You must complete an analytical philosophy paper as your final project.

Overview

One of the main tasks of this course is the preparation of an ethical decision‐making paper based on the theories learned within the class. Based on the knowledge that you have acquired in this course and through your own faculties of reason and insight, you will (1) examine in detail an ethical dilemma of your choosing from the textbook, (2) determine how each of the theories that you have studied in the course would respond to the dilemma, creating an argument for and an argument against your topic, and (3) give your own perspective. This assessment will address the following course outcomes:

Evaluate philosophical theories for their implications to the process of ethical decision making

Apply ethical principles to analyses of practical and classical dilemmas using appropriate philosophical concepts

Construct supporting and refuting arguments for the application of ethical decision making

Employ personal moral framework for effectively critiquing and defending ethical decisions

Prompt This paper must be written in a scholarly manner using APA formatting and resources from the library and scholarly websites that end in .gov, .edu, .org, .mil. Nothing will be accepted from open sources such as Wikipedia. Specifically, the following critical elements must be addressed:

I. Introduction: Compose an introduction that provides background information on the topic and premise of the ethical dilemma, its main arguments, and a summary of the evidence used to support the arguments. a. Provide background on the dilemma. What subject is it addressing? What are all of the dimensions and sides to the dilemma? Why have you chosen this dilemma? b. Briefly explain the evidence that supports the arguments. What evidence do they use to back up their arguments and support their claims? Is the evidence free from bias and assumptions? Does it successfully back up a coherent argument?

II. Evaluate a dilemma a. Analyze a dilemma by considering all dimensions and sides i. Apply ethical theories to your analysis ii. Use philosophical concepts appropriate to your analysis iii. Present a clear explanation of all appropriate dimensions to the selected dilemma

III. Formulate an argument a. Assertion: Take a position b. Reason with facts as part of the argument. What facts will you employ to back your assertions? What facts seem plausible to you, despite your argument? How will you incorporate those into your argument? c. Critique the evidence as part of your argument. What evidence supports your argument? What evidence do you have to accept that may not support your argument?

IV. Formulate a refuting argument (refutation) a. Assertion: Take a position b. Reason with facts as part of the refuting argument. What will you employ to back your assertions? What facts seem plausible to you, despite your refuting argument? How will you incorporate those into your argument? c. Critique the evidence as part of your refuting argument. What evidence supports your refuting argument? What evidence do you have to accept that may not support your refuting argument?

V. Reflect on how you use your critical thinking skills to make decisions. a. Discuss the critical thinking skills you used during the evaluation. How did you approach formulating your own opinions? How did you incorporate the evidence to make your arguments stronger? What areas did you find more and less difficult to approach? b. Discuss how you apply the skills of an ethicist to issues in your everyday life. How do you apply different types of reasoning to your decisions? How do you solve challenges using your own moral framework? How do you confront arguments and find solutions?