Questions

350-500 WORDS FOR EACH SECTION

Topic A:

You try to live strictly by the moral rules contained in your religion's moral code. The two most important rules are "Be merciful" (don't give people what they deserve) and "Be just" (give people exactly what they deserve). Now suppose a man is arrested for stealing food from your house, and the police leave it up to you whether he should be prosecuted for his crime or set free. Should you be merciful and set him free, or be just and make sure he is appropriately punished? How do you resolve this conflict of rules? Can your moral code resolve it? To what moral principles or theories do you appeal?

Topic B:

Suppose you have an opportunity to either: (1) send $800 to an area suffering from famine, in order to save a dozen people from starvation or (2) give the money to your little sister to buy books for college. Which would you do? Why? Explain which moral theory aligns with your decision-making process.

Topic C:

What is the conservative argument for restricting access to abortion? What is the liberal argument for preserving access to abortion? Why is personhood such an important concept in the abortion debate? Which view do you find most plausible and why?

Topic D:

Explain and defend your views on the following: Is there anything wrong in offering unauthorized immigrants "a path to citizenship"? Should children brought into a country illegally ever be deported?