Description
Essay Questions
Instructions: Pick one topic only
Your essay must be between 4 and 6 pages long, single-spaced (except the gap between paragraphs) in a 12-point font. Essays shorter than 3 pages lose points in accordance with the percentage of the paper missing. If your essay is short then it is unlikely to pass.
Crucial Advice: all essays must utilize the relevant assigned readings, even if they are not explicitly mentioned. You must decide what is relevant, that is part of the task. Essays that make no mention of our readings will lose points and likely fail. You MUST prove you have done your readings.
Crucial advice #2: if you don’t believe a conclusion then you must reject the argument for the conclusion. You cannot ignore the argument and just attack the conclusion. People believe things for a reason: it is those reasons you must discuss, reject or support with more reasons. Rejecting the conclusion without addressing the reasons for the conclusion will lose you points! (And it means you’re not listening to the person.)
Advice #3: Structure your essay for clarity of thought (a) first page will have an introduction, (b) thesis statement and (c) brief essay plan and (d) the paper will have sections e.g. “Norcross responds…” or “Criticisms of Singer’s argument”. Important: Be sure to keep sections for explaining a person’s ideas separate from sections where you criticize their ideas! You must have a brief conclusion reiterating your thesis.
Advice #4 All quotes must be explained in your own words.
Topic One: Animals.
According to Norcross’ people who purchase meat for eating are acting as immorally as his character Fred, the chocolate lover who tortures puppies. Is Norcross correct and the purchasing and eating of meat is immoral? Discuss in detail and argue for your conclusion. Use Frey to find a response to Norcross. At some point in your essay you must address the following question and explain your answer: “Is it morally permissible for me to kill the mice infesting my apartment?”
Topic Two: Poverty
I love books. I like owning books and I have almost 1000 books. They have enlightened me, inspired me to write and helped me do my job to help students. I feel comfortable in a home with books. But, of course, books cost money as any hobby or life-style does. No doubt, you have some other activity you spend your money on (discuss that if you prefer), books are just my thing.
But according to Singer I am just like Bob who would let a child die to save his car: I act immorally when I spend my money on books. Is Singer correct? Do I act immorally if I do not give away the money I do not really need? Or is morally o.k. to spend my money while children are starving and poor?
Discuss in detail (both sides of the issue) and argue for your conclusion. Use Singer and Narveson to construct your answer.
The Ethical Life fourth edition, edited by Russ Shafer-Landau, Oxford University Press, 2018