PART I

 

 

 

Directions: The following problems ask you to evaluate hypothetical situations and/or concepts related to the reading in this module.  While there are no “correct answers” for these problems, you must demonstrate a strong understanding of the concepts and lessons from this module’s reading assignment.  Please provide detailed and elaborate responses to the following problems.  Your responses should include examples from the reading assignments.  Responses that fall short of the assigned minimum page length will not earn any points.

 

 

 

1.      You are facing a moral quandary, and you want advice.  You must choose either of two advisors, but not both.  One is Brenda, who is a very clear and careful thinker, but whose feelings and affections seem limited (you sometimes have the impression that she really cares about no one except herself).  The other possible source of advice is Brandon: warm and caring, but he quickly become muddled when trying to think carefully.  Whom would you choose as your moral advisor?  Please explain why.  Your response should be at least one half of one page in length.

 

 

 

2.      You are a hospital patient, and you have your choice of physicians, both of whom are superbly qualified medical professionals.  One is dedicated Dekisha; the other is joyous Christina.  Whom would you choose?  Does your choice have any relevance for the question of which one is “morally better?”  Your response should be at least one half of one page in length.

 

 

 

3.      “Acting morally is like swinging a golf club: when it seems easy and natural and comfortable, then you know you have it right.”  Is that true?  Your response should be at least one page in length.

 

 

 

4.      You have often heard of someone refusing to perform a certain action because “It just does not feel right,” thus correlating negative feelings about an action with the morality of said action. Construct a scenario where the opposite occurs, i.e. where an action that is generally held to be morally right may produce a bad feeling in the doer. You may be creative in your response, but be sure to clearly state your argument for why you think the action may produce a bad feeling even though it is morally correct.  Your response should be at least one page in length.

 

 

 

5.      As a child, you most likely have been told by a parent to do something “Because I said so.” Suppose such a situation occurred as an adult, where a boss or another authority figure told you the same thing? How might you respond, assuming you will not get in trouble? There is no one right answer, but be sure to give a clear and reasoned justification for your response.  Your response should be at least one half of one page in length.

 

 

 

6.      Consider the rule “Do not cut in line.”  Why do you follow this rule?  Are you acting morally by doing so?  Your response should be at least one half of one page in length.

 

 

 

7.      Suppose that there is a person who always does what is right, but only because they do not want to get into trouble.  This person believes that murder, stealing, etc. is okay and would do these things if they were allowed to.  Is this person a moral person?  Why or why not?  Your response should be at least one page in length.

 

 

 

 

 

PART II:Journal

 

 

 

Please describe what aspect of this week’s lesson you found most interesting and why.  What effect, if any, did it have on your moral/ethical outlook?  Your response should be at least one half of one page in length.

 

 

 

 

Directions: Please provide detailed and elaborate responses to the following questions.  Your responses should include examples from the reading assignments, if possible.  Each response should be at least one half of one page in length and utilize APA format.

 

 

 

1.      What is the difference between moral motivation and moral justification?

 

 

 

2.      Explain the difference between natural morality and transcendent morality.

 

 

 

3.      What is the difference between a moral judgment and an aesthetic judgment?

 

 

 

4.      What does it meant to be an “objectivist” regarding moral feelings?

 

 

 

5.      Describe the difference between sentimentalism and intuitionism.  Does one theory seem more plausible than the other?  Explain.

 

 

 

6.      Describe the difference between objective and subjective sentimentalism.  What are the strengths and weaknesses of each position?