Global Perspectives on Society – Syllabus 2014-‐15
p. 2
Weekly Assignments
Fall 2014
1. Introduction (9/1)
2. Human Nature (9/5)
a. Smith, Adam. The Theory of Moral Sentiments. Eds. D.D. Raphael and A.L.
Macfie. Glasgow Edition of the Works and Correspondence of Adam Smith
Vol. 1. Indianapolis: Library Fund, 1982. Pp. 60-‐63. Downloaded from
Online Library of Liberty 29 May 2014.
b. Xunzi. “Man’s Nature is Evil.” Xunzi: Basic Writings. Trans. Burton Watson.
New York: Columbia University Press, 2013. Pp. 161-‐168.
3. Partiality and Impartiality (9/15)
a. Mozi. “Universal Love.” Sources of Chinese Tradition. 2nd ed. Eds. Wm.
Theodore de Bary and Irene Bloom. New York: Columbia University Press,
1999. Pp. 64-‐66, 69-‐72.
b. Wolf, Susan. “Morality and Partiality.” Philosophical Perspectives 6
(1992): Pp. 243-‐259. Downloaded from JSTOR 25 May 2014.
4. Categorical Imperative and Utilitarianism (9/22)
a. Kant, Immanuel. Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals. Revised
Edition. Trans. & Ed. Mary Gregor and Jens Timmermann. Cambridge:
Cambridge University Press, 2012. Cambridge Books Online. 33-‐36, 39-‐43.
Downloaded 29 May 2014.
b. Bentham, Jeremy. The Utilitarians: An Introduction to the Principles of
Morals and Legislation. Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1961. Ebook.
5. Midterm Examination 1 (9/29)
6. Relativism and Universalism (10/6)
a. Rachels, James. “The Challenge of Cultural Relativism.” The Elements of
Moral Philosophy. 3rd ed. New York: McGraw-‐Hill, 1999. 20-‐36. Print.
b. Pinker, Steven. “The Moral Instinct.” New York Times Magazine 13 Jan.
2008. Pp. 32-‐37, 55-‐56, 58. Downloaded from ProQuest 29 May 2014.
7. Obedience and Resistance (10/13)
a. Milgram, Stanley. “The Perils of Obedience.” Harper’s 247.1483 (Dec.
1973). Pp. 62-‐66, 75-‐77. Downloaded from ProQuest 25 May 2014.
b. Blum, Lawrence. “Altruism and the Moral Value of Rescue.” Embracing the
Other. Ed. Pearl M. Oliner, et al. New York: NYU Press, 1992. Downlaoded
from MUSE 27 May 2014.
Global Perspectives on Society – Syllabus 2014-‐15
p. 3
8. Filial Piety (10/20)
a. Confucius, Xiao Jing. “The Classics of Filial Piety.” China the Beautiful. Dr.
Ming L. Pei, n.d. Downloaded 2 June 2014.
b. Jacobs, Andrew and Adam Century. “As China Ages, Beijing Turns to
Morality Tales to Spur Filial Devotion.” NYTimes.com. New York Times
Company, 5 Sept. 2012. Downloaded 25 May 2014.
c. Rickles-‐Jordan, Andrea. "Fillial Responsibility: A Survey Across Time and
Oceans." Marquette Elder's Advisor 9.1 (2007): 188-‐193. Marquette
University’s Elder Law Commons. Downloaded 25 May 2014.
d. English, Jane. “What Do Grown Children Owe Their Parents?” Aging and
Ethics. Ed. Nancy S. Jecker. New York: Humana Press, 1991. Pp. 147-‐154.
9. Global Trade (10/27)
a. Ricardo, David. On the Principles of Political Economy and Taxation. 1817
(3rd ed’n 1821).
b. Donald J. Boudreaux. "Comparative Advantage." The Concise Encyclopedia
of Economics. 2008.
c. Jonathan Harris, et al. "Environmental Impacts of Trade," in The
Encyclopedia of Earth (2013).
10. Midterm Examination 2 (11/3)
11. Global Poverty (11/10)
a. Singer, Peter. “Famine, Affluence, and Morality.” Philosophy & Public
Affairs 1.3 (1972): 229-‐243. Downloaded from JSTOR. 25 May 2014.
b. Hardin, Garrett. “Lifeboat Ethics: The Case against Helping the Poor.” The
Garrett Hardin Society. (10 June 2003). Downloaded. 2 June 2014.
c. Yunus, Muhammad. “Nobel Lecture.” Nobel Media AB 2013. Downloaded
from Nobelprize.org. 2 June 2014.
12. Duties to the Earth and Future Generations (11/17)
a. Carson, Rachel. Silent Spring. New York: Mahony & Roese Inc, 1962. Pp. 5-‐
13.
b. Leopold, Aldo, and Charles W. Schwartz.
A Sand County Almanac, and
Sketches Here and There. New York: Oxford University Press, 1949. Pp.
129-‐133.
c. Bloom, Paul. “Natural Happiness." New York Times Magazine Apr 19,
2009. Pp. 11-‐3. Downloaded from ProQuest 2 June 2014.
13. Animal Rights and Our Responsibility (12/1)
a. Regan, Tom. “The Case for Animal Rights.” In Defence of Animals. Ed.
Peter Singer. New York: Blackwell, 1985. Pp. 13-‐26.
b. Sridhar, M.K. and Purushottama Bilimoria. “Animal Ethics and Ecology in
Classical India—Reflections on a Moral Tradition.” Indian Ethics: Classical
Traditions and Contemporary Challenges Vol. 1. Ed. Purushottama
Bilimoria, Joseph Prabhu, and Renuka Sharma. Hampshire, England:
Ashgate, 2007. Pp. 297-‐299, 317-‐324, 326-‐328.