PHL-260 Ethics and Society

Ethical Analysis of Canned Hunting 

Course Context: Ethics and Society 

PHL-260: Ethical Problem-Solving focused on applying formal ethical frameworks to real-world dilemmas. Throughout the course, I examined how theories such as utilitarianism, deontology, virtue ethics, and care ethics can guide structured moral reasoning rather than personal opinion or emotional reaction.

This course emphasized critical thinking, cultural awareness, and the examination of how ethical reasoning shapes public policy, social systems, and global inequalities. Rather than asking what feels right, I learned to ask which ethical principles are being upheld or violated and how moral decisions impact vulnerable populations. 

The course strengthened my ability to analyze complex moral issues with intellectual discipline and clarity. It challenged me to support arguments with philosophical theory and empirical research, while maintaining ethical consistency.

Final Project: Ethical Analysis of Trophy Hunting 

The following manuscript represents my culminating project, in which I applied multiple ethical frameworks to critically evaluate the moral and economic structures surrounding trophy hunting. 

Reflection: Ethical Reasoning and Intellectual Growth

This project represents a turning point in my academic development. Rather than approaching trophy hunting as an emotional issue, I intentionally structured the manuscript around formal ethical frameworks including utilitarianism, justice ethics, care ethics, and virtue-based analysis.

Throughout this course, I learned to separate personal reaction from structured moral reasoning. Instead of asking whether something felt wrong, I asked which ethical principles were being violated, who was harmed, who benefited, and whether the justification could withstand philosophical scrutiny.

Developing a 40-page research manuscript required sustained critical thinking, integration of scholarly sources, and consistent application of ethical theory. I analyzed economic data, conservation arguments, psychological research, and philosophical perspectives to determine whether trophy hunting could be morally defended.

This course strengthened my ability to evaluate complex systems rather than isolated actions. It also reinforced the importance of intellectual discipline when addressing controversial topics. Ethical reasoning requires clarity, consistency, and the willingness to examine uncomfortable truths.

As a forensic psychology student, the skills developed in this course are foundational. Professional roles within psychology and law demand the ability to apply ethical frameworks carefully and objectively, especially when decisions impact vulnerable populations.

This project demonstrates my capacity to conduct extended ethical analysis, synthesize interdisciplinary research, and defend a position using structured philosophical reasoning rather than opinion alone.