Essay
Two -Fall 2009
Requirements:
1.
Your essay should be word-processed, double-spaced, one-inch to one and one-half inch
margins. It should be spell-checked. Pages Numbered. Font no smaller than 12 point.
2.
You should have a cover page with title, date, prompt, and your name.
3.
Number each paragraph.
Bold your thesis. After the end
of the essay, attach an OUTLINE of the essay with
the thesis clearly stated and at minimum a line for each paragraph.
4.
Each essay should be approximately three pages long (not including the title page or Works
Consulted/ Reference/Bibliography page).
5.
You must include a Works Consulted/Reference/Bibliography Page. I will assume that you
have read and understood Turabian 7th edition on when and how to cite sources
and include quotations. CAREFUL AND CORRECT CITATION IS
REQUIRED. WHEN IN DOUBT, CITE. Remember that simply paraphrasing or changing
every third word is not OK. Quote and cite or radically summarize and cite. Use quotation
marks when quoting or indent if quote is five lines or longer. Guessing at where your
information comes from is not OK. Use page numbers in your in-text citations, footnotes or
endnotes. Book or journal titles are italicized or underlined. You need not
consult any other sources than what we have read for class. Those sources and any other
sources you consult must be included in your Works Consulted/Reference List and cited
in-text or in footnotes/endnotes. Turabian 7th ed. (Chicago Manual of Style) and MLA 2009 are the
preferred forms. Click Here for some
examples.
6.
Your essay should define any key terms used, use examples to illustrate and support your argument where
appropriate, and discuss likely alternatives or respond to
at least one objection. Remember that the injunction to evaluate includes
both strengths and weaknesses.
Grading:
Essays
will be graded for both form and content as indicated in the Grading
Rubric..
You should use these points as one guide in proof-reading drafts of your essay. Note: Information
on setting the grammar checker in WordPerfect and MS Word is on my Philosophy Tools site.
Choose
ONE of the following
prompts:
1. Do both A and B. A. Describe Hobbes' views on
the transition from the natural condition of man (state of nature) to a society ruled by a
Great Leviathan. (Be sure to include the right of nature, the first two laws of nature,
and the social contract as well as the natural condition of man and the Great Leviathan).
B. Explain one or two key reasons you think Hobbes' ideas do or do not have relevance
today. Illustrate your answer with at least one example and respond to at least one
objection.
2. Typically, we think of “ethics” in terms
of how we treat others. We consider those who
sacrifice themselves for others as particularly worthy.
How does ethical egoism both fit and not fit this paradigm? What do you see as a key strength and a key
weakness of ethical egoism? Your discussion
may accept or challenge the traditional paradigm. Be
sure to define terms such as ethical egoism in your essay.
3.
Write
an imaginary dialog between Hume and someone who disagrees with Hume’s view that
morality is determined by passions rather than reason. Be sure to include Hume’s
distinction between "is" and "ought".
4.
Describe Hume’s argument that passions rather than reason determine morality. Are you persuaded by Hume? Why or why not?
Illustrate your answer with at least one example and respond to at least one objection to
your position.
5. Do both A. and B.
A.
Show the difference between quantitative act and quantitative rule utilitarianism by
applying them to one of the following cases. Be
sure to define any terms you use. Keep in mind Bentham’s hedonic calculus. B. If
forced to choose, which approach do you find superior? Why?