Moral Choice
Philosophy 152
Sections A03 and A04
Winter/Spring 2008
6-8 pages
due date:
Wednesday, 30 April 2008Before 3pm, at my office - Wister 225
There will be an envelope on my office door for final papers and any other final work, beginning the last day of classes, Friday, 25 April. I will be available in person during exam week by appointment and most of the day Wednesday.
description of assignment:
Unlike the first two essays, this assignment does not primarily involve giving any summary of other's viewpoints. Instead, the focus is upon developing and arguing for your own point of view on particular topic, in conversation with two or three other philosophers who also address that topic.Thus, you will begin your paper by stating and arguing for a narrowly focused thesis regarding some aspect of ethics that we have talked about during the course of the semester. It is important not only to state what you believe, but to give reasons for that belief in the form of a philosophical argument.
After stating and arguing for your point of view, you will then go on to interact with two or three philosophers who also address your thesis, agreeing and/or disagreeing with their points of view. You will have to answer any challenges they provide against your view. You may also use these philosophers for the purpose of further explication and argument in favor of your view.
In either case, you need to make sure that you give due consideration to viewpoints at odd with and objections against your point of view. As before, the arguments you give against your own view will be given more weight in determining your final than what you say in favor of your own view. Acting as an effecitve advocate for what you disagree with is an important philosophical skill.
Again, I would strongly suggest going back and reviewing the guidelines I gave for the first essay. Some further suggestions are implied by the evaluative criteria below.
criteria for evaluation:
The following kinds of criteria will be used in evaluating and grading your essay.- Do you clearly and carefully state your thesis?
- Do you provide adequate reasons, argumentation, and/or examples to back up your stated thesis?
- Does it make proper use of citations, quoting material accurately, in a proper form, and only when helpful and relevant?
- Do you go on to interact with two or three other philosophical perspectives in relationship to the thesis you are arguing for?
- When interacting with other philosophers, do you capture what they argue and give it a fair interpretation?
- Do you make proper use of citations, quoting material accurately, in a proper form, and only when helpful and relevant?
- Is there evidence that effort was put into writing the essay in terms of adequately meeting requirements, clarity, and technical care (e.g., avoiding spelling and grammatical errors)?
- Does the essay show that you understand the issue being addressed and its various assumptions and implications?
- Are any disagreements clearly presented and insightfully backed up with argumentation, examples, and evidence?
- Are agreements cogently justified by careful understanding and evaluation of the position?
- Are both sides given due consideration, providing a balanced and fair argument?
- Are your summary, arguments, and position organized clearly and in a logical way?
In order to get an "A" on this essay, you will have to do well in all of these areas.
possible topics:
The following is a list of the kinds of topics you might want to address. You may draw upon any philosophers we have read during the semester who you believe to be relevant to your. You are not limited to the topics listed here, but it would be a good idea to talk to me if you would like to write about a topic not on this list.[1] IWhat is it about human beings that makes us unique among the various living creatures that exist? It is one thing or several related things. What implications does this have for how we live and behave as human beings?
[2] Is there an ultimate goal to human life, a highest good for human persons? If so, what is it? Why is the nature of this good? How is it achieved?
[3] To what degree are conceptions of human nature and ethics wrapped up into social, religious, political, and cultural circumstances? How do communities, traditions, and narratives shape our experience of ourselves as human and as moral? Give some examples of the ways in which particular concepts are affective by wider forces.
[4] Are human beings basically good, basically bad, neutral, or a combination? What evidence is there for this conclusion? What does this imply about ethics, society, politics, and so on?
[5] What is the nature of human freedom? Are we absolutely and radically free? Or is our freedom limited within certain bounds? Is there anything we can do to destroy our own freedom?
[6] What is the cause of incontinence? Why we sometimes do something different from what we actually want to do? How is the possible? It is a result of ignorance, upbringing, freedom, or what?
[7] What does a good life look like? What are the characteristics of human happiness and fulfillment?
[8] What is the most compelling approach to ethics: virtue-ethics, deontology, utilitarianism, or some other view? Why? What are some of the defects in other approaches?
[9] There are various approaches even to something virtue-ethics. Explain some of the differences between pre-Christian and Christian virtue. Which do you find more helpful? Why? Use some specific virtues to illustrate your points.
[10] Consider a specific moral issue of some debate: war, obedience, euthanasia, lying, sexual ethics, the death penalty, suicide, animal welfare, abortion, assisting the poor, etc. Sticking to the more theoretical level, how do you think various theories would approach that issue? What are the strengths and weaknesses of those approaches?