Journal Topic 1
JOURNAL TOPIC 1
This week, in addition to learning about what the study of ethics is and some important concepts in ethical reasoning, students were introduced to theories of relativism.
There are different ways to approach relativism, metaethical, descriptive and normative--and we will learn more about these as the class progresses. But here, in your first Journal Topic, students will offer an initial reflection about their reaction to these theories, particularly normative relativism, the view that what is right or wrong, ethically, should be determined by the cultural norms of the specific culture in which the act or judgment occurs. This implies that no person from one culture can criticize or evaluate the norms or judgments of persons in other cultures, because only culture matters in determining the acceptability of ethical standards, judgments and actions.
PART 1 (WORD MINIMUM 250 WORDS)
In your current way of approaching ethical issues, do you assume that there are objective moral standards according to which we can determine whether or not a moral judgment is true or false, or do you believe that there are no objective standards, that ethics depends on culture, or maybe come other form of relativism? Respond to this question and give an example?
Before you address this question, please read consider the objections to relativism. Also, be careful to keep clear on normative relativism and descriptive relativism. You do not need to comment on the criticisms of these theories, but you should be aware of them.
Journal Topic 2
JOURNAL TOPIC 2 (minimum 400 words: but write as much as you want or feel you need.)
This week in our Journal we will examine a case and again reflect on our own values and how they influence how we evaluate the problem. ALSO, we will practice applying two theoretical approaches to the problem, Kantian moral theory, utilitarianism.
Consider the following case (this case is adapted from a case from the Markkulla Center for Applied Ethics):
"Try to put yourself in the position of a single mother of four, Janice. Janice is divorced and living in a shelter with her children. She has a low paying job and is saving money to afford rent in a cheap apartment, but the struggle seems unending. And, she has medical bills as well as a sick mother, who also has very little money.
Janice sees a young woman dressed in expensive, designer clothes emerge from a Tesla electric car--which she knows costs around $90,000. The woman's wallet falls from her purse to the ground, but the woman does not notice it.
Janice scoops up the wallet up and discovers that it is stuffed with hundred-dollar bills, at least ten to fifteen thousand dollars worth. She has only an instant to decide whether to chase after the woman or slip the wallet into her own purse."
ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:
1) What should she do? Again--TRY TO PUT YOURSELF IN THIS POSITION. WHAT WOULD YOU DO? EXPLAIN WHY YOU WOULD CHOOSE THE WAY YOU DO? IF YOU ARE NOT SURE WHAT YOU WOULD DO, EXPLAIN YOUR POSITION, REFLECT ON YOUR OWN PERSPECTIVE AND INTERPRETATIONS OF THE CASE.
2) Compare your decision and rationale in this case with the values and beliefs that you described in JOURNAL 1. Do you think that your values are represented in your thinking? Be honest and forthright. Try to explore and critical examine the values your hold dear and how they influence your decision on this case. And, if you find yourself changing your mind, and not sure how to answer, explain and reflect, try to take into account your own perspectives and perceptions and how these influence your interpretation of this case.
3) Explain how the TWO following approaches might apply to this case:
Kantan moral theory
Utilitarianism
4) Finally, address the question: how does my approach and rationale compare with applying utilitarianism and Kantian moral theory? Is your approach utilitarian? Kantian? Or, maybe your approach is different from both. Explain, and try your best to describe own beliefs and values and how they compare these theories and concepts.
Journal Topic 3
JOURNAL Topic 3
In Week 5 we learn about the concept of dehumanization, various way to approach the topic of rights, and we move further into a study of virtue theory and how it is interpreted by various philosophers and philosophical/religious traditions.
Consider how you have approached the moral problems in Topics 1 and 2. Did you learn any concepts or theories this week (dehumanization, rights theories, approaches to virtue theory) that are relevant and important to your own approaches to moral problems? Identify at least THREE theories or concepts that are of interest you. Explain why these concepts or theories are of interest to you. In your explanation reflect on your own moral beliefs and core values and how the concepts and theories we are studying in this class are important or unimportant to your beliefs about and approaches to moral issues.(There are no strictly right or wrong response to these questions. Responses will be evaluated according to the depth of the response and the accuracy of describing and explaining the concepts and theories.)
JOURNAL Topic 4
PART 1
OPTION 2
1) In past few years global events have been socially and politically challenging: have you learned any moral lessons since the beginning of the quarantine in the United States in March of 2020 until today? You may comment on experiences of living in the midst of a global pandemic, or the impact of the protests and social unrest in the wake of the murder of George Floyd, or other events related to racial and social justice and civil rights that followed; you may comment on economic uncertainty, the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East and threats of war in other parts of the world.
- What are those moral lessons or questions? If you have learned any moral lessons, explain any moral lessons that you believe others have learned. Describe these carefully. Attend to facts, contexts, your beliefs and attitudes, values and principles. Reflect on the meaning of these moral lessons for your life and the lives of others.
- Why are these moral lessons, that is, lessons that have to do with ethics and morality? Again, keep clear on the distinctions between facts, legal, economic and ethical issues.
- Finally, reflect on the implications and meaning of these moral lessons. Where do you go from here? Also, explain whether or not any theories and concepts studied in the class help you make sense of the moral issues--if you feel the theories and concepts do not help, explain that. YOU MUST ADDRESS AT LEAST THREE CONCEPTS OR THEORIES STUDIED IN THE COURSE.
- (IF YOU FEEL YOU HAVE NOT LEARNED ANY MORAL LESSONS, COMMENT ON AT LEAST TWO MORAL ISSUES RELATED TO THESE EVENTS. DESCRIBE THESE ISSUES IN DEPTH--FACTS, CONTEXT, RELEVANT BELIEFS AND ATTITUDES, VALUES AND PRINCIPLES. REFLECT ON THE MEANING OF THESE ISSUES FOR YOUR LIFE AND THE LIVES OF OTHERS. EXPLAIN WHY THESE ARE MORAL ISSUES. FINALLY, REFLECT ON THE IMPLICATIONS AND MEANING OF THESE ISSUES. AND, EXPLAIN WHETHER OR NOT ANY THEORIES OR CONCEPTS STUDIED IN THE CLASS HELP YOU MAKE SENSE OF THESE MORAL ISSUES--IF YOU FEEL THE THEORIES AND CONCEPTS DO NOT HELP, EXPLAIN THAT. AGAIN, YOU MUST ADDRESS AT LEAST THREE CONCEPTS OR THEORIES STUDIED IN THE COURSE
PART 2
RESPONSE TO THIS TOPIC SHOULD BE AT LEAST 350 WORDS. WORD MAXIMUM: 1000 WORDS) Finally, what is the most valuable concept, theory or method, in your opinion, that you learned in the class? Explain why you believe this concept, theory or method is valuable citing an example. Does does this reveal to you anything about your own core values and beliefs or allow a deeper understanding of your own approaches to problems? Explain. If you feel you did not learn anything valuable in the course. Identify a concept or theory that you believe lacks value, and explain why it lacks value citing at least one example. Your comments should have details, specifics and reflect an excellent grasp of the concepts and theories studied in the class.
HERE STUDENTS WILL SUBMIT THE COMPLETE FINAL JOURNAL.
Your FINAL JOURNAL should be written as a WORD DOC file. IT MUST BE SUBMITTED TO BOTH THE ASSIGNMENT BOX IN WEEK 8 AND THE TURNITIN ASSIGNMENT BOX IN WEEK 8. Here is what your FINAL JOURNAL should look like:
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
(NAME)
(CLASS)
(TERM)
FINAL JOURNAL: PHIL 50, Golden Gate University
JOURNAL TOPIC 1
(Enter your response to Journal Topic 1 here. NOTE: DO NOT REPRODUCE THE TOPIC AND THE INSTRUCTIONS THEMSELVES IN THE JOURNAL. ONLY PROVIDE YOUR WRITTEN RESPONSE.)
JOURNAL TOPIC 2
(Enter your response to Journal Topic here.)
JOURNAL TOPIC 3
(Enter your response to Journal Topic 3 here.)
JOURNAL TOPIC 4
(Enter your response to the JOURNAL TOPIC 4 here. THIS WILL BE THE MOST IMPORTANT JOURNAL TOPIC.)
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
THE FINAL JOURNAL MUST BE UPLOADED TO THE TURNITIN DATABASE. FINAL JOURNAL SUBMISSIONS WILL BE KEPT CONFIDENTIAL AND WILL NOT BE SHARED WITH OTHERS WITHOUT THE EXPLICIT PERMISSION OF THE STUDENT.