Ethics

Algoma University

BIOL2216A/PHIL2216A21W Principles of Environmental Ethics

Essay Format

Due 2021-03-13 … 11:59 p.m.

Each student writes an essay: 6-8 pages, double spaced

Materials: Use only the Ethics, Animal Ethics, Environmental Ethics materials that I have posted, including readings, word documents, but, most importantly, the power point presentations. Do not use other sources for ethics, animal ethics and environmental ethics. You have all that you need. You may refer to the scholarly sources for your Anthropocene or Biodiversity Crisis topic, if needed. You may refer to your group project assignment.

Topic of your essay: Choose the specific topic of your group project, or an issue related to it. For example, a specific ethical issue may have emerged in the ethical portion of the group project. Or, an ethical issue may have emerged in the first part of your group project, such as, the implementation or lack of adequate implementation of policies to address an ecological issue.

General Approach of your essay: Evaluate the ‘topic’ of your essay according to the following ethical perspectives: Aristotle’s Virtue Ethics, Kant’s Duty Ethics, Utilitarian Ethics (Bentham, JS Mill), Animal Ethics (Singer and/or Regan), JB Callicott’s Environmental Ethics, and Holmes Rolston’s Earth Ethics. Compare and contrast how each perspective applies to the topic. Choose one perspective that provides the most ethical solution to your topic. Provide reasons to explain why that perspective provides the most ethical solution. The reasons why you have chosen that perspective, based on comparing their application, will make up the supporting points of your argument. The thesis of your argument is that this ethical perspective (e.g., Aristotle’s Virtue Ethics) offers the most ethical solution.

Sample Format Below: I have provided a format below with Aristotle as the chosen ethical theory. I have also chosen an order of comparison that is arbitrary. Substitute your chosen theory for my Aristotle. Choose the order of pairing and comparison that best suits your argument. Otherwise, follow the format very closely. But leave out the headings and the numbers. Use proper paragraphs. Edit, edit, and edit again in order to be clear and concise.

Essay Format

Introduction

1. What is the ethical issue? Introduce the topic, its context, and explain the ethical issue. (1/2 page maximum)

2. Stakeholders: Who is impacted? How are they impacted? (1/4 page max)

3. Options: What should have been done and/or not done? (1/4 page max)

4. Thesis Statement: “Aristotle’s Virtue Ethics [… or Kant, … or Utilitarianism, … or Animal Ethics, … or Callicott, … or Rolston] provides the most ethical solution to the problem of … [your topic]”

5. Summary of Supporting Points: Very briefly explain why Aristotle’s Virtue Ethics [… or Kant, … or …] provides the most ethical solution in comparison and contrast with the other ethical perspectives. This is based on the reasons in your argument below.

Body of the Essay & Argument

6. “Acting according to Aristotle’s Virtue Ethics provides a more ethical solution to the problem of … [ your topic] … than acting according to Kant’s Duty Ethics.” Explain how Aristotle’s Virtue Ethics applies to your topic. Explain how Kant’s Duty Ethics applies to your topic. Compare, contrast, and explain why Aristotle’s perspective provides the more ethical solution. In doing so, you are providing the supporting points, the reasons and the rational justification, which defend your thesis.

7. “Acting according to Aristotle’s Virtue Ethics provides a more ethical solution to the problem of … [ your topic] … than acting according to Utilitarian Ethics.” Explain how Utilitarian Ethics applies to your issue. Compare, contrast, and give reasons why Aristotle’s perspective provides the more ethical solution. -- You may refer to the previous section on Aristotle to avoid repetition.

8. “Acting according to Aristotle’s Virtue Ethics provides a more ethical solution to the problem of … [ your topic] … than acting according to Animal Ethics.” Explain how Animal Ethics applies to your issue. Compare, contrast, and give reasons why Aristotle’s perspective provides the more ethical solution.

9. “Acting according to Aristotle’s Virtue Ethics provides a more ethical solution to the problem of … [ your topic] … than acting according to JB Callicott’s perspective.” Explain how JB Callicott’s theory applies to your issue. Compare, contrast, and give reasons why Aristotle’s perspective provides the more ethical solution.

10. “Acting according to Aristotle’s Virtue Ethics provides a more ethical solution to the problem of … [ your topic] … than acting according to Holmes Rolston’s perspective.” Explain how Rolston’s theory applies to your issue. Compare, contrast, and give reasons why Aristotle’s perspective provides the more ethical solution.

Conclusion

11. “In conclusion, Aristotle’s Virtue Ethics has proven to offer the most ethical solution to the issue of … [your topic]. -- Summarize the main reasons from the argument above. – Briefly discuss an important point from one of the ethical perspectives, besides Aristotle’s Virtue Ethics, that you think is very important to your topic.

Note: If you conclude that Aristotle’s Virtue Ethics offers the most ethical solution overall when compared with all the others, but that one or more of the other perspectives may be more ethical in relation to some aspect of your topic, you may defend this in your essay. For example, if you find that Aristotle’s Virtue Ethics provides the more ethical solution in comparison with four of the other ethical perspectives, but not all five of them, that will be part of your argument. It should be reflected in your introduction and conclusion, as well.

6-8 pages, double spaced, 12 Calibri

APA Style

Citation of Power Point Presentations – Presentation Topic & slide number

Citation of word document – Title & page number