
  • 11 unit quizzes, 10 points each, 110 points total
  • 7 discussion board assignments, 5 points each, 35 points total
  • 1 final paper, 20 points total

A: 223 - 250 points
B: 198 – 222.4 points
C: 173 – 197.5 points
D: 148 – 172.5 points
F: Below 147.5 points

Philosophical Journey Reflections

At the beginning and end of the semester you will address a philosophical question. Think of this assignment as you would a journal entry. There is not a strict rubric for this assignment, so just let your thoughts flow! At the end of the semester, you’ll be able to compare your response to the question to the response you gave at the beginning of the semester to witness your growth as a burgeoning philosopher!

 Module Assessments

Assessments are essentially Canvas exams that can be completed at home on your own time.  Here are some important points to note:

  • Assessments will cover all material learned within a module.
  • There are module assessments for the first and second, but not the third module.
  • Assessments will be comprised of several multiple-choice questions followed by a single essay question.
  • Essay questions will be evaluated on the WORD rubric. (see below)
  • Students may access each assessment only once. The assessment must be completed in a single session, so -like most things in life- preparation is very
  • Assessments ARE NOT timed.
  • Problems with Canvas must be documented (e.g., timestamped screenshot of error message).
  • Please note that missing an assessment will reduce your final grade by approximately 10%.

 

Unit Quizzes

Most weeks, there will be a unit quiz comprised of 10 multiple choice questions referring to the material discussed in that week’s video lecture and/or required reading.  Here are some important points to note regarding unit quizzes.

  • These quizzes open at the beginning of each unit (every Sunday at 12am) and close at the end of each unit (the following Friday at 11:59pm).
  • Quiz attempts are timed (20 minutes).
  • Students are permitted TWO attempts for each unit quiz.
  • However, you will not be able to see which questions you got wrong between attempts.
  • The highest scoring attempt that you submit will count towards your grade.

Discussion Board Assignments

An important part of developing good skills in philosophy is to attempt to apply the
concepts we’re learning. So, let’s make the most our discussion board!! On several
occasions throughout the semester, you’ll be asked to participate in a class-wide
discussion by responding to a writing prompt and replying your classmates’ responses.

Unfortunately, I do not have time in my schedule to give feedback on everyone’s
discussion board posts (across all of the classes I teach at Valencia, this would require
responding to 100-150 discussion board posts a week!). Therefore, your discussion
board assignment response and reply posts will be graded based on whether they meet
the following basic requirements:

- Original post answers all questions raised by the prompt
- Writing is thorough (examples provided, premises for conclusions, etc.)
- Characterization of basic concepts is on the right track
- Reply post shares a meaningful thought.

Students whose posts meet these basic requirements will earn full credit. If you want
feedback on your post, you can request feedback via email. I may also provide discussion post feedback in weekly announcements.

A substantial discussion board reply post should comprise several meaningful thoughts.  What is a meaningful thought?  Here are a few examples:

  • I agree with you, but for a reason that you did not discuss in your post...
  • I agree with you, and here are some implications of the conclusion we share...
  • I agree with you, but disagree with your premises, and here's why...
  • I disagree with you about X (be specific), and here's why...
  • Here's a critical question that you may not have considered. Also, here's why this question is important to your argument...
  • You seem to have misunderstood something about X (be specific). Here's my understanding...

 Now, here are a couple of common replies that are not "meaningful thoughts"

  • I completely agree with your conclusion and for the very same reasons you gave...

This thought is not meaningful because it doesn't add anything of philosophical worth to the discussion.  Essentially, what you're saying is "one other person in the world thinks what you think," which may be comforting to know, but it doesn't affect the validity of the claim.  If you find yourself in total agreement with a classmate, perhaps ask a critical question, discuss implications, or find another classmate's post to address.

  • I really liked your post because xyz....

Complimenting your classmates is a nice thing to do.  Being encouraged to share our beliefs is an important part of doing good philosophy!  However, merely complimenting your classmate isn't adding anything philosophically valuable to the discussion, and so you need to say more.  This is not to dissuade you from encouraging your classmates!  Please, continue to do so!  Just note that a statement that essentially says, "I agree with you and I really liked your post," needs more substance if you want to earn full credit.

Final Paper 

At the end of the semester, you’ll write a brief (1,000-word) essay that responds to your choice of a predetermined set of writing prompts.  A document containing detailed instructions and writing prompts is available under the “Final Paper” heading of the home page. 

 The “WORD” Rubric

Each of your written assignments will be graded with respect to the following rubric:

Writing

25% of grade

How is your grammar, spelling, sentence structure, and style?

Organization

25% of grade

Is your composition organized in a way that makes sense?

Research

25% of grade

Is the information you’re presenting accurate and cited properly?

Demonstration

25% of grade

Have you formulated your argument with good reasoning?

Extra Credit

There will be a few opportunities to earn extra credit.  I’ll let you know what those are as they arise. 

 IV. Course and College Policies

Attendance Policy

This is an online course, available 24/7, managed through Canvas. You must have access to the Internet (available on all Valencia campuses) to complete the course requirements. Please note that if extenuating circumstances (e.g., illness, family emergency, etc.) force you to disengage from the course for a duration, that’s fine, but you need to message me as soon as you are able. When you message me, you will need to show documentation that verifies the reason for your disengagement. At the time I accept your documentation, we will agree on a deadline for your makeup work. Please note that I WILL NOT WITHDRAW YOU FOR ANY REASON ONCE THE NO-SHOW PERIOD HAS PASSED.

No-Show Policy

If you do not log in to the course during the first week and complete the introductory quiz and discussion posts, you will be withdrawn from the class as a "no show". Class attendance is required for online classes; students who are not actively participating in an online class and/or do not submit the required attendance activity or assignment by the scheduled due date must be withdrawn by the instructor at the end of the first week as a "no show". If you are withdrawn as a “no show,” you will be financially responsible for the class and a final grade of “WN” will appear on your transcript for the course.

Withdrawal Policy

Per Valencia policy, a student who withdraws from class before the established deadline for a particular term will receive a grade of “W.”  A student is not permitted to withdraw after the withdrawal deadline.

A faculty member will withdraw a student up to the withdrawal deadline for violation of the class attendance policy. A student who is withdrawn by faculty for violation of the class attendance policy will receive a grade of “W”. After the withdrawal deadline, faculty will not withdraw a student and the student will receive the grade earned at the end of the course. Any student who withdraws or is withdrawn from a class during a third or subsequent attempt in the same course will be assigned a grade of “F.” If you do not intend to complete the course, you must withdraw yourself prior to the withdrawal date.

College Student Conduct and Communications Policy

Valencia is dedicated not only to the advancement of knowledge and learning but also to the development of responsible personal and social conduct. As a registered student, you assume the responsibility for conducting yourself in a manner that contributes positively to Valencia’s learning community and that does not impair, interfere with, or obstruct the orderly conduct, processes, and functions of the college as described in the Student Code of Conduct.

This policy extends to interactions with your instructor.

Academic Integrity

All forms of academic dishonesty are prohibited at Valencia College. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, acts or attempted acts of plagiarism, cheating, furnishing false information, forgery, alteration or misuse of documents, misconduct during a testing situation, facilitating academic dishonesty, and misuse of identification with intent to defraud or deceive.

All work submitted by students is expected to be the result of the students' individual thoughts, research, and self-expression. Whenever a student uses ideas, wording, or organization from another source, the source shall be appropriately acknowledged. If a student is caught submitting plagiarized work a first offense will result in a score of zero on the assignment; a second offense will result a class grade of FF.

Academic Honesty Statement

“Each student is required to follow Valencia policy regarding academic honesty.  All work submitted by students is expected to be the result of the student’s individual thoughts, research, and self-expression unless the assignment specifically states ‘group project.’”

IMPORTANT:  Note that the use of ChatGPT and other forms of generative AI are discouraged in this course (this includes AI that heavily rephrase original writing).  To do philosophy properly, you must generate your own independent thought.

What counts as “AI?” AI includes “any kind of artificial computational system that employs complex behavior…used to satisfy the Learning Outcomes of a course or lesson” (Vincent C. Muller). ChatGPT, for instance, is an AI. Any assignment in violation of this policy will receive the punishments as specified in the Academic Dishonesty/Plagiarism policy.  

I understand AI technologies must be tempting to use, but please note that any use of AI composition software for anything beyond proofreading is forbidden in this course. We instructors have a responsibility to ensure that students are doing their own thinking and learning so that grades and degrees remain meaningful. So, we need to make sure that students use AI with integrity.  Here are some examples of using AI with integrity:

·         The student composes their own writing, comprising their own ideas, and uses AI to proofread and offer minor suggestions to improve grammar, clarity, and other elements of writing.

·         The student requests definitions and examples to assist with reading and writing assignments without copying and pasting those definitions/examples into written work.

·         The student asks AI to generate alternate perspectives on a topic so that the student can approach a writing assignment from a well-rounded point-of-view. 

Note that in each of the appropriate examples above, the student does the thinking that directly corresponds to their written work.  AI merely clarifies or compliments the student’s thinking.  Now, here are a few examples of inappropriate use of AI:

·         The student enters the writing prompt into the AI, and then submits the AI’s response as their own work.

·         The student enters the writing prompt into the AI, and then adjusts the terminology and phrasing to sound more “human,” before submitting as their own work.

·         The student uses AI to heavily revise their own writing, to the extent that the student no longer fully understands the meaning of the AI’s revised version.

Note that in each of the inappropriate examples above, the student does not authentically understand and apply course concepts.  Rather, they have requested the AI to conduct analyses, summarize information, and construct arguments on their behalf.  Students should not receive credit for having completed work in this way. 

While it is usually easy to tell when a student has used AI, it's exceedingly difficult to know whether the student misused AI.  Therefore, if I flag your submission for the use of AI, then I strongly suspect the use of AI in the work you submitted. However, I do not necessarily suspect you misused AI. I give students two options::

Option 1: The student may redo the assignment within one week of the time at which the assignment was flagged.  I will accept your resubmission without penalty nor assumptions regarding your motivation for resubmitting. If you choose option 1, please resubmit your work before the end of the day on Sunday (7/28). I will grade it without penalty.  No questions asked!

Option 2: The student may request a brief phone call with me to discuss your response further within one week of the time at which the assignment was flagged.  The purpose of this discussion will be for me to determine whether the work you submitted was your own. 

Unfortunately, option 2 is not available for assignments submitted within the final two weeks of the semester.

Late Work/Makeup Policy

Assignments will open and close as scheduled.  Late submissions will not be graded without documentation of extenuating circumstances.

In my experience, allowing students to turn in late work hurts them more than it helps.  Good students who could easily earn A’s end up earning B’s or C’s because they consistently rely on late-submission grace periods.  They submit ‘A-quality’ work and earn B’s and C’s due to point-deductions, which are necessary in order to be fair to students who submit their work on time. Thus, no late work.

If you need a deadline extension, please reach out to me prior to the deadline of the assignment in question and I can grant you a 48-hour extension, no questions asked. 

Copyright Policy

To avoid copyright infringement, any materials produced specifically for this class can ONLY be used during this term for this class.

Third Party Software & FERPA Policy 

Valencia College has a firm commitment to protecting the privacy rights of its students. Third party software privacy policies will be provided at the point of use within the course.

Valencia College has a firm commitment to protecting the privacy rights of its students. In making this commitment, the College wants to ensure that all faculty and staff are familiar with state and federal laws pertaining to student privacy, as well as College policies and procedures that have been implemented to help guarantee student privacy.

Respect for Persons

Students will be expected to share and criticize ideas in a mature and respectful manner.  Failure to meet this expectation may result in a verbal warning, point deduction, or removal from the classroom.

HB 233

Students may record video and/or audio of class lectures for their personal use. Recordings may be a useful tool to support your learning and provide a resource for review. It is important to be respectful of your peers’ rights to privacy; with that in mind, please refrain from recording your peers during lectures. You may not record class discussions, student presentations, labs, group work, and private conversations. Further, you may not publish or share recordings without my written consent, nor may you provide recordings to classmates as a substitution for class participation and attendance. If necessary, I will handle violations of this section through the College’s Student Code of Conduct.

V. Important dates and deadlines:

Drop deadline: January 13

Graduation deadline: March 14

Withdrawal deadline: March 14

Here's a link to a calendar containing all important dates and deadlines for Spring 2025.

VI. Student Resources

Baycare Behavioral Health’s Student Assistance Program

“Valencia is committed to making sure all our students have a rewarding and successful college experience.  To that purpose, Valencia students can get immediate help that may assist them with psychological issues dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, adjustment difficulties, substance abuse, time management as well as relationship problems dealing with school, home, or work.  Students have 24-hour unlimited access to the Baycare Behavioral Health’s confidential student assistance program phone counseling services by calling (800) 878-5470.  Three free confidential face-to-face counseling sessions are also available to students.”

Students with Disabilities Information

“Students with disabilities who qualify for academic accommodations must provide a Notification to Instructor (NTI) form from the Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) and discuss specific needs with the instructor, preferably during the first two weeks of class; accommodations will not be applied retroactively.  The Office for Students with Disabilities determines accommodations based on appropriate documentation of disabilities.”
West Campus SSB, Rm. 102 Phone: 407-582-1523 Fax: 407-582-1326

Distance Tutoring & Technology Support at Valencia

 You can easily access Valencia’s free distance tutoring and tech support from a computer, laptop or mobile device.

Distance tutoring services are provided fully online via Zoom.   Through this service, you will receive real-time assistance via a Valencia tutor.  Online tutoring is offered in: mathematics, sciences, accounting & economics, computer programming, EAP and foreign languages, and writing.

Online Learning Technology Support services are also available. Students can receive assistance with navigating: Canvas, OneDrive, Zoom, YouTube, and Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, & PowerPoint).  Support is also provided for video editing (via iMovie and MovieMaker) and converting documents from a Mac to PC.  Tech support is available live (on-demand) via Zoom, by appointment, or via email.   Students are encouraged to use the 24/7 Canvas Help located inside Canvas by clicking on the “Help” icon.

To get started using the Distance Tutoring and Learning Technology Support services, please visit www.valenciacollege.edu/tutoring.  Through this site, you can view the schedule of tutors/tech support assistants, find available times, learn more about the services, and access a collection of supplemental resources that are available 24/7.

 

Hours of Operation:

Monday-Friday: 8 am – 10 pm

Saturday & Sunday: 9 am – 7 pm

Visit the Technology Checkout page HERE.