KINDLY FOR MARY WARNOCK PHD ONLY

PHIL 101 Fall 2016 Written Assignment #3
The theme for this last four page written assignment is ethics. For pages 1 and 2 present a brief
summary of what constitutes ethical behavior for Kant, Camus, and Sartre using the three texts
we’ve discussed: Kant’s Grounding, Camus’ The Stranger, and Sartre’s Respectable Prostitute
and The Flies. Be sure to explain the key underlying principle or rationale for each
philosopher’s view. (Note: You’ll need to determine whether Sartre is making the same point
with The Flies as with The Respectable Prostitute.) For pages 3 and 4 focus on one of the above
texts and compare that philosopher’s view with YOUR OWN view on ONE of the following
topics: (a) freedom and human agency, (b) authenticity, (c) the human capacity for ethical
reasoning, or (d) the role of religious or social views in grounding what counts as ethical
behavior.
For pages 3-4 you may present a criticism of the philosophical view you selected, or highlight its
good points in treating the topic, or explain how you’ve appropriated elements of the
philosopher’s view into your own view about ethical behavior, or some combination of the
above. Whichever approach you use, as with the initial two pages, be sure to explain the
underlying principles and rationale for YOUR OWN view. Before you start working on the
essay, think through one possible counter-example that might undermine your account of what
counts as ethical behavior. Then be sure to incorporate your solution to this “problem” or explain
why the “problem” isn’t really a problem at all.
Once again, the prompt is: Discuss how the following question is answered in each of the four
texts: “What constitutes ethical behavior?” (pages 1-2) Then select one text and compare your
own personal view with it by focusing one topic (a)-(d). (pages 3-4)