PHIL 225 Paper Information
Selecting a Topic
-Pick any debatable dilemma where a moral agent has to make an evaluation
-The amount of appropriate background research will vary depending on the case you choose
-Unique, obscure, or personal experience dilemmas are encouraged (just ask if you are not sure!)
-Pick a topic that can align with an engaged/experiential
-Browse the Issues & Controversies database posted in Week 2 (fact files for all of the issues in this database are available upon request)
Overall Information
The paper assignment involves the analysis/evaluation of moral theories applied to an issue. The length of the paper will be 4-6 double- spaced pages. You can use any citation style (MLA, APA, etc.) so long as you are consistent. I will provide an optional opportunity for you to submit a draft of your paper for review if you submit it early enough in advance of the due date. The objective is to explore how theories of morality would evaluate your case and also think about how you could have implemented action on your topic if we were able to perform an experiential aspect (in a “pre” or “post” COVID environment).
Suggested Outline for Paper
Introduce your case/dilemma/topic
-Explain exactly what your moral case/dilemma/topic is
Discuss first moral theory (moral theories to choose from include ethical egoism, cultural relativism, utilitarianism, Kantianism, Rawls Theory of Justice, or virtue ethics)
-Explain how the theory works, the key concepts involved, and how you determine whether something is moral
Discuss second moral theory (moral theories to choose from include ethical egoism, cultural relativism, utilitarianism, Kantianism, Rawls Theory of Justice, or virtue ethics)
-Explain how the theory works, the key concepts involved, and how you determine whether something is moral
Apply the first theory to the case
-What conclusion would the theory come to (i.e. for or against?) and why
Apply the second theory to the case
-What conclusion would the theory come to (i.e. for or against?) and why
Explain a real-life engaged/experiential project that you could have conducted if there were not any social distancing restrictions
-How could you take action someday on advancing a position or somehow engaging with others on your case/dilemma/topic and how does it relate to the moral analysis or possibly impact your views on it
Sample Topics
-Is capital punishment morally justifiable?
-Is abortion in the case of rape morally justifiable?
-Is euthanasia morally justifiable?
-Is it morally justifiable to lie on a resume?
-Is it morally justifiable to deny “universal” human rights?
-Is it morally justifiable to torture someone for the purpose of national security? -Is stem cell research moral?
-Is stealing during times of natural disaster moral?
-Is the mass production of animals for food moral?
-Is firing someone that is rumored to have AIDS moral?
-Are political campaign contributions from corporations moral?
-Do we have an obligation to eat a vegetarian diet?
-Do we have an obligation to vote in elections?
-Do we have an obligation to buy American-made products?
-Do we have an obligation to buy fair trade products?
-Do we have an obligation to buy organically grown fruits and vegetables?
-Do we have an obligation to buy locally grown fruits and vegetables?
-Do we have an obligation to buy conflict-free products?
-Do we have an obligation to recycle?
-Do we have an obligation to be organ donors?
-Should we have laws regulating pornography?
-Should we have universal health care laws?
-Should we legalize homosexual marriage?
-Should we legalize medicinal marijuana?
-Should we legalize recreational marijuana?
-Should we require businesses to have socially responsibility standards?
-Do we have an obligation to share “beneficial” social media posts?
-Should we require “safe” disposal of unused prescription medicines? -…GMOs
-…police body cameras
-…police brutality/discrimination
-…requiring vaccinations
-…international refugee crises
-…fracking
-…death with dignity laws
-Is it immoral to tell children that there is a Santa Claus? -Should we regulate the number of children people can have? -Is it moral for companies to use phones as tracking devices? -Even if she was innocent of murder, was what Casey Anthony did immoral?
-Is smoking cigarettes moral?
-Is drinking alcohol moral?
-Should we drive cars that run on renewable energy?
-Was it immoral that the Titanic did not have enough lifeboats? -Were the decisions made in “Love Canal” unethical?
-Did the government handle the Hurricane Sandy evacuations ethically?
-Is it moral for companies to be open on Grey Thursday?
