attn: Miss.Lynn
PHI 2604 Final Essay Assignment
Purpose: The purpose of this assignment is to review the ethical theories covered by the class, demonstrate your comprehension of their key concepts and ethical consequences, and to use them to come to a conclusion about the morality of euthanasia. Skills: This assignment will help you practice the following skills:
• Structuring an essay. • Writing analytically. • Comparing and contrasting different views. • Applying theory to a concrete issue.
Knowledge: This assignment will help you become familiar with the following content.
• The debate on the morality of euthanasia. Task In this paper you will review the three ethical theories covered in class and apply them to the euthanasia debate. The three ethical theories are utilitarianism, the ethics of autonomy, and social contract theory. All of these theories have something to say about the nature of morality in general, but none of them are specifically about euthanasia, and both proponents and opponents of legal euthanasia can defend their views by appealing to any and all of these theories. Your task in this paper is to explain how each theory can be interpreted as providing reasons both for and against euthanasia, and then to make a concluding moral judgment by identifying what you take to be the overall strongest reasons in the debate. You will be using the New York Times article “At His Own Wake, Celebrating Life and the Gift of Death” to provide context for your discussion. Read the New York Times article, which you can find here: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/25/world/canada/euthanasia-bill-john-shields-death.html You may also find the letters readers wrote in response worthwhile: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/03/opinion/sunday/choosing-how-to-die-euthanasia.html For your paper:
1. First, define “euthanasia” in your own words, then give a very brief introduction to the debate over euthanasia by explaining in general terms why someone may be rationally conflicted about the morality of legalizing euthanasia. (1 paragraph)
2. Then, explain how a proponent of euthanasia could appeal to utilitarianism in defense of their
view. Be sure to explain how legalizing euthanasia supposedly maximizes net happiness. (1-2 paragraphs)
3. Then, explain how an opponent of euthanasia could appeal to utilitarianism in defense of their view. Be sure to explain how legalizing euthanasia supposedly fails to maximize net happiness. (1-2 paragraphs)
4. Then, explain why considerations of autonomy could favor legalizing euthanasia. Be sure to explain why legalizing euthanasia supposedly demonstrates the appropriate respect for
people’s capacity to effectively pursue their own goals. Is someone’s autonomy being respected more than others, and does that matter? (1-2 paragraphs)
5. Then, explain why considerations of autonomy could favor prohibiting euthanasia. Be sure to explain why legalizing euthanasia supposedly violates someone’s autonomy. Is someone’s autonomy being violated more than others, and does that matter? (1-2 paragraphs)
6. Then, explain why we might put rules protecting the availability of euthanasia in the social contract. Be sure to use a combination of Hobbes, Rawls, and the prisoner’s dilemma to justify your reasoning. (1-2 paragraphs)
7. Then, explain why we might put rules prohibiting euthanasia in the social contract. Again, be sure to use a combination of Hobbes, Rawls, and the prisoner’s dilemma to justify your reasoning. (1-2 paragraphs)
8. Then, make a concluding moral judgment about legalizing euthanasia. This judgment may
include qualifications about who may receive euthanasia, when, and why, but it cannot be ambiguous, it must be clearly either in favor of or opposed to legalizing euthanasia. However, the moral judgment you decide to defend here does not need to be your actual personal view. It can be any judgment that you believe can be defended using reason. (1 paragraphs)
9. Identify the one or two best reasons in support of your conclusion and explain why these are
the most significant factors in the debate. (1-2 paragraphs)
10. Identify what you take to be the strongest objection to your view and respond to it. (1-2 paragraphs)
11. Evaluate the story of John Shield’s euthanasia in light of your conclusion. Did anyone act
immorally, and if so how? Did anyone act exemplary, and if so how? Make sure your judgment about the Shields case fits your conclusion in step eight. (2-3 paragraphs)
12. Finally, provide a works cited page that provides the citations you used, written in MLA format.
Your paper should be in double-spaced 12-point font, Times New Roman, Vani, or Calibri, and stapled. Give it an appropriate title and bold on underline the title. Make sure your name and date is on it, and also put the time your class meets (this will really help me stay organized) but don’t put the name of the professor. Criteria for Success
• Every step of the task is fully completed, accurately, and in the proper order. • Every step is written primarily in your own words. If you quote Rachels, the Times, my slides,
or any other of the authors we’ve read this semester, be sure to give proper attribution by providing the source after the quote and listing the source in your works cited page.
• The paper does not contain any “filler,” i.e. sentences unrelated to the prompt. • The paper is turned in on time. • The paper has the proper typesetting spelling, grammar, paragraph structure and editing.
Rubric
Euthanasia is defined and the debated is introduced. Utilitarian reasons for and against euthanasia are adequately described. Autonomy-based reasons for and against euthanasia are adequately described. Contractarian reasons for and against euthanasia are adequately described. A conclusion is made and supported by good reasons. An objection to raised and responded to. The New York Times article is discussed in terms of the student’s conclusion. Proper spelling, grammar, typesetting, editing, citations, and paragraphs. Total
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