INTRODUCTORY ETHICS

PAPER ASSIGNMENT

SPRING 2011

PAPER #1-A NON-ESSENTIALIST VIEW OF THE GOOD HUMAN LIFE

1. READ the DHAMMAPADA & Confucius' ANALECTS!

2. RECALL their views of the ontology of the human person.

3. BEGIN your paper by briefly outlining the Buddha's and Confucius' views of the GOOD HUMAN LIFE (GHL)-be sure to explain why they hold the views they do.

4. EXPLAIN how their views of the human person influence their views of GHL.

5. PRESENT your argument for which view of GHL is better to you.

6. CRITICALLY EVALUATE your argument-explain why its premises are true and why you accept it.

7. The point of this paper is for you to engage in a critical reflection on two non-essentialist views of the human person and the GOOD HUMAN LIFE and to decide which view of GHL is better to you and why.

PAPER #2--THE CASE FOR OR AGAINST ARTIFICIAL CONTRACEPTION

1. Read the arguments for and against artificial contraception!

2. Decide which argument(s) is/are better.

3. Present/Lay out what you take to be the best argument for or against artificial contraception.

4. Critically evaluate the argument--explain why its premises are true and why you accept it.

5. The point of this paper is for you to reflect on the arguments for and against artificial contraception and then present and defend what you take to be the best argument either for or against artificial contraception.

INTRODUCTORY ETHICS

DIRECTIONS FOR WRITING PAPERS

1. INTRODUCTION

*Begin by stating your objective/purpose

*(i.e., The purpose of this paper is ...)

*Say why you THINK this is an important topic/ question

*Explain what you are going to do/show in the paper

2. MAKE YOUR CASE

*Present your evidence/set up/lay out your argument(s)

*i.e., Plato thinks that Socrates is NOT a Sophist BECAUSE:

P1--If a Sophist, Then Lots of $$$

P2--~(Lots of $$$)

C--S0 ~ a Sophist

*REMEMBER--you are trying to justify what you believe

3. CRITICALLY EVALUATE THE ARGUMENT(S)

*State what kind of argument it is

*(i.e., Modus Ponens, Modus Tollens, Induction, Disjunction)

*Check its validity/strength

*Explain why its PREMISES are TRUE or FALSE

*Any counter-examples???

*Say what you THINK about the argument(s)

4. CONCLUSION

*Say what you have done/shown

*(i.e., This paper has shown that ...)

NOTE: GRAMMATICAL & MECHANICAL MISTAKES COUNT!!

3 OR MORE WILL RESULT IN A FULL GRADE REDUCTION!!