Overview
In the Week One Assignment, you formulated a concrete ethical question, took a
position on that topic, and identified a reason supporting and a reason
opposing that position. In the Week Three Assignment, you discussed either
deontological or utilitarian theory, applied that theory to the question, and
raised a relevant objection.
By
engaging with the course material, you now have had a chance to refine your
thinking and broaden your understanding of the problem by approaching it from
the perspective of multiple ethical theories.
In this
paper, you will demonstrate what you have learned by writing an essay in which
you
·
Present a revised formulation
of the ethical question and introduction to the topic.
·
Explain the kind of reasoning
you think is the best way to approach this question, and how that reasoning
supports the position you think is strongest.
·
Raise an objection, and be able
to respond to it.
Instructions
Write an essay that conforms to the requirements below. The paper must be 1500
to 2000 words in length (excluding the title and reference pages) and formatted
according to APA style as outlined in theAshford
Writing Center.
The
paragraphs of your essay should conform to the following guidelines:
·
o Introduction
Your first paragraph should begin with the topic question, suitably revised. It
should be focused, concrete, and on a relevant moral problem. You should then
introduce the topic in the way described by the Week One instructions, but
reflecting the developed understanding and information you have gained about
the topic and any necessary refinement of the scope.
Follow this with a thesis statement that states your position, and a brief
description of the primary reason(s) supporting your position. (See the handout
onthesis statementsprovided). Finally, provide a brief
preview of the overall aim and procedure of your paper.
·
o Explanation
and Demonstration of Moral Reasoning
This section of the Final Paper will explain and demonstrate what you believe
to be the best way of reasoning about the question you have chosen, and showing
how that reasoning supports the position you have taken on the question. You
might explain the principles, rules, values, virtues, conceptions of purposes
and ends, and other general ideas that you find persuasive, and show how they
support concrete judgments.
In the course of doing so, you must make reference to at least two of the
approaches that we have examined in the course (such as deontological,
utilitarian, or virtue-based), and utilize at least one resource off the
provided list for each of the two approaches. One of these theories may be the
theory you discussed in your Week Three Assignment, but your discussion here
should be more refined.
For example, you might find the reasoning associated with Aristotelian virtue
ethics to be the most compelling, and reference Aristotle in the process of
showing how that reasoning supports a certain conclusion. In the course of
this, you could contrast that with a utilitarian approach, referencing Mill for
instance.
·
o Objection
and Response
After explaining the ethical reasoning that supports your position, you should
raise an objection and respond to it. An objection articulates a plausible
reason why someone might find the argument weak or problematic. You should
explain how it brings out this weakness, and do so in a way that would be
acceptable to someone who disagrees with your own argument. Then, provide the
best response you can to the objection, showing how it does not undermine your
position. Your response should not simply restate your original position or
argument, but should say something new in support of it.
·
Conclusion
Provide a conclusion that sums up what you presented in the paper and offers
some final reflections.
Resource
Requirement
You must use at least four scholarly resources. Two of the resources must be
drawn from thelist of acceptable primary resourceson each of the two theories you
discuss. For example, if you discuss deontology and virtue ethics, you would
need at least one resource under the “Deontology” list and at least one
resource under the “Virtue Ethics” list. The other two may be from either the
Required or Recommended Resources, or scholarly resources found in the Ashford
University Library.
·
The textbook may be cited, but
it does not count toward the resource requirement. If you cite the textbook,
you will still need to cite at least four more sources that fulfill the
requirements stated above.
·
If you need help with finding
additional resources, or are unsure about whether a particular resource will
count toward the requirement, please contact your instructor.
·
For sources to count toward the
resources requirement, they must be cited within the text of your paper and on
the reference page. Sources that are listed on the references page, but not
cited within the paper, do not count toward fulfilling the resources
requirement.
·
For information regarding APA,
including samples and tutorials
