Introduction to Ethics - Paper Topics
1. What are the strengths of ethical relativism? What are the strengths of ethical objectivism? Which position do you think is more plausible and why?
2. Explain the connections between religion and morality. Explain the divine command theory. What are the strengths and weaknesses of this theory? In your opinion, how important is religion for a meaningful moral life?
3. Examine the problem of evil. What are the major theodicies? Are any of the theodicies successful? Why or why not?
4. Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of egoism. How does egoism relate politics, economics, and evolutionary theory? Does ethical egoism constitute an adequate ethical theory? Explain your answer.
5. How do consequentialist ethical theories differ from duty based theories? Explain the thought experiments that are relevant to each theory. How would each respective theory view those thought experiments? Which theory offers a more compelling vision?
6. Discuss the argument for hard determinism. If determinism is true, what would count as being morally responsible? What are the main objections to determinism? Are those objection successful? Why of why not?
7. Pick one issue in applied ethics (abortion, euthanasia, etc.). How does this issue relate to the ethical theories discussed in class? Which ethical theory, if any, offers the best insight into how to think about this issue.
8. Choose a topic of your own (this choice requires prior approval).
Introduction to Ethics: Writing a Philosophy Paper
1.0. Choose a topic.
1.1. Choose a thesis (i.e., what’s your position?). Example: The ontological argument fails to prove God’s existence.
1.2. There are many types of papers: thesis defense papers, compare & contrast papers, research papers, summary papers, etc.
1.3. For this course, use the “thesis defense” type.
2.0. Write an introductory paragraph.
2.1. This paragraph should introduce the topic, state thesis, and grab the reader.
2.2. Write a concise title. Example: Four Fatal Flaws in the Ontological Argument.
2.3. You might find it easier to do 2.0-2.2 after you’ve written your paper.
3.0. Write your paper.
3.1. Good papers include: explicitly expressed arguments, analogies, thought experiments, real-world examples, counterexamples, counterarguments, replies to counterarguments, objections to replies to counterarguments (and so on), and thoroughly defined terms.
4.0. Write a short concluding paragraph (2-4 sentences).
4.1. The concluding paragraph should not just summarize the paper.
4.2. Think of the conclusion as drawing the threads of the paper together or as pointing towards further implications of the paper’s thesis.
4.3. For short papers, a concluding paragraph is unnecessary.
5.0. Proofread your paper.
6.0. Turn it in!
Do’s and Don’ts
Plagiarism: Plagiarism is passing off someone else’s work as your own. Using someone else’s text without quotations and a full bibliographic reference is plagiarism as well as closely paraphrasing someone else’s text. Examples:
I do not like green eggs and ham. [plagiarism]
I do not like green eggs and pork. [plagiarism]
“I do not like green eggs and ham.” (Seuss, p. 2). [not plagiarism]