PHIL 220Moral Issues
- Faculty
- Arts
- Offered
- Fall
- Credit
- 0.5
- Last listed
- 1994–95
No longer offered. It’s in Waterloo’s scanned calendars from 1979–80 to 1994–95 (before that, 1963–64 to 1964–65 used the number for Logic, Introductory and Intermediate and Logic); the 1995–96 to 2023–24 calendars are on ucalendar.
The aim of this course is to improve the student's understanding of ethical ideas and principles by careful discussion of selected concrete moral issues, such as abortion, euthanasia, capital punishment, and violence. Choice of issues is partly determined by student interest.
As printed in the 1979–80 to 1994–95 calendars, read by OCR; the scanned page is the original. Later calendars (1995–96 on) aren’t on uwloo.
Reviewed on UW Flow
72% liked it71% easy71% useful
From 18 ratings and 6 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.
Be warned this course has the hardest markers for essays that I have ever have seen. The course is moral issues from the perspective of Libertarianism; for example, Narveson argues that global warming doesn't exist to justify his views. The professor (Christelis) reused Jan Narveson's past lectures and did not contribute anything. Essays are vague and the only feedback you will receive is a sentence.
Apr 2016 · didn’t like it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
Definitely would not recommend taking this course online.
Apr 2016 · didn’t like it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
Wish I took it in class instead. Online was a bit of a mess
Apr 2016 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
Texts are mandatory, since all essays, midterms and exams are based off the readings. Large price tag on each of the 3 books. Don't take if you don't want to do the readings.
In the end though, I actually enjoyed this course, I really did learn a lot about abortion, affirmative action, euthanasia, suicide and surrogate motherhood!Mar 2015 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
Good course that exposes you to a lot of viewpoints.
Dec 2015 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
Discussed on r/uwaterloo
17 posts and comments in 11 threads mention PHIL 220, July 2011 to December 2024. Quoted word for word, newest first; each reply sits under the post and the comment that started its branch. Search r/uwaterloo for newer posts.
Spring 2017
Has anyone else signed up for PHIL 121? 0 points, 5 comments
“I can't seem to find anything about this course online. I am signing up for PHIL121 as a first year CS, co-op student. …”
u/jacer21: “Fyi prior to Fall 2017 this was offered as PHIL 220.”
u/PPewt: “I took it a few years ago (as PHIL 220). It was pretty fun, lots of in-class discussions.”
My year at Waterloo (Exchange student review) 161 points, 41 comments
“Background: I am a student from the UK who did an integrated (meaning my grades counted) couple of semesters. It was my second year and I was in Arts. …”
u/snow-covered-hills: “What were your favourite courses?”
u/mesutwilshere12: “PSCI 369, PHIL 220, ECON 302 was well taught, PSCI 257, ECON 254”
Winter 2016
Philosophy minor? 1 point, 9 comments
“Currently in Math/BBA 1B, thinking of switching to CS/STATS double major. I'm considering in minoring in either economics or philosophy to fulfill the breadth and depth requirement. …”
u/Gibstick: “… PHIL 220 is the next course I took. Unfortunately I took it online. I think it would've been much more enjoyable with class discussions. The coursework involved reading some books and essays, and then writing essays on those. Don't slack off on the reading. …”
u/ObscureMeaning: “… Phil 220 seems great as well but I'm not sure about the essays. Do you think the courses had an impact on you on a personal level? How hard and time consuming were the essays? …”
u/Gibstick: “… Keep an open mind for Phil 220 and I think you'd be able to pull off 90+ if you were good at writing, but otherwise 80+ should be very doable. The essays weren't that time consuming. Again the most important thing is to keep up with the reading. …”
Fall 2015
What are some of the most inspiring/mind-opening courses you've ever taken? 34 points, 45 comments
u/mudkipzftw: “[[PHIL 220]] Moral issues. It'll open you up to different point of views on controversial topics.”
Spring 2015
PHIL 226 or PHIL 215? 4 points, 7 comments
“PHIL 226 with Carla Fehr or PHIL 215 (unknown professor yet)? Based on your personal opinion or others in regards to difficulty and level of interest. Thanks in advance!”
u/kalimeo: “I recommend either PHIL 220.5, although Phil's 101 is a fine course as well (butdontlookattheceiling! )”
u/OccasionallyWeDie: “PHIL 220 is pretty interesting. I'd highly recommend it if you can get it with Darlene Drecun.”
An elective that requires writing essays as part of the course 7 points, 11 comments
“Hi everyone, I avoided writing essays for as long as I remember, and now I am an adult who writes like a five year old. …”
u/Dr__Sens: “ENGL 109 (Intro to Academic Writing) or PHIL 220 (Moral Issues; 2000 word essay)”
Winter 2015
Free Talk Friday 14 points, 66 comments
“Welcome to Free Talk Friday, where you are able to talk about whatever you want. Please keep it respectful and remember that subreddit rules still apply.”
u/Dr__Sens: “I'm really late in choosing Spring courses... anyone got any suggestions on useful/good electives to take?”
u/NovemberSun: “I'm planning to take PHIL 220 (Moral Issues) and BET 100 online (Entrepreneurship). Anyone taken these know what I should expect?”
What is your favourite course you've taken at UW? 18 points, 63 comments
“I'd rather not stick to the exact beaten path of my major. I'd like to add in a few cool courses in my four years here. What's your favourite course?”
u/1530: “PHIL220”
u/DrSeafood: “Phil 220, Moral Issues. I had Matthew something, he was one of the most amazing teachers I've had here. Also CS 234 with JP Pretti. He is a pedagogical genius.”
Winter 2013
Who has taken PHIL 220 - Moral Issues Online? 0 points, 2 comments
u/kieranc32: “I'm set to take Moral Issues Online with Micheal McEwan this summer during my co-op term. I'm wondering about the workload and how it is set up; is it a good course to have taken during a co-op term? What were your impressions of it? …”
Fall 2011
Need Electives for 2b term, You guys must know some light courses. 4 points, 23 comments
u/Stratisphear: “PHIL 220. Take home Midterm, take home final, no assignments.”
Spring 2011
PHIL220? 4 points, 12 comments
u/Mpx: “Hi Reddit, I'm looking for electives to take in the Fall term, and I was wondering if anyone has taken Philosophy 220 (Moral Issues) in the past. What's the work load like (compared to other Philosophy/Arts courses)? Is the content interesting? …”
[deleted]: “… I took PHIL 220 in Fall 2008 and PHIL 226 in Fall 2009.”
Check it elsewhere
- Undergraduate Calendar, 1995–96If it ran past 1994–95, on ucalendar
- Course outlinesSyllabi from past terms (UW login)
- UW FlowStudent ratings and reviews
- WClassesPast sections back to 2004, and who taught them
In the scanned calendars
How it read in each calendar from 1963–64 to 1994–95, newest first. The text is OCR of the scanned pages; years whose wording matches are shown once, from the clearest scan. Each year links to its page on uwloo and to that page of the scanned PDF.
1979–80 to 1994–95 15 calendars
The aim of this course is to improve the student's understanding of ethical ideas and principles by careful discussion of selected concrete moral issues, such as abortion, euthanasia, capital punishment, and violence. Choice of issues is partly determined by student interest.
Offered Fall · 3 class hours a week · 0.5 credit
Not in the 1965–66 to 1978–79 calendars.
1964–65 1 calendar
Another title: Logic, probably a different course under the same number (or a misread scan).
Rigorous and systematic treatment of truth-functional and quantificational theory, with some treatment also devoted to semantical and metalinguistic theory, proof theory, the foundations of mathematics, inductive logic, and non-extensional systems.
Philosophy 220 gives the student ample preparation for further work in mathematical logic, philosophical analysis, and the philosophy of science. It should also prove very useful for those doing work in linguistics.
3 hours.
Prerequisite: None.
1963–64 1 calendar
Another title: Logic, Introductory and Intermediate, probably a different course under the same number (or a misread scan).
Various systems of deductive logic. Inductive logic and scientific method. As compared to the elementary logic, contained in Philosophy 100 the treatment here will be more extensive and lay greater emphasis on the attaining of technical facility. This course may be taken without Philosophy 100 as a prerequisite but may be taken subsequent to Philosophy 100 without fear of redundancy.
3 hours.