General Ethics Assignment Template

Here is a template for a general ethics course assignment:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/13SvigkeQcgk9bMHaJMuh6j4gtkIaWCCfC3D1ZqMxPuI/edit?usp=sharing

Or https://www.dropbox.com/s/jeak3blnv5gfyba/general-assignment.docx?dl=0

Your name

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Class

Topic of Assignment: _____________ The typical assignment in this class will involve working through at least five arguments on a moral issue, using this process below. This process must be done for each argument: Is this a controversial topic or issue? If yes, excellent. If no, is there a controversial topic or issue that’s related? ___________________________________________________________ What are the relevant facts about the topic? What’s the relevant information about the issue? ___________________________________________________________ What are the various moral conclusions one might hold on that topic? Doing this is wrong. Doing this is not wrong. (Not wrong = morally permissible.) Doing this is morally obligatory = wrong to not do; impermissible to do). MORE PRECISE CONCLUSIONS: All? Some? (which?) Sometimes wrong? Always permissible? Sometimes obligatory? ___________________________________________________________ What reasons or premises are or can be given for these conclusions? What’s “the why”? (“Why think that?”) (“What do you mean?”) ___________________________________________________________ How do you make the argument logically valid, meaning make the complete pattern of reasoning explicit? What (if any) premises need to be added? ___________________________________________________________ Is the argument sound or not (sound = logically valid with true premises)? Are the premises true? Are there any counterexamples that show that a general premise is false? ___________________________________________________________ This project can be done in a number of ways: Papers or reports of varying lengths and for differing purposes. Letter to editor Critical responses paper or commentary of some kind… (This could also be done as a talk, a presentation, in person or in video or audio). Youtube talk; oral presentation; video lecture. Lead a discussion or give a talk to a real audience, report on what happened Narrated powerpoint Create a blog / webpage on a topic A debate! Report on what happened. An interview project: Random people; people you know; go to some organization. A scientific poster.. You could find some kind of person or organization that does some morally significant activity and go meet with them and report back. What else?