Essay

Philosophy 1000 Paper

Write a short essay (800-1200 words), choosing from among the topics below. The essay is due by 5 pm on Wednesday, April 13th. Because these essays are brief, it is crucially important to be concise. You should not summarize (passively re-state what is present in) the text. Instead, actively analyze and assess the arguments you consider, quoting only short passages when necessary to support your points. Focus your efforts on providing your own responses to the prompts. If you use secondary sources, include the relevant bibliographic data.

The Writing Guide is still available here: https://collab.its.virginia.edu/x/4zsMbA

Topics are on the next page.

PAPER TOPICS

Write on either topic (1) or topic (2). Be sure that your paper covers both (a) and (b).

1. The lectures gave an overview of the three primary positions on free will and moral responsibility: libertarianism, compatibilism, and skepticism. Which one of these positions do you favor, and why? Your answer should:

a. Explain why you think that the prospect of determinism does or does not pose a challenge to free will and responsibility (the Dino problem).

AND

b. If you favor libertarianism or compatibilism: explain what you think free will/responsibility consists in, and why you think that this is what it consists in.

If you favor skepticism: explain whether you think the absence of free will/responsibility is problematic (for a meaningful life, meaningful relationships, etc), and why you think it is or isn’t. 

2. We discussed three leading ethical theories: Utilitarianism (advanced by Mill), Kant’s ethical view (sketched by O’Neill), and Virtue Ethics (defended by Annas). Which of these views do you favor, and why? Your answer should:

a. Clearly articulate the fundamental moral value of the view you favor (these are mentioned in Lecture 29, but you should explain your view’s fundamental moral value in your own words), and explain why you think the view is right about this.

AND

b. Defend your favored view from an objection as follows. 

· If you favor Utilitarianism, defend it from one of these objections: 

· It overintellectualizes pleasures.

· It is too morally demanding, since it requires us to consider the consequences that our actions have on everyone else.

· Guiding actions by the Principle of Utility is difficult, since consequences are difficult to predict.

· If you favor Kant’s view, defend it from one of these objections:  

· It is too rigid, e.g. in saying that lying is always wrong.

· It focuses too much on the individual who acts, and doesn’t put enough weight on how our actions affect other people.

· If you favor Virtue Ethics, defend it from one of these objections:

· It encourages us to be self-centered, to focus on our own flourishing.

· It makes virtue partly a matter of luck—whether I’m lucky enough to be in a position to develop virtue.

· It doesn’t give us practical guidance about what we should do.