Ethical Reflections on Human Life – ETHC 205
CG • Section 8WK • 11/08/2019 to 04/16/2020 • Modified 02/01/2024
Course Description
A study of contemporary issues within the context of a biblical ethic of human life. This course will examine Christian principles about human life and flourishing, reflecting on issues concerning the beginning and end of human life as well as those social and personal factors that promote a flourishing human life. Topics will include: Personhood, abortion, personal relationships, social and class relationships, social conflicts, euthanasia, and assisted suicide.
For information regarding prerequisites for this course, please refer to the Academic Course Catalog.
Rationale
In recent years, traditional models and values of human life have come under serious question. With the growing acceptance of ethical relativism as well as the acceptance of functionalistic and materialistic models of human beings, moral values and decisions have become vague and confusing. This course will help students to steer more clearly through the moral fog they will encounter as they attempt to live out a Christian ideal of a flourishing human life themselves and within a social matrix with others of varying beliefs and values.
Course Assignment
Textbook readings and lecture presentations
Course Requirements Checklist
After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview.
Discussions (3)
Discussion threads are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the student is required to provide a thread in response to the provided prompt for each forum. Each thread must be 550–650 words and demonstrate course-related knowledge. In addition to the thread, the student is required to reply to 1 other classmate’s thread the following week. Each reply must be 450–600 words (CLO: A, B, C, D; FSLO: CT 2, 3, CC 3, CGE 3, and SSI 3).
Topic and Bibliography Assignment
The student will submit a topic and bibliography in preparation for the Ethical Issue Research Paper Assignment. The topic submission must include a 75–150-word explanation and rationale. Turabian bibliographical entries to at least 2 relevant scholarly sources must be included for the bibliography (CLO: A, B, C, D; FSLO: CT 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, CC 3, and SSI 3).
Ethical Issue Research Paper Assignment
The student will write a 2,100-2,400-word research-based paper that focuses on applying the student’s chosen ethical system to a specific ethical issue cover in the curriculum. The paper must include at least one academic reference in addition to referencing the two course textbooks and the Bible (CLO: A, B, C, D; FSLO: CT 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, CC 3, and SSI 3).
Quizzes (4)
Each quiz will cover the Learn material for the assigned modules/weeks. Each quiz will be open-book/open-notes, contain 25 multiple-choice and true/false questions. Each quiz will have have a 30 minute time limit. (CLO: A, B, C, D, E; FSLO, CT 1, 3, 5 and CGE 3).
