Overview
Requirement + 4 prompts will be provided later (choose 1)
- Must include:
- A title
- An introduction that presents a clear and concise thesis, which states some position for which you will argue for in your paper.
- Body paragraphs that provide an adequate summary of the argument(s), position(s), and terms relevant for your chosen topic, as well as reasons in defense of your stated thesis and consideration of some possible objection(s) to your argument(s) or thesis.
A conclusion that might re-summarize your paper in different terms, acknowledge some limitations of your argument or further questions that need to be addressed, or indicate to the reader some possible, broader implications of the views at stake in your paper. PROMPTS (CHOOSE ONE):
1. In his book Anarchy, State, and Utopia, philosopher Robert Nozick presented "The Experience Machine" thought experiment. Here's an excerpt where he introduces the thought experiment. Read the excerpt and answer the question the follows.
"Suppose there were an experience machine that would give you any experience that you desired. Superduper neuropsychologists could stimulate your brain so that you would think and feel you were writing a great novel, or making a friend, or reading an interesting book. All the time you would be floating in a tank, with electrodes attached to your brain. Should you plug into this machine for life, preprogramming your life's experiences? If you are worried about missing out on desirable experiences, we can suppose that business enterprises have researched thoroughly the lives of many others. You can pick and choose from their large library or smorgasbord of such experiences, selecting your life's experiences for, say, the next two years. After two years have passed, you will have ten minutes or ten hours out of the tank, to select the experiences of your next two years. Of course, while in the tank you won't know that you're there; you'll think it's all actually happening. Others can also plug in to have the experiences they want, so there's no need to stay unplugged to serve them. (Ignore problems such as who will service the machines if everyone plugs in.) Would you plug in?"
Given this description, should you plug in to the experience machine? Why, or why not? In your answer, make explicit reference to the ethical theory of just one of the following philosophers - Aristotle, John Stuart, or Kant.
2. Read the case "Deception in Dementia Care" about Amara, who works in a dementia care home, where the patients are in various degrees of physical and cognitive decline. One patient, Barry, suffers from dementia and can’t remember his wife died years ago. Is it morally permissible for Amara to not tell Barry that his wife is dead? Why, or why not? In your answer, make explicit reference to the ethical theory of just one of the following philosophers - Aristotle, John Stuart, or Kant.
3. Read the case "Almost kiss and tell" about Juan, who almost cheats on his girlfriend Julia but then doesn't for lack of opportunity. Is it morally permissible to keep this information from Julia? Why, or why not? In your answer, make explicit reference to the ethical theory of just one of the following philosophers - Aristotle, John Stuart, or Kant.
4. Read the case "Sufferin' Succotash" about Sydney, who is considering purchasing a Munchkin cat, a breed which suffers from a genetic conditions that make her look like a kitten throughout life. If people do breed Munchkin cats, is it morally permissible for Sydney to purchase one? Why or why not? In your answer, make explicit reference to the ethical theory of just one of the following philosophers - Aristotle, John Stuart, or Kant.