Absolutism vs Relativism Questions

Reflect upon and discuss the questions:
Which ethical position is correct, absolutism or relativism? Why?
In your discussion, consider the arguments for and against both views as presented in this unit.
What does Aristotle say about the good life and the "ingredients" which can make us happy?
What do his views imply about children and their ability to be happy?
What is the Doctrine of the Mean?
What does Aristotle use it to explain?
3 ESSAYS OF ETHICS

ESSAY 2
"Kant and the Categorical Imperative":
Reflect upon and discuss the questions:
What does Kant mean when he says that our actions must conform to the Categorical Imperative?
In your answer, be sure to consider both versions of the Categorical Imperative as discussed in the lecture: the "Universal Law" version and the "Means/Ends? version.
Is his argument persuasive?
Why or why not?
Examine current events in light of the Categorical Imperative – how would issues such as sweatshop labor, human trafficking, pollution or income inequality be analyzed by a Kantian approach?

ESSAY 3
Mill and the Greatest Happiness Principle

Is Mill right when he says that goodness is simply "whatever promotes the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people"? What is the greatest happiness? How can we determine what that might be? In your answer, explain Mill’s distinction between "higher and lower pleasures" in contrast to Bentham’s "moral arithmetic." Consider, also, the various objections to utilitarianism as discussed in the lecture.
Does this approach work for our ethical problems today? Can you think of current practices that are in alignment with the Greatest Happiness Principle? What about
practices and behavior that would be morally impermissible according to Utilitarianism?

You must proofread your paper. But do not strictly rely on your computer’s spell-checker and grammar-checker; failure to do so indicates a lack of effort on your part and you can expect your grade to suffer accordingly. Papers with numerous misspelled words and grammatical mistakes will be penalized. Read over your paper – in silence and then aloud – before handing it in and make corrections as necessary. Often it is advantageous to have a friend proofread your paper for obvious errors. Handwritten corrections are preferable to uncorrected mistakes.

Use a standard 10 to 12 point (10 to 12 characters per inch) typeface. Smaller or compressed type and papers with small margins or single-spacing are hard to read. It is better to let your essay run over the recommended number of pages than to try to compress it into fewer pages.

Likewise, large type, large margins, large indentations, triple-spacing, increased leading (space between lines), increased kerning (space between letters), and any other such attempts at “padding” to increase the length of a paper are unacceptable, wasteful of trees, and will not fool your professor.

The paper must be neatly formatted, double-spaced with a one-inch margin on the top, bottom, and sides of each page. When submitting hard copy, be sure to use white paper and print out using dark ink. If it is hard to read your essay, it will also be hard to follow your argument. Get homework help here