Applied Philosophy

GS F312

Prof. Kumar Neeraj Sachdev

Chamber 6168-F / kns@pilani.bits-pilani.ac.in
Department of Humanities and Social Sciences
Class Room 6155

Case Study - Abortion

Susan met her husband when they both just graduated from law
school. She and her husband Rick wanted a large family and thus
they have four children. When the couples youngest child was old
enough to go to school Susan decided that she would like to return to
legal practice. She realized how much she missed what she used to
do before she became a mother and felt as if she had given up on
her career. After she talked to her husband about the child care
situation, Susan began her job application process as a legal
assistant at a law office. While searching for a job Susan became
pregnant and later on found out that the fetus has Down syndrome.
The doctor was unable to tell Susan whether the Down syndrome will
be mild or severe and knowing that having a child with a disability
may prevent her from ever returning to the working world she
decided to an abortion without her husbands knowledge.
Was what Susan did moral? Do you think she should have shared the
information with her husband?

Scope and Objective

The students will learn and reflect
through the philosophical perspectives of
human nature and society in various real
life issues pertaining to moral dilemmas,
social justice, equality, technology and
the internet.
They will be able to apply and appreciate
the
advantages
of
philosophical
perspectives in the contemporary world.

Text book

Jostein
Sophie's
London:
1996
Edition)

Gaarder,
World,
Phoenix,
(Paperback

Reference Books
I. A.C. Grayling, Philosophy: A Guide through the Subject,
Oxford University Press, 1995
II. Richard Norman, The Moral Philosophers: An Introduction to
Ethics, Second Edition, Oxford University Press, 1998
III. Peter Singer, A Companion to Ethics, Oxford: Blackwell
Publishers, 1993
IV. Charles E Harris, Michael S. Pritchard & Michael J. Rabins,
Engineering Ethics, New Delhi, India: Cengage Learning
India Private Limited, 2009
V. George Reynolds, Ethics in Information Technology, New
Delhi, India: Cengage Learning India Private Limited, 2007
VI. Duncan Langford, Internet Ethics, London: Macmillan Press
Ltd., 2000

3. Course Plan:
Learning Objectives

Topics to be covered

To get acquainted with the

content of different point
of views
in
the
discipline
of
Philosophy

Philosophical Perspectives
The
Ancient, The Modern and
The
Contemporary

To
get
familiar
with Ethical Perspective
different
aspects of moral values,
virtues,
principles, and rules
To know the nature and
Logical Perspective
correctness of reasoning in
arguments

To understand the
nature and diverse
aspects
of
knowledge
To
comprehend
various
approaches
to the contours of
reality

Epistemological
Perspective

Metaphysical
Perspective

To know the nature of God, Soul, Body and

fundamental
the World
philosophical issues

To comprehend the
socio-ethical nature of
dilemmas in the world
To examine the causes of
poverty
To understand the
arguments for and
against mercy killing
To examine the right to
abort
unwanted pregnancies
To analyze philosophical
implications in concrete

Ethics and Moral

Dilemmas
World Poverty
Euthanasia

Abortion

Case Studies

To assess the interlocked Social Justice and Equality

characterization of justice
and equality
To
understand
and Society and
evaluate
the
social Expression
constraints on freedom of
expression
To
assess
bases
of
punishment

Freedom

of

philosophical Crime and Punishment

theories
of

To examine the challenges Politics and the problem of

of politics to moral values
dirty hands
To
analyze
the
moral War and Peace
justification of war and
peace
To analyze
implications
situations

philosophical Case Studies

in concrete

To appreciate the
Social and Value
importance of social and
Dimensions of
value oriented implications Technology
of Technology
To understand the need for Computer and Internet
security of information
Crime
systems
To evaluate the impact of
information technology on
certain parameters of
quality of life

Impact of Information
Technology
on the Quality of Life

To assess the importance

of democratic values such
as freedom and equality in
the use of internet

Democratic Values and the

Internet

To analyze philosophical
implications in concrete
situations

Case Studies

Evaluation Scheme
EC Evaluatio Duratio Weighta
ge
n
N n
o Compone
nt
1 Mid
90
30
Semester Minut
Test
es
2

Assignmen t / Case
Study /
Report

30

Date
and
Time
08/10
2:00
-03:30
PM
To be
announc
ed

5. Chamber Consultation Hour:

To be announced in the class. (Thursdays 4.00 pm
4.50 pm)
6. Notices:
Notices, if any, concerning the course will be
shared in the class and posted through institute
email to all registered students.
7. Make-up Policy:
Make-up component(s) will be allowed provided the
concerned student submits the documented
proof.
Instructor-in-charge

Case Study
Susan met her husband when they both just graduated from law
school. She and her husband Rick wanted a large family and thus
they have four children. When the couples youngest child was
old enough to go to school Susan decided that she would like to
return to legal practice. She realized how much she missed what
she used to do before she became a mother and felt as if she
had given up on her career. After she talked to her husband
about the child care situation, Susan began her job application
process as a legal assistant at a law office. While searching for a
job Susan became pregnant and later on found out that the fetus
has Down syndrome. The doctor was unable to tell Susan
whether the Down syndrome will be mild or severe and knowing
that having a child with a disability may prevent her from ever
returning to the working world she decided to an abortion
without her husbands knowledge.
Was what Susan did moral? Do you think she should have shared
the information with her husband?

Thank You.