Assignment: Applying an Ethical Theory
Deontology is duty-based ethics. Deontologists propose that there are universal principles that undergird ethical actions and that humans are duty-bound to obey those principles. This week, you will examine primary and secondary sources that relate to deontological thinking from both theoretical and applied perspectives. The applied ethics topic for the week relates to the ethics of war and peace. You will interpret various military ethics topics through the lens of deontological theory. You will also complete the Week Three Assignment, which involves applying either deontological theory or utilitarianism to the ethical issue thesis that you created in Week One. To do this properly, it is important that you have a solid understanding of the theory, so be sure to read the course documents that relate to the theory you choose.
Applying an Ethical Theory
Please read these assignment instructions before writing your paper, and re-read them often during and after the writing process to make sure that you are fulfilling all of the instructions. Please also utilize the assignment guidance and the outlined model provided.
Overview
The following short essay assignment is designed to help prepare you for an important part of the Final Paper. In this essay, you will do the following:
• Use the same question you formulated and introduced in the Week One Assignment,
• Choose eitherutilitarian ordeontological ethical theory to apply to the ethical question.
• Explain the core principles of that theory.
• Demonstrate how the principles of the theory support a certain position on that question.
• Articulate a relevant objection to that position.
Instructions
Write a five-paragraph essay that conforms to the requirements below. The paper must be at least 1,000 words in length (excluding title and reference pages) and formatted according to APA style
The paragraphs of your essay should conform to the following guidelines:
• Introduction
The introduction should clearly state the ethical question under consideration, and define the essential issues. Build upon the question and introduction you provided in the Week One Assignment. Your introduction should include a brief remark about the kind of theory you will be using to approach this question. The last sentence of the introduction should briefly summarize or position on the issue you think is best supported by this theory and succinctly state what the objection will be.Bear in mind that your essay will not be concerned with your own position on this issue, but what someone reasoning along the lines of the chosen theory would conclude; this may or may not be the position you took in the Week One Assignment.
• Body Paragraphs
Each paragraph in the body should start with a topic sentence that clearly identifies the main idea of the paragraph.
o Theory explanation
Explain the core principles or features of the deontological or utilitarian theory and the general account of moral reasoning it provides.
You must quote from at least one required resource other than your textbook that defends or represents that theory.
o Application
Demonstrate how the principles or features of the deontological or utilitarian theory apply to the question under consideration and identify the specific conclusion that results from applying the reasoning characteristic of that kind of approach.
Your application should clearly show how the conclusion follows from the main principles and features of the theory as addressed in the previous paragraph. Please see the associated guidance for help in fulfilling this requirement.
o Objection
Raise a relevant objection to the argument expressed in your application. An objection articulates a plausible reason why someone might find the argument problematic. This can be a false or unsupported claim or assumption, fallacious reasoning, a deep concern about what the conclusion involves, a demonstration of how the argument supports other conclusions that are unacceptable, etc. You should aim to explain this objection as objectively as possible, (i.e., in a way that would be acceptable to someone who disagrees with the argument from the previous paragraph).
Note that this does not necessarily mean that the objection succeeds, or that the conclusion the theory supports is wrong. It may be an obstacle that any adequate defense of the conclusion would have to overcome, and it may be the case that the theory has the resources to overcome that obstacle. Your task here is simply to raise the objection or present the "obstacle."
• Conclusion
The conclusion should very briefly summarize the main points of your essay.
Resource Requirements
• You must use at least two resources to support your claims.
• At least one of the resources should be one of the Required or Recommended Resources that represent the theory you have chosen.
• The other source should pertain to the particular issue you are writing about and should be drawn from the required or recommended readings in the course, or be a scholarly source.
• You are encouraged to use additional resources, so long as at least two conform to the requirements above.
• The textbook does not count toward satisfying the resources requirement.
• To count toward satisfying the requirement, resources must be cited within the body of your paper and on the reference page and formatted according to APA style.