Compare and contrast two ethical theories
Paper Assignment
You are to write a paper (approx. 4-6 pages, 1350-1500 words) where you compare and contrast two ethical theories discussed in this class.
In order to do this, you should select a specific ethical scenario that you can use to compare and contrast the theories. The scenario can either be real or imaginary; you can use one of the cases discussed in the class or in the book (e.g., abortion, euthanasia, genetic modification, etc.). In selecting your scenario, it is important that you pick one that will allow you to compare and contrast your chosen theories. It will be easiest to find a scenario where the theories disagree, as this will make it easy to show their differences. If, however, you pick a scenario where the theories agree you will need to explain how they are different even though they agree. Even though the agree on the outcome, they will disagree on how they reached that outcome. For example, a divine command theorist might say murder is wrong because it violates one of God’s commands (e.g., it’s the 6th commandment) while Kant might say murder is wrong because it treats a person as a means only.
You need to describe, in detail, how each of your theories would handle your scenario. To do this you should give a general account of the moral theory, explaining what moral principles and values the theory uses, and why it uses them. Then you should show how those principles and values apply to the scenario, and what the theory says the right thing to do is in that situation.
After you describe each theory and how each theory would handle your scenario, I would like you to say which theory you agree with for this case. Note, this does not mean you personally subscribe to this theory, it just means that of the two theories you’ve chosen to discuss you think one of them does a better job addressing your scenario than the other.
Your paper should include the following:
1) An introduction where you tell me which theories you will be comparing and contrasting, a brief description of your scenario, and what your conclusion will be in regards to which theory you think is better. Your introduction might look something like this: In this paper I will be comparing social contract theory with utilitarianism. I will be examining how each of these theories would evaluate the morality of an abortion. After describing how each of these theories would evaluate the case of abortion, I will conclude that utilitarianism does the better job.
Your introduction should be a quarter to half a page (if you provide a few more details).
2) Describe your scenario. Give some details here. Don’t just say I’m looking at abortion, that is too general. The more details you give the easier it will be to apply your theories. Why is the woman having an abortion? What does her family think? What might be some of the consequences of having the abortion or not having the abortion? Think about what you would want to know if you had to evaluate this case?
Your description of your scenario should be half of a page to a full page.
3) Describe each of your theories. Don’t just give a brief summary, actually explain the theory. Don’t’ just say “utilitarianism care about promoting the greatest good for the greatest number”, explain what that means. For example, do they mean by “greatest good”?
Your description of each theory should be at least a full page each (1-1.5 pages).
4) Finally, examine the theory in terms of how well it address your scenario. What does each theory do well? What does each theory do poorly? Explain which of the two theories does a better jump. Again, don’t just say you like one better, be explain why.
Grading:
Introduction 15%
Does your intro tell me which theories you will be talking about?
Does your intro tell me what your scenario will be?
Does your intro tell me which theory you will ultimately agree with?
Description of the scenario = 15%
Did you make it clear what type of case you are dealing with?
Did you provide enough pertinent information about your theory?
Description of Normative theories = 25% for each theory (50% total)
Did you adequately discuss what each theory is?
- What does your theory think is most valuable and important?
- What moral principles does the theory use?
- How does the theory go about determine what the right thing to do is?
Did you correctly apply each theory to your scenario?
Discussion of which theory you agree with = 20%
Did you clearly tell me which theory you agree with?
Did you tell me why you disagree with the theory you disagree with?
Did you tell me why you agree with the theory you agreed with?
