Ethics

Ethics

Requirements

Due date and time: 3/25/2017 by midnight.  Late papers are deducted 10% immediately and an additional 10% is deducted at the beginning of each subsequent class period until it is handed in.  (Turn in via Sakai).

File name: should follow this format: “LASTNAMEFIRSTNAMEE1PHI181S2017.doc”

Length: at least 2000 words.

Font: 12pt.

Spacing: double with .5 inch indentations of the first line of each paragraph.

Purpose of Assignment: The main goal of this writing assignment is as an evaluation of the level of sophistication at which students are interacting with the texts.  In order to meet this goal, each essay is expected to reference at least five of the assigned readings as well as at least one additional scholarly article.  Moreover, answers should not only focus on establishing the proposed thesis statement (see below) but thesis statements should be shaped in such a way that they enable students to cover a wide range of the course material.

Title: Each essay should have a title that is both descriptive (of the thesis statement) and creative. For example: “The Case Against Legal Marijuana: For our Health, our Safety, and our Children’s Future”

Thesis Statement: Each essay should have a clear thesis statement that is presented in the introductory paragraph.  By thesis statement I mean a clear and concise (one or two sentences) summary of the main points (i.e. conclusions or answers) made in the essay.   Please be as specific as possible in outlining these points.  For example do not say “there are many distinctions between Mill and Kant’s theories.”  Rather, outline the specific distinctions (and main points) you will be making in the rest of the paper.

Essay Structure: Each essay should have an introduction, a body and a conclusion.  The introductory paragraph presents the main points and outlines the evidence provided.  The body establishes the main points presented in the introduction by presenting evidence (including numerous relevant citations with page numbers from the scholarly article you select and from the assigned texts), implementing technical language, and considering opposing viewpoints.  The conclusion reiterates the points presented in the introduction in a more sophisticated way, making use of the evidence and terminology presented in the body; the conclusion probably should not include any new information and should definitely not present any new opinions or theses.

Context: Where relevant, each essay should take into consideration the times and places in which the theories in question arose.

Personalization: Essays should not merely repeat what was said in class discussion or the texts. Students are encouraged to be creative in constructing these essays; imagine you were explaining these concepts to your close friend and that you want to make sure s/he understands the ideas.

Requirements (continued)

Spelling/Grammar/Clarity: Essays will not receive full-credit if there are numerous spelling and grammar errors.  Moreover, full-credit will not be received if thoughts are not clearly expressed in sentence-form or if there are multiple run-on sentences. Moreover, any technical concepts or key terms used in these essays should be followed by the student’s own paraphrase. The best way to avoid such errors is by reading through the essays numerous times (preferably out loud) before handing them in to assure the ideas have been presented as clearly as possible.  Getting started on the assignment in advance is also an effective method of minimizing such oversights and confusions.

Repetitiveness: Students should not waste space repeating the scenario they have decided to focus on.  Only provide a short synopsis in the introduction, during the process of explicating the thesis statement.

Freedom of Design: Students are welcome to develop their own essay topic distinct from those outlined below.  However, the main goal of the essay assignment, as outlined above, is to demonstrate sophisticated understanding of a large set of the course materials.  If a student elects do design their own topic, they should meet with Robert at least two weeks in advance of the due date.

Academic Integrity: All ideas presented in these essays are expected to be the students’ own.  If outside texts are considered, they should be carefully cited.  The following rule is recommended: when in down, cite it!  Consultation of online text summaries (such as 123helpme.com and sparknotes.com) is strongly discouraged (if used, take care to give credit). Remember that the purpose of this assignment is to demonstrate interaction with and understanding of the assigned text; thus, consultation of outside texts will likely cause more problems than it will solve.  I want to know what you took away from your study of the text.

Quotations: Each essay should include several well-selected quotations from a scholarly article and at least five of the assigned texts (including page numbers). Each quotation should be followed by a paraphrase (restate the idea in your own words), and should also explain the relevance of the given quote to the point being made.  For instance:  Author X said, “blah blah blah” (p. 14).  What he meant by this was, “blah blah.” This is related to my point that blah because blah.

Guidance Questions for Essay #1

Focus on one of the following moral quandaries in your paper.  Or come up with your own (approval required, two weeks prior to due date).

Question #1: Malcolm has just learned that his beloved Aunt Bee has passed away of a heart attack quite unexpectedly at the age of 62 while in seemingly good health.  To complicate matters, Malcolm, a 19-year-old student at Loyola University Chicago, is in a car with his Uncle Benny (Bee’s husband) near Wrigley Field following a Cubs game, when Malcolm gets the news (via a series of frantic texts from family members).  Uncle Benny, who is driving, actually does have a quite severe heart condition and has recently been counseled by doctors to avoid becoming agitated and alarmed.  Malcolm’s family members are advising him not to tell Benny the news during their two-hour drive back to Benny and Bee’s home.  Rather, they are insisting Malcolm wait so that the family can meet Benny at the house and so that Benny’s soothing sister, Jada, can give him the news once he is sitting calmly in his favorite chair with an ice tea and his regular sedative on board.  Would it be morally appropriate for Malcolm to withhold the truth from Benny as his family suggests?

Account for this action through a discussion of the major principles and key distinctions within the three major normative ethical theories we have discussed (utilitarianism, deontology and virtue ethics).  Social contract theory and the ethics of care may also be discussed. You will also need to find and reference one additional scholarly article on normative theory (preferably published within the last five years).

Question #2: Ming and Tanya are both hiking the Rocky Mountains north of Santa Fe, both get separated from their traveling companions, and both fall down the same abandoned mine shaft.  As a result of their falls, each sustains life-threatening wounds.  However, things aren’t entirely bleak; at the bottom of the shaft they are amazed to find the famous treasure of Forest Fenn.  They agree to split the findings (ultimately valued at over $10,000,000).  They also agree that, should one of them fail to make it out of the mine and down the mountain alive, the survivor will deliver the deceased’s share to the next of kin.  They look into each other’s eyes and make a solemn promise as they shake hands. Sadly, Ming succumbs to his wounds just after the two have succeeded in dragging the loot, and their own badly mangled bodies, out of the mine.   Tanya had always planned to donate her own half to an orphanage with which she had previously volunteered.  In reaching Santa Fe, she learns that Ming’s daughter (and next of kin), is a troubled woman named Selma.  Selma has a long, violent criminal record and is currently sitting in Sante Fe jail awaiting trial for killing two children in a botched robbery near the orphanage.   With the money, Tanya learns, Selma will hire a lawyer and be set loose (likely to commit additional atrocities).    Would it be right for Tanya to renege on her promise to Ming and donate the whole amount to the orphanage?

Account for this action through a discussion of the major principles and key distinctions within the three major normative ethical theories we have discussed (utilitarianism, deontology and virtue ethics).  Social contract theory and the ethics of care may also be discussed. You will also need to find and reference one additional scholarly article on normative theory (preferably published within the last five years).

Essay #1 Rubric