Maricopa Community Colleges  HUM203   19956-20035 
Official Course Description: MCCCD Approval: 06/27/95
HUM203 19956-20035 LEC 4 Credit(s) 4 Period(s)
Humanities: The Intellectual Community/Legal Ethics
Presents legal ethical issues through readings from philosophy and literature as well as discussions based on the performing and visual arts. Required attendance at off-campus events. Prerequisites: None.
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MCCCD Official Course Competencies:
 
HUM203   19956-20035 Humanities: The Intellectual Community/Legal Ethics
1. Describe the basic Western and Eastern philosophical schools of thought as they relate to ethical questions that arise within the context of the legal system. (I)
2. Explain how the needs, values, and goals of the legal institution are sometimes in conflict with the needs, values, and goals of the individual. (II)
3. Explain how classical and contemporary literature clarify values and assist one in resolving the conflict between the legal institution and the individual. (III)
4. Explain how the performing arts and the visual arts help define and illustrate human values in the context of ethical questions that arise within the legal system. (IV)
5. Define, explain, and defend the basis of a personal value system. (V)
6. Describe how that personal value system is supported by concepts presented through the philosophy, literature, performing and visual arts. (V)
7. Explain how that personal value system can be integrated into the value system of the legal community. (V)
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MCCCD Official Course Outline:
 
HUM203   19956-20035 Humanities: The Intellectual Community/Legal Ethics
    I. Overview of Western and Eastern Philosophy
        A. Western philosophy
          1. Classical Christian tradition
          2. Dialectical tradition
          3. Naturalistic tradition
          4. Utilitarianism
          5. Analytic tradition
          6. Existentialism
        B. Eastern philosophy
          1. Hinduism
          2. Buddhism
          3. Taoism
          4. Confucianism
        C. Application to ethical questions in the legal system
          1. Attorney ethical obligations and conflict resolutions
          2. Administration of punishment
          3. Attaining justice while maintaining individual dignity and autonomy
          4. Limiting the truth-finding process
      II. Conflicts Among Needs, Values, and Goals of Legal System and the Individual
          A. AttorneyÕs goal
            1. ÒWinÓ or discover truth
            2. Conflict with overall goal of the adversarial system
          B. SocietyÕs desire for justice
            1. Conflict with the individual desire for privacy
            2. Conflict with the individual desire for personal autonomy
          C. Search for truth vs. individual integrity
          D. Ethical individual response to legal mandates
            1. Definition of ÒgoodÓ
            2. Perception of ÒgoodÓ
          E. Individual actor within the criminal justice system
            1. Justifying ethics
            2. Achieving a morally good end
        III. Application of Literature to Ethical Conflicts
            A. PlatoÕs ÒApologyÓ
            B. KafkaÕs ÒMetamorphosis"
            C. ÒMythology of Crime and Criminal JusticeÓ
            D. MachiavelliÕs ÒThe PrinceÓ
            E. BachÕs ÒIllusionsÓ
            F. Other
          IV. Application of the Performing and Visual Arts to Humanistic Inquiries Within the Legal System
              A. Role of drama in humanistic inquiries
              B. Role of music in humanistic inquiries
              C. Role of visual arts in humanistic inquiries
              D. Other
            V. Development of a Personal Value System
                A. Ethical position in reference to the legal system
                B. Ethical position illustration
                  1. Using philosophical references
                  2. Using literary references
                  3. Using performing/visual arts references
                C. Conflict explanation
                  1. Personal ethical position
                  2. Legal system
                D. Conflict resolution
                  1. Personal ethical position
                  2. Legal system
                E. Written and/or oral presentation of personal value system/conflict resolution
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