R170 Religion, Ethics, and Public Life                                            

Department of Religious Studies                                   

Indiana University                                    

Professor Richard Miller

miller3@indiana.edu

                                                                                                                                                                                               

Associate Instructors: Mark King, Mark Wilson

 

 

Description

 

This is an introductory course in religion and ethics, focusing on social responsibility and moral reasoning.  We will begin by examining basic methods and tools in ethics, after which we will examine six topics: abortion; war and peace; death and dying in medicine; economic justice; equality and difference in gender, race, and sexual orientation; and environmental ethics.  The chief goal of the course is to explore the complexity of these topics and to understand how religious thought, belief, and practice inform moral discussion in American public life today.  Along the way, we will ask whether individuals or groups have a responsibility to protect the interests of vulnerable, or “at-risk” populations: fetuses, political communities under attack, women in the economic and cultural marketplace, sick and dying patients, the poor, minorities, and nonhuman lives.  These groups, and the issues that surround their needs, stand at the center of debates in public culture today--debates in newspaper articles, religious gatherings, political elections, professional meetings, evening talk shows, shop floor conversations, and family dinners. With each topic we will examine different arguments and points of view.  Sources draw from Judaism, Christianity, and contemporary social thought.

 

Format

 

There will be two lectures and one discussion each week.  The lectures may not address the readings directly; most often, the lectures provide background information or general theoretical points to be considered.  Discussions will focus on the reading assignments, which vary in length and difficulty.  Discussions usually, but not always, include a case or a problem that is designed to focus the conversation.  These cases are to be read prior to each discussion meeting.  Punctual, careful reading of assignments, and regular attendance in lecture and discussion are key to success in the course.  Discussions will also include occasional quizzes, which will be factored into the discussion portion of grade.  Please note: There are no make-up quizzes.  We drop your lowest quiz score in the final tally of your discussion grade. 

 

                                                                       Grading

 

There will be two exams during the course, each of which is worth 25%. The final exam is worth 30%.  Discussion attendance, participation, and quizzes count for 20%.  There will be a "fudge factor" for improvement.  The details of the grading procedure will be explained during the first discussion section.  To pass the course you must take and pass the final.  All exams will be given in the lecture hall.  There will be no make‑up or re‑scheduled exams, except for an illness, which must be documented by a physician.

 

                                                                         Texts

 

U.S. Catholic Bishops, Economic Justice for All.

R170 Reader (available on e-reserve) OR various materials that are listed as available on-line, noted below.

 


 

                                                                       Calendar

 

I. INTRODUCTION (Jan 13-23; 2 weeks)

 

A. What is ethics? Why study it?

B. Methods of Ethical Reasoning: I

*deontology, consequentialism, virtue theory

C. Methods of Ethical Reasoning: II    

*the rule of double effect

D. Religion and Ethics

 

Wk 1 Reading: Wm. David Solomon, “ETHICS: Normative Ethical Theories,” from The Encyclopedia of Bioethics (New York: Macmillan Pub. Co., 1995).  Note: Read through the first four sections:  Types of normative theory; virtue theories; deontological theories; and  consequentialist theories .  The material starting with “Deeper Differences among normative theories” is recommended but not required. 

CASE: Ms. Barton’s Choice: Cancer Treatment or Twins?

        

Wk 2 Reading: Wm. David Solomon, “Double Effect,” from Encyclopedia of Ethics, ed. Susan Neiburg Terkel (New York: Facts on  File, 1999).

 

Robin W. Lovin, “Religion and Morality,” from The Encyclopedia of Bioethics (New York: Macmillan Pub. Co., 1995).

 

CASES:   (a) Ms. Barton, reconsidered

   (b) Jim and the Indians

 

 

II.  ABORTION (Jan. 27 - Feb. 6; 2 weeks)

 

A. The 1973 Decision, Roe v. Wade

B. On the post-Roe v. Wade era (public funding of abortion)

C. Jewish and Christian approaches through the centuries

D. A look at the assigned readings (and more)

Wk 3 Reading: Roe v. Wade at http://laws.findlaw.com/us/410/113.html or

http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/cgi-bin/getcase.pl?navby=case&court=us&vol=410&invol=113

CASE: Pregnancies and Abortions: Do Circumstances Make a Difference?

 

Wk 4 Reading: Stanley Hauerwas, "Abortion: Why the Arguments Fail,"

CASE: Preparing for the first exam

 

First exam: Tuesday, Feb. 10, in the lecture hall

 

 

III. WAR AND PEACE (Feb. 12-27; 2 1/2 weeks)

 

A. The Just-War Tradition

B. Pacifism

    

Wk 5 Reading: Richard B. Miller “Just-War Doctrine: A Synopsis” (e-reserve)

CASE: Risks to Whom: (Your) Killers or (Their) Non-killers?            

 

Wk 6 Reading: “President Says Saddam Hussein Must Leave Iraq within 48 Hours,” at www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/03/20030317-7.html  and

 

J. Bryan Hehir, “An Unnecessary War” at
http://search.epnet.com/direct.asp?an=9380721&db=aph

CASE: Evaluating President Bush’s reasons

 

Recommended but not required: 

Jean Bethke Elshtain, “Thinking about War and Justice,” and

 

Richard B. Miller, “Thinking about War and Justice: A Reply to Jean Bethke Elshtain” at

http://marty-center.uchicago.edu/webforum/archive.shtml (May 2003).

 

Wk 7 Reading: Martin Luther King, "Pilgrimage to Nonviolence" (e-reserve) AND

 

Andrew Fiala, “Practical Pacifism and the War On Terror,” Humanist 62 (November/December 2002), at
http://search.epnet.com/direct.asp?an=7688106&db=afh AND

 

Philip J. Bentley, “Pacifism: Now More than Ever,” Tikkun January 1, 2002 at

http://www.tikkun.org/magazine/index.cfm/action/tikkun/issue/tik0201/article/020111c.html

 

NOTE: No lecture or discussion on Feb. 26-27 (Thurs-Fri), as I will be away at an academic conference.

 

IV. MEDICAL ETHICS (Focus: Death and Dying) (Mar. 2 - Mar. 26; 3 weeks)

 

A. "DAX's Case,”  a screening

B. Patient rights vs. patient benefit

C. The quality of life vs. the sanctity of life                    

D. Ordinary and extraordinary means

 

Wk 8 Reading: Richard McCormick, “To Save or Let Die” (e-reserve)

CASE: Discussing Dax’s Case

 

Wk 9 Reading: William F. May, “The Burned” (e-reserve)

CASE: Preparing for the second exam

 

SPRING BREAK: MARCH 15-19

 

Wk 10:

 

E. A Narrative response to DAX's Case (Mar. 23)                             

       

Second exam: Thursday, Mar. 25 in the lecture hall

 

V.  COMMERCE (Mar. 30 - April 1; 1 week)

 

     A. Ethics and Economics: Contemporary Perspectives

     B. A look at the assigned readings

 

Wk 11 Reading: Milton Friedman, “The Social Responsibility of the Corporation,” (e-reserve) AND

U.S. Catholic bishops, Economic Justice for All, paragraphs 6-27; 61-95 for discussion.  For the final exam, you will also be responsible for paragraphs 28-60; 136-214.

CASE: Nike, Puredrug, Calvin Klein, and “Business Ethics”

 

 

VI. DISCRIMINATION, EQUALITY, OPPORTUNITY (Apr. 6 - 23; 3 weeks)

 

     A. Affirmative Action: Legal Decisions and Ethical Aspects

     B. The feminist critique of traditional religion and morality

     C. Sexual Orientation

 

Wk 12 Reading: Grutter v. Bollinger, at

http://laws.findlaw.com/us/000/02-241.html (note: only the first case is required)

Daniel Maguire, “Answering the Objections,” (e-reserve)

Recommended, Martin Luther King, Jr., “Letter from Birmingham Jail” (e-reserve)

CASE: Debating Affirmative Action

 

Wk 13 Reading: D. Hampson, "Introduction" to Theology and Feminism (e-reserve)

Carol Gilligan, “Images of Relationship” (e-reserve)

CASE: Depictions of women in mass culture

 

Wk 14 Reading: Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, “Considerations Regarding Proposals to Give Legal Recognition to Unions between Homosexual Persons,” at

 http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_20030731_homosexual-unions_en.html AND

Andrew Sullivan, “Unnatural Law” at http://search.epnet.com/direct.asp?an=9298058&db-hu

CASE: The ethics and politics of same-sex relations

 

 

VII. RELIGION, ETHICS, AND THE ENVIRONMENT (Apr. 16 - 20; 1 week)

 

Wk 15 Reading: Charles Birch, “Christian Obligation for the Liberation of Nature,” (e-reserve) AND

Holmes Rolston, III, “Wildlife and Wildlands” (e-reserve)

CASE: To intervene or not to intervene in “natural” processes?

 


 

 

 

Final Exam: Tuesday, May 4, 12:30-2:30 in the lecture hall.  No make‑up or re‑scheduled exams except for illness, which must be documented by a physician.