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The Title of the Paper

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PHI 208 Ethics and Moral Reasoning

Prof. Heraclitus of Ephesus

January 1, 2014

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Begin with the ethical question you are addressing. The rest of your first paragraph

should introduce the topic by briefly but precisely discussing the concrete topic under

which this question falls, including any necessary context, background information, etc.

This should draw upon your work in the Week One Assignment, but should be more

succinct and reflect the development of your understanding of those ideas throughout the

course, as well as any revision, narrowing, and focusing of the problem under

consideration. Your introduction should include a preview of what you plan to do in the

paper, and how you will proceed. Conclude your introductory paragraph with a thesis

statement that states your position on the question and the primary reasons in such a way

that the reader should have a clear sense of how the reasons support the position, which is

what will be spelled out and explained in the body of the paper.

Demonstration Moral Reasoning

This section of the Final Paper is more open-ended than other parts of the papers

you have been working on (including other parts of this paper). By now you will have

seen how moral reasoning involves moving back and forth between general ideas, such as

principles, rules, values, purposes and ends, and so forth, and particular concrete

judgments. We have examined different forms that can take, where the general ideas

might be utilitarian principles, deontological duties, or Aristotelian ideas about the human

telos and the virtues. Your job here is demonstrate that you have acquired a sense of how

that kind of reasoning proceeds, and that you have understood and considered the

examples that were studied in the class.

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Along the way, you will need to relate what you are doing to these other theories.

For example, you might be taking a utilitarian approach, or an Aristotelian one, and

would make reference to Mill or Aristotle in the course of doing so, and contrast your

approach with Kant’s. Or you might model your approach on the reasoning of one of the

contemporary readings that dealt with specific issues. Also, you will likely need to

provide factual evidence to support the movement from general ideas to concrete

particulars.

Objection and Response

Each of the assignments involved examining a possible objection to the main

argument, and this paper will do so as well, but follow up with a response to the objection.

An objection articulates a plausible reason why someone might find the argument weak

or problematic. Or it might raise a consideration supporting a rival position, or a counter-

example that seems to go against certain claims you have made. You should explain how

it represents and objection, and do so in a way that would be acceptable to someone who

disagrees with your own argument. You would then provide the best response you can to

the objection, showing as clearly and persuasively as you can how it does not undermine

your position, without simply making the same argument you have already made over

again (that is, your response should say something new).

Conclusion

Provide a conclusion that sums up what you showed in the paper and offers some

final reflections, including a revised statement of the thesis (do not simply repeat your

thesis, but rephrase it in light of the discussion you just had).

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Total Word Count: 1500 to 2000 words (note: that’s at least twice as long as this outline).

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References

Required: Primary text in support of theory 1, drawn from the list of acceptable

resources.

Required: Primary text in support of theory 2, drawn from the list of acceptable

resources.

Required: Scholarly resource drawn from either the required or recommended readings or

from the Ashford University Library.

Required: Scholarly resource drawn from either the Required or Recommended

Resources or from the Ashford University Library.

Suggested: Other resources as needed.

Note that resources must be cited in the text as well as included in the bibliography to

satisfy the requirement.

The textbook and guidance do not count toward the resources requirement, though you

are free to use them as additional resources.