Spring 2015

PHI005: Evil
Michael Nelson
Email: mnelson@ucr.edu
Lecture: T/H 11:10-12:30 UNLH 1000
Office hours: T 12:30-1:30 or by appointment
This is a course on the nature of evil. Questions to be explored include: What is evil? Are human evil
by nature? What is the source of evil? Is the existence of evil (and unnecessary suffering more
generally) problematic for Judeo-Christian-Islamic theistic conceptions of the world? In addition to
exploring these questions, we shall seek to understand both individual and group evil. For the latter, we
look at perpetrators of the holocaust, both the activities of high-level planners of the killings and lowlevel police forces that carried out some of the killings. Finally, we explore the philosophical issues
involved in responding to evil. In particular, we compare forgiveness, punishment, and reconciliation.
The goal of the course is not to present a view and off answers to these questions. We will look at
competing accounts, look at arguments for and against those accounts, and critically examine both our
own and otherss views. The primary aim is to come to think about these basic questions of human
existence in a critical and reflective way.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS: In-class midterm exam (20%); in-class final exam (25%); 2 3pg essays
(first 15%; second 20%); discussion section attendance and participation (15%); TA discretion (5%).
The midterm covers roughly the first half of the course and consists of short essay questions, multiplechoice questions, and passage identifications. The final is cumulative and consists of a set of short
essay questions, multiple-choice questions, and long essay questions. Essay topics for the two essays
will be handed out one week before they are due. In addition, you must: 1) attend lectures and
discussions; 2) keep up on the reading assignments; and 3) ensure that you are understanding the
lecture material and keeping on top of the material being presented and discussed.
There are in-lecture quizzes that are extra credit on the material from previous lectures or the reading
assigned that day. Only clicker responses will be recorded, so to participate, you must get a clicker
from the bookstore and register it on the course ilearn page. However, the quizzes are optional and so
you are not required to obtain a clicker.
Attendance in discussion section is mandatory. Missing 2 discussion section meetings (absent
extraordinary circumstances and permission from me) will result in a full-letter grade drop.
To receive a passing grade for the course, you must receive individual passing grades on the midterm,
final, and each essay; you cannot simply skip one of the assignments. Unless prior permission is
granted, late assignments will receive a failing grade. The readings, while short in overall page
numbers, are often dense and difficult. You should plan to read them at least twice: Once before
lecture and once after.
There is a NO LAPTOP in lecture and discussion sections policy for this course.
Plagiarism of any sort will not be tolerated. Any work submitted as your own absolutely must be your
own. Any infraction will result in a failing grade for the course and will be reported to the University.
If you are struggling with the material, come and meet either with your TA or professor to get help.
DO NOT CHEAT in any way. Essays must be submitted via SafeAssign. Hard copies of the essays
will not be graded. For an explanation of what constitutes plagiarism, see
<http://library.ucr.edu/?view=libraries/science/exhibits/academic_integrity/index.html >.

WARNING: SEXUAL AND VIOLENT MATERIAL. Some of the material presented in this course is
graphically violent and explicitly sexual. Please either do not take the course or speak with me if such
material is offensive or upsetting. There are films that are required course material. While we will
watch some of them during lecture time, others (because of their length) must be viewed outside of
class time.
There are NO REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS to purchase for the course. All readings are available on the
ilearn course page.

Schedule of Readings
Week 1:
Week 2:

Week 3:
Week 4:
Week 5:
Week 6:
Week 7:
Week 8:
Week 9:

Week 10:

THE EXISTENCE OF GOD AND THE PROBLEM OF EVIL

31 March Introduction
2 April Mackie Evil and Omnipotence
Watch on own FILM: Terry Gilliams The Fisher King (137 minutes)
7 April Leibniz Real-Life Dialogue on Human Freedom and the Origin of Evil
Listen on own to mp3 audio file Adams on Evil
EVIL AND HUMAN NATURE
9 April Mencius Li Lou and Hsun Tzu Mans Human Nature is Evil
14 April in class FILM: Peter Brooks Lord of the Flies (92 minutes)
16 April Hobbes Leviathan (chapters xiii-xiv; xvii)
FIRST 3PG ESSAY DUE
21 April Rousseau A Discourse on Inequality (selections)
23 April Augustine Confessions (books 2, 4.15, 5.10, 7.5-7.13)
28 April Kant Religion Within the Bounds of Reason Alone (Book I)
30 April Kant Religion Within the Bounds of Reason Alone (Book I)
5 May
In-class MIDTERM EXAM
7 May February in class FILM: Alfred Hitchcocks Rope (81 minutes)
12 May Nietzsche On the Genealogy of Morality (first essay, 4-16)
14 May Nietzsche On the Genealogy of Morality (second essay, 1-14)
THE PSYCHOLOGY OF GENOCIDE
19 May Arendt Thinking and Moral Considerations
21 May Goldhagen Hitlers Willing Executioners (chapters 7-8)
26 May Milgram The Behavioral Study of Obedience
in class FILM: Obedience (45 minutes) + lecture
28 May Doris Persons, Situations, and Virtue Ethics
SECOND 3PG ESSAY DUE
PUNISHING, FORGIVING, AND RECONCILATION
2 June Read Punishment handout
Watch on own: FILM: Michael Hanekes Cache (118 minutes)
4 June Tutu No Future Without Forgiveness (selections)
Griswold On Forgiveness (New York Times article)

FINAL EXAM: Thursday 11 June 8:00am-11:00am