Choose one topic to write about
1. Why does Marquis think abortion is immoral? What is his argument?
Thomson argues that abortion is permissible, at least in a wide range
of cases. What are those cases and what is/are her arguments?
Do Marquis’s arguments challenge those of Thomson, or can one endorse
both positions without contradiction? Justify your answer in either
case.
2. HCC says the following: “We will be the opportunity institution for
every student we serve – essential to our community’s success.”Broadly
– and incompletely – ‘success’ can be interpreted in two ways here.
What might they be? Is there a notion of ‘success’ that our community
could achieve that is somehow not worth achieving?
Use the ideas from Immanuel Kant and Jeremy Bentham to explicate the
two potential meanings of ‘success’. Then, explain how those meanings
might yield different interpretations of the passage quoted at the
beginning of this prompt. Which notion of ‘success’ is it proper for
us to seek to achieve? Or, is there one that it is proper for us to
seek to achieve? Defend your answer.
3. Visit the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy found here (https://www.iep.utm.edu/moral-re/#SH3c (Links to an external site.). Pick one of the arguments from section 3 and present it. Then, determine what James Rachels would say about it. Which argument do you think better lives up to the standards of philosophy? (You may also want to look at further discussion of moral relativism found here (https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/moral-relativism/#ExpPhi (Links to an external site.).)
Cite all the texts you employ. This is a 4 to 5 page paper, though you
may certainly write more. In offering your own judgment and defense,
use course concepts.
Grading Rubric 1. Does this paper identify have a clear thesis? (5%)
2. Does this paper contain only relevant information? Are the
citations completed properly? (5%) 3. Does the paper attribute the
correct view to the philosophers in question? (10%) 4. Is/are the
philosopher’s view presented with the appropriate level of detail?
(For example, does the author explain concepts and arguments in a
tight manner, or are the arguments and concepts merely sketched?)
(25%) 5. Does the author present a clear argument in his/her
discussion? (15%) 6. Does the paper cohere? Or, is the paper a
hodgepodge of disparate ideas? (10%) 7. Does the conclusion tie
together the different phases of the paper? Or, is the conclusion a
non-sequitur? (5%) 8. Are the spelling, grammar and syntax on the
college level? (5%) 9. Does the author make appropriate and accurate
use of course concepts in constructing his or her discussion? (20%)
Intangibles: Is the paper on the assigned topic? Is it the author’s
own work?
