Choose one of the three major moral theories (Consequentialism, Deontology, or Virtue Ethics) and give reasons why your chosen moral theory does, or does not, support this argument.

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Discussion post

In Julie Kirsch’s article, she discusses the common argument that a government is justified in infringing on the civil liberties of its citizens in the name of providing physical, or bodily, protection. Choose one of the three major moral theories (Consequentialism, Deontology, or Virtue Ethics) and give reasons why your chosen moral theory does, or does not, support this argument.

What is the author’s main argument? How does he support his main argument (evidence, ancillary arguments, etc.)? Do you agree or disagree with him?

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Reflection Paper Topics

Your assignment is to read any ONE of the following four articles:

Then, FOR THE ARTICLE YOU CHOOSE TO WRITE ON, you will type a 1000-1500 word response in which you address EACH of the following points IN YOUR OWN WORDS:

  1. ) What is the author’s main argument?
  2. ) How does he support his main argument (evidence, ancillary arguments, etc.)?
  3. ) Do you agree or disagree with him?
  4. ) Why or why not?
  5. ) Apply the insights of at least two of the readings we have studied in this course (in chapters 1-9) to your analysis.

Make sure to give a substantive explanation of how the philosophers’ insights are relevant to the topic you are discussing.

What do nomological theories (like Machery’s) of human nature amount to? What are the requirements on each view for some capacity/disposition/property to constitute or determine human nature on each of these views?

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DISCUSSION ESSAY

Descartes (1641) comes to the conclusion at the end of Meditation 2 that what “I” refers to is a thinking thing. Humans in this view are essentially thinking things. Descartes ultimately came to the conclusion that only humans have minds, other animals being mere automata. Birch et al. (2020) explain that the scientific consensus today is that non-human animals can possess consciousness (ie., that they are thinking things). Additionally, Turing (1950) suggests we should be open to the possibility that machines can convincingly engage in behaviors which are the basis for the attribution of consciousness and cognitive abilities in other animals.

Suppose that Descartes was wrong that all and only humans are thinking things and that, rather, other sorts of entities like non-human animals and machines could be thinking things as well. Would this undermine theories of human nature which aspire to identify essential properties of humans and are unique to them? Would this undermine theories (like that of Machery (2008) as presented in Lewens (2012)) which aspire to identify sets of traits which are widely distributed within the human species and which are so distributed as the result of some evolutionary process?

A full answer to this question should be sure to address the following:

•What do essentialist theories of human nature amount to?
•What do nomological theories (like Machery’s) of human nature amount to?
•What are the requirements on each view for some capacity/disposition/property to constitute or determine human nature on each of these views?

Write a page on why you find Logic and Critical thinking interesting.

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Extra credit

Write a page on why you find Logic and Critical thinking interesting.

Explain the difference between the person who lives in “infinite resignation” and the “knight of faith.” How does Kierkegaard apply this distinction to the case of Abraham? Why does he consider Abraham to be the exemplar of true faith and not simply a base murderer?

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PHIL-2255: Mid-Term Paper Topics and Guidelines

Choose one of the two topics below and respond to all of the associated topic questions in formal academic writing. Use 1” margins on all sides, double-spaced pages, and 12-font. Use the MLA citation style. The paper should exactly five full pages times new roman size 12 font double-spaced MLA format excluding the works cited page. Keep the introduction short and to the point. The entire purpose of the introduction should be to deliver the thesis statement (what claim do you wish to defend in this paper?). Avoid empty generalities at the beginning of the paper (such as “Existentialist questions have been discussed for millennia…” or “Kierkegaard is a famous philosopher…”).

About three-and-a-half to four pages of the paper should be employed on explaining and analyzing the authors’ views. This means clearly and carefully answering all of the topic questions, explicating the relevant arguments, and explaining their significance. In this part of your paper, it is extremely important to accurately characterize the authors’ position (if this hasn’t been done properly, any criticisms or objections made will fall flat). Most of the paper should be in your own words, though the use brief quotations, as needed, is encouraged as long as the text is properly cited. Always illustrate the relevance of the quotation, situate its context, and explain its meaning in your own words.

The other page or two of the paper should be devoted to your own critical assessments of the arguments presented and a defense of your own position on one of the philosophical issues. If you disagree with the author, offer objections and explain why you think their argument is unsatisfactory, and then defend your own position on the issue. You may find yourself agreeing with the author’s conclusion; be sure to give good reasons for why you do. Either way, it is always a good idea to entertain possible objections to your own conclusions, followed by reasons for thinking that the objections do not hold up. This will make your own conclusion much stronger.

This assignment can be completed without the use of sources outside of our class texts. If you do look to secondary sources, stick to published books or peer-reviewed journal articles. Never use any internet sources without approval from the instructor. The instructor will also be checking your paper against AI-assisted technology, such as ChapGPT; use of these technologies for completing this assignment is strictly prohibited as a violation of the Academic Honesty Policy.

 

 

How Does Kierkegaard Answer the Question about How to Live? What is the traditional understanding of truth seen from the objective point of view (from Concluding Unscientific Postscript)? What are Kierkegaard’s grounds for criticizing it? What kind of question cannot be adequately answered by the objective point of view? What is subjective truth for Kierkegaard? What is the “paradox” of Christianity, and why is it the ideal that can give our lives the greatest meaning?

Explain the difference between the person who lives in “infinite resignation” and the “knight of faith.” How does Kierkegaard apply this distinction to the case of Abraham? Why does he consider Abraham to be the exemplar of true faith and not simply a base murderer?

 

Nietzsche on the Death of God and the Origin of Moral Concepts. Explain what is meant by “God is dead” in the context of the madman passage (aphorism 125 from The Gay Science; aphorisms 108 and 343 may also prove helpful). Why do you think the madman believes he has “come too early”? In aphorism 335 of the same work, Nietzsche offers a critique of Kantian morality. What is his argument against the categorical imperative? Do you think his critique is successful?

 

Next, choose one of the following essays to complete your paper:

  1. Genealogy of Morals, First Essay: In the First Essay of Genealogy, Nietzsche analyzes a societal transformation in values (from a “good versus bad” model to an “evil versus good” model). First, explain the distinction between values that are “good” and “bad” (as were present, for example, in Homeric Greek or ancient Roman societies). Next, articulate how Nietzsche believes this structure was “inverted” such that what was formerly labeled “good” was now considered “evil.” What values were now believed to be “good” after this inversion had taken place? Why does Nietzsche think this movement was Judeo-Christian?

 

  1. Genealogy of Morals, Second Essay: In the Second Essay of Genealogy, Nietzsche argues that our modern understanding of guilt, moral responsibility, and the “bad conscience” originated in a debtor-creditor relationship. How is the infliction of pain on another a form of repayment? Why is moral guilt like a debt that one owes? How is our modern notion of justice as “an eye for an eye” rooted in this debt-recompensation model, according to Nietzsche?

 

 

Identify philosophical questions and concepts that were addressed in the film and support your assertions with direct examples. Reflect on how the film’s approach to these questions relates to the ones we covered throughout the course.

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Final reflection – Blade Runner (1982)

Identify philosophical questions and concepts that were addressed in the film and support your assertions with direct examples.

Reflect on how the film’s approach to these questions relates to the ones we covered throughout the course.

Philosophers allowed are: Plato, Immanuel Kant, siddhartha buddha, Nelson Mandela, Daniel Dennett. From this list, use Dennet and at least 2 other philosophers

Use this textbook and at least 4 other scholarly sources. I will add 12 more hours to the order once it is picked up.

https://we.tl/t-bX2pGaeLSX

Identify the first concept you will be applying, citing key passages from the textbook and/or other course sources (put in your own words whenever possible). Then cite specific passages from your news article (quotes are helpful here) that provide a fitting illustration of your chosen concept. Explain in your own words why this concept fits so well to the example(s) you have chosen from your article.

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Sociological Theory

  1. Introduction

Clearly tell where paper is going—briefly summarize the news article in 1-2 sentences and identify the theorist/theory and 2 concepts you will be applying in the paper (state that you thought those would be a good fit to the topic, etc.)

  1. Theorist’s/Theory’s Overall Model

Show that you understand the overall model/orientation of the theorist, citing key passages from the textbook (put in your own words whenever possible), and why your news article is a good fit to this theory (you may use other course resources besides textbook—see Content folders in course. I strongly discourage you from using sources you find on the Internet such as Course Hero, Encyclopedia.com, etc—these “study aids” are contributed by students and not sociologists!)

  • Concept #1

Identify the first concept you will be applying, citing key passages from the textbook and/or other course sources (put in your own words whenever possible). Then cite specific passages from your news article (quotes are helpful here) that provide a fitting illustration of your chosen concept. Explain in your own words why this concept fits so well to the example(s) you have chosen from your article.

  1. Concept #2

Identify the second concept you will be applying, citing key passages from the textbook textbook and/or other course sources (put in your own words whenever possible). Then cite specific passages from your news article (quotes are helpful here) that provide a fitting illustration of your chosen concept. Explain in your own words why this concept fits so well to the example(s) you have chosen from your article.

  1. Conclusion—recap and conclude
  2. List your news article and your textbook as your 2 references (cite them in ASA style within the paper). If you use other course sources, cite them using ASA format, see the Explore Sociology Libguide or Writing for Sociology content folder for proper ASA format citations.
  • Attach a copy of your article at the end

 

 

Who do you agree with and why? What rights do animals have? How are their rights (if any) similar or different from humans? Should Sea World and Zoos be shut down? Why or why not?

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Discussion 14 Philosophy of Ethics

Different views on the basis of dignity are included below:

  • Descartes and Aquinas believe that it is the capacity to reason and make free choices.
  • Kant believes that it is simply the ability to make free choices.
  • Bentham believes that it is the ability to feel pain.
  • Regan believes it is being a conscious experiencer of reality.
  • Narveson believes that it is the ability to enter into an agreement.
  • Cohen believes that rights come from being part of a moral community.

1. Who do you agree with and why? (In other words, what is the basis of dignity? Where does dignity come from?)

2. What rights do animals have? How are their rights (if any) similar or different from humans? (In other words, do animals have the right to life and the right to not suffer unnecessary pain? Or just unnecessary pain?)

3. Should Sea World and Zoos be shut down? Why or why not? In your response, reference at least one philosopher. (See, for example, the PowerPoint on Singer or Mary Ann Warren.)

hen it comes to the Ethics of Care, here is an interesting quote. A scholar says, “Care ethics is undoubtedly right in criticizing our society as being too uncaring.” Do you agree with this – why or why not? If you agree with it, be sure to give at least one example to support your views, and, if you disagree with it, give at least one example to support your views.

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Ethics Critical thinking

A. Pages 253-254 of our text Ethical Choices describes two different perspectives: the justice perspective and the care perspective. Using Ethical Choices, explain these two different perspectives in your own words. Last, our text says that according to Carol Gilligan, men tend to focus more on the justice perspective while women focus more on the care perspective. Do you agree with Gilligan’s claim about men and women – why or why not?

B. When it comes to the Ethics of Care, here is an interesting quote. A scholar says, “Care ethics is undoubtedly right in criticizing our society as being too uncaring.” Do you agree with this – why or why not? If you agree with it, be sure to give at least one example to support your views, and, if you disagree with it, give at least one example to support your views.

C. One of the things that we will be doing each week is discussing some cases from our textThinking Critically About Ethical Issues. Look at Case 11a on page 49. After looking at this case, answer these questions about it. First, what dilemma or tension is involved in this case? Second, explain if this dilemma or tension could be overcome through developing relationships.

D. One of the things that we will be doing each week is discussing some cases from our text Thinking Critically About Ethical Issues. Look at Case 20 on page 132. After looking at this case, answer these questions about it. First, what dilemma or tension is involved in this case? Second, if this dilemma or tension could be overcome through developing relationships.

Discuss the most significant takeaways from what you have learned this semester about the value of truth in a democratic society.

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The value of truth in a democratic society.

The final paper is an opportunity for you to reflect on and synthesize what you have learned this semester. Throughout this course you have learned about basic principles of logic and argumentation, philosophical theories of truth and how it is established, and obstacles to critical thinking such as various kinds of biases and errors in reasoning. Despite all the different views held by people in a nation as diverse as the United States, we all have common needs. We all need healthy food, clean air and water, access to healthcare and education, good jobs, safe communities and homes, and opportunities to enjoy culture and the fruits of life.
Somehow we must be able to live together despite our different values and beliefs. Living together in a democratic society requires us to collectively discuss the issues we face and how to deal with them. This means that we need to come to a common understanding of the world we share and the goals we should pursue.

For this paper, write at least five full pages discussing what critical thinking skills and concepts you think are the most important for living together in a democratic society.

Specifically your paper should do the following:

Identify several (7-10) critical thinking skills and concepts that you’ve learned in this course that are necessary to apply when engaging in civic life, and discuss why you think they are important.

Provide examples of how these concepts and skills can be applied to a specific issue facing society (such as climate change, the COVID-19 pandemic, or conducting fair elections).

Discuss the most significant takeaways from what you have learned this semester about the value of truth in a democratic society.