Philosophy 2625

Introduction to Professional Ethics

Summer 2021 (34445)

Dr. Gabriel Palmer-Fernández

Class Meets: No on-campus meetings
Office Hours: Arranged by appointment via email.
Contact Information:
Office: DeBartolo Hall, 4th floor.
E-mail: gfpalmer@ysu.edu

Required Texts:
1. Ethical Issues in Professional Life, edited by Joan C. Callahan (New York:
Oxford University Press, 1988). ISBN-19-505026-6.
2. Readings placed online

Software Requirements:
1. Microsoft Office (Available in Kilcawley Center)/OpenOffice (Free
Online)/NeoOffice (Free Online)
2. Firefox/Safari/Chrome
3. iTunes: (http://www.apple.com/itunes/download)

Course Description:
This course examines the ideals and virtues central to professionalism; study of
selected codes of professional ethics and their roots in classical ethical traditions;
and analysis of selected ethical issues and problems in a variety of professions.

CORONAVIRUS STATEMENT 
As a consequence of the current coronavirus pandemic, students are expected to
abide by all safety and health policies implemented by the University’s Office of
Environmental Occupational Health and Safety as well as all applicable local,
state, and federal mandates. Currently, the City of Youngstown and the State of
Ohio mandates a face covering/mask in public spaces. Consistent with federal,
state and local guidelines, University Health Guidelines require that all individuals
within campus buildings, including students, properly wear face coverings except
when working alone within an enclosed area. Face coverings are in addition to
maintaining appropriate social distancing when possible. Exceptions to wearing a
face covering in a classroom or laboratory must be for justifiable reasons as
approved by the Office of Disability Services (https://ysu.edu/center-for-student-
progress/disability-services ). Repeated violations of any coronavirus safety and
health policy shall be handled in accord with The Student Code of Conduct
(https://ysu.edu/student-conduct/code-conduct ).

Course Requirements: (177 possible points)

Case Studies: 2 @ 30 pts. each
Quizzes: 9 @ 10 pts. each
Discussion Posts: 9 @ 3 pts. each

Grading Policy:
The grading scale is as follows: A (90%-100%), B (80%-89%), C (70%-79%), D
(60%-69%), F (59% and below). The same percentages will be used to grade the
Case Studies: a grade of A is 90% to 100% of the 30 points, i.e., a score
between 27 and 30 points; a grade of B is 80% to 89% of 30 points, so a B
ranges between 24 and 26 points; a grade of C is 70% to 79% of 30 points, so a
C ranges between 21 and 23 points; and so on.

Grades (total points to letter grade conversion):

159-177 = A
141-158 = B
123-140 = C
105-122 = D
104 and below = F

Objectives:
1. To present a clear understanding of the real issues affecting a professional’s
ethical performance.
2. To acquaint the student with specific ethical concepts, theories, and decision-
making techniques.
3. To exemplify a professional approach to an area of knowledge.
4. To clarify the mutual responsibilities of the professional-client relationship.

Outcomes:
1. Understand the different ethical concepts and theories that are the bases for
the principles and procedures of good ethical conduct.
2. Be able to understand the ethical problems that will be faced, and have the
necessary techniques of prevention and resolution to handle them effectively.
3. Appreciate the importance of being a professional in the services and products
that their profession offers to individuals and society.
4. Gain an appreciation of their particular profession, and become a professional
member and critical follower of its professional code.

General Education Requirements:

General education requirements are designed to broaden and strengthen
student’s undergraduate education in ways that complement the major. This
course has been approved by the University General Education Committee in the
category of Personal and Social Responsibility, in which all students must take at
least two courses. General Education goals fulfilled or addressed include, but are
not limited to, the following:

Goal 1: Writing. In this course, all students will be required to write two short
papers, which will entail proper organization and mechanical skills.
Goal 2: Public Speaking. This class will have opportunities for group discussion.
Goal 3: Critical Thinking. The paper and class discussion will require careful
evaluation of individual positions and justifications for one’s own position.
Goal 4: Ethical Reflection and Moral Reasoning. In this course, many current
social issues will be discussed in such a manner that students will be able to
deepen their ethical sensitivities.
Goal 9: Social Well-Being. In today’s society, social well-being depends upon the
professional attitudes fashionable at the time. In this course, we have the
opportunity to discuss the importance of professional ethics from its historical
roots to its current role.
Goal 12: Diversity. Today’s business world is a diverse place. All sexes, races,
religions, classes, and lifestyles come together in the marketplace and interact. In
this course, students will have the opportunity to study the ethical and practical
consequences of this diversity in the professional world.

Disabilities:
In accordance with University procedures, if you have a documented disability
and require accommodations to obtain equal access in this course, please
contact me privately to discuss your specific needs. You must be registered with
the Disability Services Office in Beeghly Hall, Room 3310, and provide a letter of
accommodations to verify your eligibility. You can reach the Disability Services
Office at 330-941-1372.

Center for Student Progress:

The Center for Student Progress is a resource on campus established to help
students successfully complete their university experience. The Center provides
tutors and individualized assistance with college academic and social concerns.
The Center is located in Kilcawley West under the bookstore. You may phone or
visit the center to request help in your courses. The phone number of the Center
is 330-941-3538.

Academic Honesty:
Cheating, plagiarism, and other forms of academic dishonesty constitute a
serious violation of University conduct regulations. Though instructors are
responsible for taking all reasonable precautions to prevent cheating and
plagiarizing, students share a joint responsibility and should report any act of
academic dishonesty to the instructor. In cases involving academic dishonesty,
the faculty member may take one or more of the following actions:
• warn a student; no further action is requested;
• submit an “F” grade on the exam or paper;
• submit an “F” grade for the course;
• and/or request additional sanctions from the Student Academic Grievance
Subcommittee.
The faculty member should discuss the circumstances of the incident with the
student prior to taking any action.
Tips for Success
 Read the syllabus
 Get started right away
 Submit work early, as early as you can
 Don’t fall behind
 Look at Deadlines and Due Dates below
 Read all sections of Course Management below

Course Management
Case Studies
Two are required, and each has its own prompt you are to answer. They shall be
two (2) pages in length, double-spaced, 1” margins, 12pt. font, submitted as a
.doc, .txt, .rtf or .pdf, and properly documented. Papers that are poorly edited
will receive a deduction. Please submit these to me through Blackboard no later
than 11:59PM on their due day. You should read instructions for preparing a
position paper found at “Appendix 2: Preparing Cases and Position Papers,”
pages 465 – 467 of our textbook, as well as “Writing a Position Paper.” I use a
rubric for evaluating these papers. It can be found next to the assignment. See
Deadlines and Due Dates below.

Discussion Board
Students are expected to complete ONE discussion post for EACH posted
thread. See Deadlines and Due Dates below.

Posts shall be approximately 300 words each, roughly the equivalent of one
double-spaced page. They should be carefully thought-out, clearly written, and
respond directly to the prompt given. Your post must incorporate some course
reading(s). No credit will be given to any post that fails to do so. I use a
Discussion Board Rubric, which can be found alongside each of the Discussion
Boards. Read it carefully prior to posting.

Quizzes
Each chapter of the text has a Quiz and a set of PowerPoint slides that
accompany it. It is best if the student reads the chapter before reviewing the
slides. Slides not only focus on the main ideas from the readings, but they also
include an audio lecture that further explicates the material. Quiz material is
generated primarily from the PowerPoint presentations. You are allowed two (2)
attempts at each quiz, and the higher grade will be recorded. See Deadline and
Due Dates below.

Deadlines
As this is an accelerated 7-week course, you need to manage the schedule of
Due Dates as efficiently as you can. Go ahead and submit work early. No late
work is accepted, unless you have received prior approval from the instructor.
Please see p. 38 of the 2007-2008 Undergraduate Bulletin for a full explanation
of YSU’s policy on Incomplete grades.

Tentative Reading/Assignment Schedule

(Subject to change with sufficient prior notice)

Module 1
Students should obtain the text, familiarize themselves with the Blackboard site,
download and print the syllabus and the Moral Theory reading packet, and report
any difficulties to the instructor.

Introduction to Moral Theory

1. Chapter 1: Basics and Background, Joan Callahan
2. Moral Theory Reading Pack (Download and print from BlackBoard)

Movie Clip: part of a West Wing episode

Chapter 1 Discussion. Due Date: 5/21/21

Online Quiz #1. Due Date: 5/21/21

Module 2
Chapter 2: Professions/Professionalization
1. “The Professions,” Michael Bayles
2. “Professions and Emerging Professions,” Bernard Barber
3. Giuffra, “Altruism and Nursing”

Chapter 2 Discussion. Due Date: 5/26/21

Online Quiz #2. Due Date: 5/26/21

Case Study 1: Professionalism and Nursing, pp. 45-46, respond to Question 1, p

46. Due Date: 5/28/21

Module 3
Chapter 3: Occupational and Ordinary Morality
1. “Professional Responsibility of the Criminal Defense Lawyer: The Three
Hardest Questions,” Monroe Freedman

Movie Clip: Anatomy of a Murder

2. “Is Business Bluffing Ethical,” Albert Carr

3. “The Business of Ethics,” Norman Gillespie

Chapter 3 Discussion. Due Date: 6/1/21

Online Quiz #3. Due Date: 6/1/21

Module 4
Chapter 4: Professionals and Clients
1. “Models for Ethical Medicine in a Revolutionary Age,” Robert Veatch
2. “From Loyalty to Advocacy: A New Metaphor for Nursing,” Gerald Winslow
3. “Academic Paternalism,” Joan Callahan

Chapter 4 Discussion. Due Date: 6/6/21

Online Quiz #4. Due Date: 6/6/21

Chapter 5: Deception
1. “Should Doctor’s Tell the Truth?” Joseph Collins
2. “Lying and Lies to the Sick and Dying,” Sissela Bok

Chapter 5 Discussion. Due Date: 6/10/21

Online Quiz #5. Due Date: 6/10/21

Module 5
Chapter 7: Privacy and Confidentiality
1. “Can You Pass the Job Test?” Newsweek
2. “Privacy, Morality and the Law,” W. A. Parent
3. “Invasions of Privacy in Social Science Research,” Terry Pinkard

Chapter 7 Discussion. Due date: 6/14/21

Online Quiz #6. Due Date: 6/14/21

Chapter 8: Individual and Collective Responsibility

1. “Corporate Moral Agency,” Peter French
2. “Corporate Moral Agency: The Case for Anthropological Bigotry,” John Danley

Movie Clips: The Corporation

Chapter 8 Discussion. Due Date: 6/19/21

Online Quiz #7. Due date: 6/19/21

Module 6
Chapter 9: Social Responsibility and Professional Dissent
1. “In Defense of Whistle Blowing,” Gene James
2. “Ten Whistleblowers and How They Fared,” Myron Glazer
3. “Whistleblowing and Professional Responsibilities,” Sissela Bok

Chapter 9 Discussion. Due Date: 6/24/21

Online Quiz #8. Due Date: 6/24/21

Chapter 10: Social Responsibility and Justice

1. “The Social Responsibility of Business,” Milton Friedman
2. “Changing the Social Contract: A Role for Business,” Melvin Anshen

Chapter 10 Discussion. Due Date: 6/29/21

Online Quiz #9. Due Date: 6/29/21

Module 7
1. “Nurses’ Roles and Responsibilities in Providing Care and Support at the End
of Life,” American Nurses Association, 2016.
2. “The Nurse’s Role When a Patient Requests Medical Aid in Dying,” American
Nurses Association, 2019.

Case Study 2: “The Case of Brittany Maynard: ‘My Right to Die’.” Due Date:
7/2/21