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PHIL 1612 Introduction to Philosophy

Assignment One

Essay Topics

Choose one of the following:

1. Cultural relativism is often presented as a challenge to the study of ethics and the validity of moral reasoning. What is this challenge? Rachels and Midgley provide a critique of the claims of cultural relativism and in lecture/lecture notes I have supplemented this critique with further considerations. After presenting the various critiques [due to space you should limit yourself to what you consider to be the strongest critiques of the cultural relativist position] either (i) defend the cultural relativist thesis or at least show why Rachels and/or Midgley are unconvincing or (ii) support Rachels and Midgley by adding some considerations of your own against the cultural relativist position.

2. Nagel in "Right and Wrong" considers it to be logically inconsistent, incoherent and thus irrational to deny the universality of morality and moral reasoning. What is his argument supporting the moral point of view? Do you agree? Nagel is one attempt to anchor the objectivity and justification of morality. What do you think of this project? For example, are you a “moral realist”? Why or why not?

3. What is Mill’s version of utilitarianism? What is the nature of morality according to Mill? What are some of the complaints regarding utilitarian thought that Mill considers and defends utilitarianism against? What is the difference between “act” and “rule” utilitarianism? Are there any problems with this as a moral theory? Are you convinced by utilitarianism?

4. Do animals have rights? Develop your position through an analysis of the position of Regan and/or Narveson. [Note: anyone without taking this course can write an essay on whether they think animals have rights. You want to develop your skills in expositing and analyzing texts which is why you have to examine Regan and/or Narveson.]

5. Regan in arguing for a "deep ecology" approach to ethics including animal rights supports sentientialism and while having sympathy for an even deeper ecological approach, ultimately he cannot endorse it. What is "deep ecology"? Sentientialism? The deeper ecological view? Do you agree with Regan here?

6.* "Why should I be moral?" "Why should I care about a stranger or help a stranger?" For Rorty in his article "Human Rights, Rationality and Sentimentality" there is no rational answer to these questions and there exists no such rational moral obligations. All we can do with respect to such questions and with respect to the human injustices, inequalities and sufferings we see is to tell a "long, sad, sentimental story" concerning them. The basis for moral thought and action is the singing of sad songs and the telling of sentimental stories. What are Rorty's arguments for such a view? Do you agree?

* We may not be able to get to this reading. If not, and you are really interested in writing on Rorty, let me know, you will be able to write on this topic for your second assignment.

Due Date: Wednesday February 15, 2023.

To be handed in at the department mailbox – C213 – and in the “Turnitin” function on our eClass site. I will return the essay to you either with comments on it or just the grade posting the comments to you from our eClass page – the submissions box has an audio function that enables me to give much more detailed comments on your essay.

The reason I wish for you to hand in a hardcopy in person is that it saves me considerable time not having to print out the essay in order to grade it. It also saves me expense in toner, printer paper and printer wear and tear.

Length: 5-7 double spaced typewritten pages: 1300- 1800 words.

Notes/Requirements:

These are requirements, do treat them as such. You do not want the paper returned to you simply because you didn't bother following one of these simple requirements.

Number your pages. This is in bold because every year some students forget this and it is annoying.

Have a cover page with your name, the title of your assignment, course code and my name. This allows the administrative assistants to know which mailbox to put the essay in.

Twelve-point font. I know that ten-point font can look appealing to many students but when you are grading a stack of essays, it is not appealing at all.

I would like one or more pages of critique - a “what you think section.” By this I mean that I don't want the paper to be purely exposition. I want you to develop the skill in formulating some of your own arguments either for or against a position. And remember when you are formulating your arguments for or against a position, you are trying to persuade me that you are right. That is what is meant by a "what you think" section - some students have in the past written about how much they have enjoyed or disliked the essay. It read more like a movie review. You do not want to do this or at least keep this to a minimal.

You can include this “what you think” section either as a separate section of the essay or weave your assessments of the arguments in the main body of the essay itself.

A good mix: 70-80% exposition and 20-30% critique. You do need to provide analysis and exposition of the article/position you are writing on.

Essay format and presentation. Therefore, please don’t just answer the questions loosely held together without a common thread or theme.

Citation: whatever information you have used that is not your own, including the lecture notes, you need to reference, cite. It is plagiarism to do otherwise which is a serious academic offense. I am not picky concerning the actual format for such citations, whether you use MLA or the Chicago Manuel of Style but all the information needed to find the quotation must be given, including the page number. So don't present a quotation and then reference the entire article requiring me to search through the article to try and find the quotation - not acceptable.

If you like to write a paper on a topic not included above but directly related to our readings, feel free to do so; however, clear it with me in advance. For example, you may wish to write a paper defending animal rights focusing exclusively on Narveson's article rebutting his arguments. Or you may wish to write a paper on Anscombe’s article which though it is not required reading for the course, I did provide it and made references to what was interesting about it.

Danger: these questions are rather broad giving you latitude and freedom to develop your thought in a number of directions. However, a frequently recurring problem I have noticed over the years has been that a number of students, a sizable minority, wrote very broad, “brush- stroke,” general summary papers not that different from the lecture handouts. This leaves me little by which to assess their talent and ability and consequently they did not do as well as they could have. Don’t fall into this trap. I would suggest that you narrow the topic. Often an excellent paper will explore with expertise and skill a few points and arguments. I don't expect you to cover all the points/issues in five to seven pages.

Danger: read the article. I would like you to do ALL of the readings for this course. I think you are cheating yourself if you don't. For example, you get better at philosophy the more you read which enhances the education that you are paying for. However, often students are unable to do all of the readings. Fair enough. But you do need to at least read the article(s) that you are writing your assignment on. Sadly, there are students who have left the impression that they have been working exclusively from the lecture notes without even reading the article itself and I have been far too lenient in the past regarding this: this leniency has to come to an end. Do read and cite from the actual article(s) - they are not that long.