Phil (244-301): Professional Responsibility - Sum.

2013 (1st session)

Instructor: D. L. Dillard (Don) Class Location: HSS 70
Office Hours: (MTWRF) 11:20-11:50, or by apt. Class Hours: (MTWRF) 9:45-11:15
Location: Hodges Library (next to Starbucks) Class Location: HSS 70
Contact: ddillar1@utk.edu

[I.] INTRODUCTION
In many ways, Professionalism is an activity that reinforces the legitimacy of Professions. When an
individual who acts as the representative of a given profession acts in a decidedly un-professional way to a patient
or client, then there is a real sense in which that oneunprofessional act may taint the entire profession. A reasonable
question can be drawn from this: Is there a duty to conduct oneself in a professional way for the sake of preserving
the legitimacy of a profession? Or to express this otherwise, does Professional Responsibility entail a duty to other
professionals, to the client/patients, or even the profession itself? It is tempting to think that the answer is obvious: of
course one ought to act professionally! However, there are many cases where acting professionally may conflict
with other moral duties, religious or political beliefs, or ones conscience, and in such cases one may strongly feel
morally obliged to act in ways that are un-professional. And here the answer is not so clear: Does professional
responsibility always and in every case trump all other considerations? Thus, the aim of this course is to develop a
better understanding of what being a Professional entails by exploring the ethical dimensions of such cases, and
thereby develop a better and more complete understanding of the self as a future (or current) professional.
[II.] Course Description & Prerequisites
Prerequisite(s): While students who have taken Philosophy (101) previously will have a slight advantage
over those who have not, there are no prerequisites for taking this course.
Catalogue Description: Critical analysis of selected classic texts from philosophy, religious studies, and social
sciences dealing with responsibility and the nature of professionalism. Theoretical
principles and analytical skills applied to selected case studies and other detailed
descriptions of professional practice from engineering/architecture, business/accounting,
and at least one of law/politics, the helping professions (social work, human services,
ministry), or teaching.
Levels: Undergraduate (3.000 Credit hours)
Schedule Types: Lecture
Course Attributes: Satisfies GenEd - Arts/Humanities (AH), GenEd - Oral Communication (OC)
[III.] REQUIRED READINGS
No textbook required; all readings will be posted on Blackboard (online.utk.edu)
[IV.] COURSE OBJECTIVE(S)
1. Because completion of this course may satisfy either the (OC) oral communication or the (AH) arts and
humanities General Education requirement, emphasis is placed on oral presentation with respect to the
arts and humanities in the context of Professional Responsibility.
2. In this regard, the instructor is not insensitive to the fact that public speaking is very often a source of
psychological discomfort (if not horror) for some individuals. Furthermore, because so much
Phil (244-301): Professional Responsibility - Sum.2013 (1st session)

communication today occurs via electronic media (email, facebook, twitter, etc.), being able to
communicate effectively requires proficiency in both the real world and in cyberspace.
3. To this end, the electronic portion of this course (via Blackboard) has a dual role: first, to help you develop
effective electronic communication, and second, to help you develop your communication skills in a safe
place for your later oral presentation. Thus, you will be evaluated not only with respect to how well you are
able to communicate orally, but also with respect to how well you are able to communicate electronically.
4. Finally: As an educational philosophy, I employ the concept of relevance as an educational tool. While
epistemic binging and purging (i.e., memorizing for a test then purging it immediately thereafter) is a
standard adaptive strategy for students to make the grade, there is a very real sense in which this
impoverishes rather than enriches students. Learning and understanding occurs best when the subject
matter is relevant to the student as a person which is to say, the phenomenological self which includes
the background beliefs, perceptions, desires, and goals of a person as oriented to some future state of Being.
Thus, your final project will not be on professional responsibility per se, but on professional responsibility
with respect to the kind of person you are(e.g., if your major is psychology, then professional
responsibility with respect to psychology, etc.).
[V.] CLASSROOM POLICIES, RULES & PROCEDURES
1. Academic Honesty Statement
a. Each student is responsible for his/her own personal integrity in academic life. While there is no
affirmative duty to report the academic dishonesty of another, each student, given the dictates of
his/her own conscience, may choose to act on any violation of the Honor Statement.
b. Students are also responsible for any acts of plagiarism. Plagiarism is using the intellectual
property of someone else without giving proper credit. The undocumented use of someone elses
words or ideas in any medium of communication (unless such information is recognized as
common knowledge) is a serious offense, subject to disciplinary action that may include failure in
a course and/or dismissal from the university.

Specific examples of plagiarism are
i. Copying without proper documentation (quotation marks and a citation) written or
spoken words, phrases, or sentences from any source.
ii. Summarizing without proper documentation (usually a citation) ideas from another
source (unless such information is recognized as common knowledge).
iii. Borrowing facts, statistics, graphs, pictorial representations, or phrases without
acknowledging the source (unless such information is recognized as common
knowledge).
iv. Collaborating on a graded assignment without instructors approval.
v. Submitting work, either in whole or part, created by a professional service and used
without attribution (e.g., paper, speech, bibliography, or photograph).
2. Classroom Conduct
a. This course covers a variety of hot button social issues with regard to professional responsibility,
and thus there is a predictable tendency for discussion to become heated. However, this tendency
is not a license to cultivate indecency, or to act in an uncivil and aggressive way to your fellow
students (or the instructor!). Please keep the discussion pleasant; unpleasant people may be asked
to leave.
b. Because giving oral presentations are always psychologically discomforting, students are expected
and required to be maximally respectful during the presentations of their fellow students. While I
am flexible with many policies and rules, this particular rule of conduct is a zero tolerance policy
such that you will be asked to leave and will not be welcomed back without some form of sincere
compensatory act (e.g., an apology to the student and class, etc).
Phil (244-301): Professional Responsibility - Sum.2013 (1st session)

c. During class you may experience a near overwhelming compulsion to check e-mail, twitter, text
message, facebook, myspace, etc., on a laptop or other multimedia device dont panic! Recent
studies have indicated that while this is a symptom of habitual rudeness, it is a condition that can
nevertheless be reversed by simply resisting the urge. Students who are unableto resist this urge
may be asked to leave in order to contemplate appropriate uses of electronic devices.
3. Make-ups
a. Because life is often unpredictable, and because what happens to us is sometimes beyond our
control, missing vital dates or being unable to finish an assignment on time may warrant a make-
up at the discretion of the instructor.
4. Disability Statement
a. In accordance with the requirements of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the
Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, The University of Tennessee affirmatively states that it
does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, or disability in its education programs and
activities, and this policy extends to employment by the University.
b. Any student who feels s/he may need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability
should contact me privately to discuss your specific needs. For more information, contact the
Office of Disability Services at 865-974-6087 in 2227 Dunford Hall.
5. Syllabus Caveat
a. This syllabus is, in essence, a contract between you (the student) and me (the instructor).
However, while I will make every reasonable effort to provide sufficient notice for changes that
are in my judgment ceteris paribus necessary, I nevertheless reserve the right to change the
syllabus for any reason at any time.
[VI.] GRADE DISTRIBUTION
1. In-class participation & attendance (10 points each)
2. On-line discussion participation as Responder & Poster (20 points each)
3. Peer Review & Commentary (10 points each)
4. Research Project Thesis & Draft (40 points each)
5. Discussion Presentation (100 points)
6. Persuasive Speech Presentation (150 points)
[VII.] GRADING SCALE (out of 400 points)
A (376-400) A- (360-372) B+ (348-356) B (332-344) B- (320-328) C+ (308-316)
C (292-304) C- (280-288) D+ (268-276) D (252-264) D- (240-248) F (00-236)
[VIII.] COURSE REQUIREMENTS & WEIGHTED TOTALS
[VIII.a] Class Attendance & Participation Requirement (5%)
To earn full credit, the student must: (i.) attend all classes, and (ii.) participate in a lively but civil
manner to class discussions & presentations.
[VIII.b] Discussion Board & Oral Presentation Requirement (35%)
Phil (244-301): Professional Responsibility - Sum.2013 (1st session)

To earn full credit, the student must: (i.) summarize the daily reading on the discussion board
(once, as a Poster), and (ii.) respond to the discussion board post (once per week, as a Responder),
and (iii.) perform an oral presentation (once, as an Advocate or Detractor).
[VIII.c] Research Project & Persuasive Speech (60%)
To earn full credit, the student must: (i.) provide one peer review for a fellow students research
project OR provide one peer commentary for a fellow students Persuasive Speech, and (ii.)
submit a thesis for instructor review on the intended research topic, and (iii.) submit a draft for
instructor review on the selected research topic, and (iv.) provide a Persuasive Speech to the class
on the selected research topic.






[IX.] CLASS SCHEDULE
Date Daily Discussion
Topic / Due Date
Daily Discussion
Presenter(s)
Assignment for next class
session
Discussion Poster
on Assignment
May 30
th
Week 1
Orientation &
Introductions
No discussion
presentations
Read: Carnegie and Einswein
The Art of Public Speaking
(chapters 1-3)
No required posts
or responses
May 31
st
The Art of Public
Speaking (part 1)
No discussion
presentations
Read: Carnegie and Einswein
The Art of Public Speaking
(chapters 4-6)
No required posts
or responses
June 3
rd
Week 2

The Art of Public
Speaking (part 2)
No discussion
presentations
Read: Joan Callahan Basics
and Background (pp. 1-14)
Poster 1: tba
Poster 2: tba
Responder Grp: (A)
June 4
th
Moral Theories
(part 1)
Advocate: tba
Detractor: tba
Read: Joan Callahan Basics
and Background (pp. 15-25)
Poster 1: tba
Poster 2: tba
Responder Grp: (B)
June 5
th
Moral Theories
(part 2)
Advocate: tba
Detractor: tba
Read: Bernard Barber
Professions and Emerging
Professions
Poster 1: tba
Poster 2: tba
Responder Grp: (C)
June 6
th
Professions &
Professionals (part 1)
Advocate: tba
Detractor: tba
Read: Paul Faber Client &
Professional
Poster 1: tba
Poster 2: tba
Responder Grp: (D)
June 7
th
Professions &
Professionals (part 2)
Thesis Due
Advocate: tba
Detractor: tba
Read: J. Angelo Corlett
Collective Moral
Responsibility
Poster 1: tba
Poster 2: tba
Responder Grp: (A)
June 10
th
Week 3

Professions &
Professionals (part 3)
Advocate: tba
Detractor: tba
Read: Rem B. Edwards
Confidentiality and the
Poster 1: tba
Poster 2: tba
Please visit the Philosophy Departments UT website (philosophy.utk.edu), Facebook site, and Blackboard
site (online.utk.edu; access limited to current majors) for a variety of resources helpful to those studying
Philosophy as well as information about our degree programs (including two new major concentrations:
Legal & Political Philosophy, Philosophy of Science & Medicine) and other opportunities for
undergraduatesincluding our scholarships, annual essay contest, and Philosophy Club.
Phil (244-301): Professional Responsibility - Sum.2013 (1st session)

Professions Responder Grp: (B)
June 11
th
Professions &
Professionals (part 4)
Advocate: tba
Detractor: tba
Read: Jeffrey Montrose
Reluctant Soldiers
Poster 1: tba
Poster 2: tba
Responder Grp: (C)
June 12
th
Non-traditional
Professions &
Professional Issues
(part 1)
Advocate: tba
Detractor: tba
Read: Denis G. Arnold &
Keith Bustos Business,
ethics, and global climate
change
Poster 1: tba
Poster 2: tba
Responder Grp: (D)
June 13
th
Non-traditional
Professions &
Professional Issues
(part 2)
Advocate: tba
Detractor: tba
Read: Peter A. French
Corporate Moral Agency
Poster 1: tba
Poster 2: tba
Responder Grp: (A)
June 14
th
Non-traditional
Professions &
Professional Issues
(part 3)
Advocate: tba
Detractor: tba
Read: Mike W. Martin
Whistleblowing
Poster 1: tba
Poster 2: tba
Responder Grp: (B)
June 17
th
Week 4

Whistleblowing Advocate: tba
Detractor: tba
Read: William F. May
Politics: The Despised
Profession
Poster 1: tba
Poster 2: tba
Responder Grp: (C)
June 18
th
Issues in Politics
(part 1)
Advocate: tba
Detractor: tba
Read: John C. Danforth The
Point of Serving
Poster 1: tba
Poster 2: tba
Responder Grp: (D)
June 19
th
Issues in Politics
(part 2)
Draft Due
Advocate: tba
Detractor: tba
Read: Kenneth Kipnis
Professional Responsibility
and the Distribution of Legal
Services
Poster 1: tba
Poster 2: tba
Responder Grp: (A)
June 20
th
Issues in Law (part 1) Advocate: tba
Detractor: tba
Read: John Kleinig Judicial
Corrosion
Poster 1: tba
Poster 2: tba
Responder Grp: (B)
June 21
st
Issues in Law (part 2) Advocate: tba
Detractor: tba
Read: James Rachels Active
and Passive Euthanasia
Poster 1: tba
Poster 2: tba
Responder Grp: (C)
June 24
th
Week 5

Issues in Medicine
(part 1)
Advocate: tba
Detractor: tba
Read: Judith Jarvis
Thompson A Defense of
Abortion
Poster 1: tba
Poster 2: tba
Responder Grp: (D)
June 25
th
Issues in Medicine
(part 2)
Advocate: tba
Detractor: tba
Read: Don Marquis Why
Abortion is Immoral
Poster 1: tba
Poster 2: tba
Responder Grp: (A)
June 26
th
Issues in Medicine
(part 3)
Advocate: tba
Detractor: tba
Read: Norman Daniels
Equality of Access to Health
Care
Poster 1: tba
Poster 2: tba
Responder Grp: (B)
June 27
th
Issues in Journalism
(part 1)
Advocate: tba
Detractor: tba
Read: Barbara ThomaB
Wikileaks and the question
of responsibility
Poster 1: tba
Poster 2: tba
Responder Grp: (C)
June 28
th
Issues in Journalism
(part 2)
Advocate: tba
Detractor: tba
Read: John C Merrill
Professionalization of
Journalism
Poster 1: tba
Poster 2: tba
Responder Grp: (D)

Phil (244-301): Professional Responsibility - Sum.2013 (1st session)

July 1
st
Week 6

Final Persuasive
Speeches Group (1)
Presenter 1: tba
Commentator 1: tba
Presenter 2: tba
Commentator 2: tba
Presenter 3: tba
Commentator 3: tba
Presenter 4: tba
Commentator 4: tba
Presenter 5: tba
Commentator 5: tba
Presenter 6: tba
Commentator 6: tba
Presenter 7: tba
Commentator 7: tba
Presenter 8: tba
Commentator 8: tba
No assigned reading No required posts
or responses
July 2
nd
Final Persuasive
Speeches Group (2)
Presenter 1: tba
Commentator 1: tba
Presenter 2: tba
Commentator 2: tba
Presenter 3: tba
Commentator 3: tba
Presenter 4: tba
Commentator 4: tba
Presenter 5: tba
Commentator 5: tba
Presenter 6: tba
Commentator 6: tba
Presenter 7: tba
Commentator 7: tba
Presenter 8: tba
Commentator 8: tba
No assigned reading No required posts
or responses
July 3
rd
Final Persuasive
Speeches Group (3)
Presenter 1: tba
Commentator 1: tba
Presenter 2: tba
Commentator 2: tba
Presenter 3: tba
Commentator 3: tba
Presenter 4: tba
Commentator 4: tba
Presenter 5: tba
Commentator 5: tba
Presenter 6: tba
Commentator 6: tba
Presenter 7: tba
Commentator 7: tba
Presenter 8: tba
Commentator 8: tba
Presenter 8: tba
Commentator 8: tba
No assigned reading No required posts
or responses