Essay #2 Guidelines
Guidelines for the essay on “The Island”
Due Date: 11:59 pm Sunday 22 Nov 2015
Essays must be submitted to Turnitin.com.
Be sure to follow the Guidelines precisely in preparing the essay assignment!
Essay Assignment on the movie, THE ISLAND, which is available on D2L:
You must make use of the assigned readings: on the Reserve ARES System
(i) “Egoism,” by Robert Shaver, in the Stanford Encyclopedia of
Philosophy at http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/egoism/
(ii) “Egoism and Altruism.” by Richard Kraut in The Routledge
Encyclopedia of Philosophy also available via an MU link at
(iii) “Moral Relativism” by Chris Gowans,
in the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy at
http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/moral-relativism/
In your essay,
(a) explain the key teachings of the following ethical theories: (i) Ethical Egoism, (ii) Moral Relativism, (iii) aspects of Aristotelian Virtue or Eudaimonistic Ethics, (iv) aspects of Kantian Deontological Ethics and (v) aspects of Mill’s Utilitarianism;
(Be sure your essay demonstrates that you have studied the assigned readings listed immediately above.)
(b) identify aspects of the movie which exemplify each of those ethical theories; and
(c) offer your view on what ethical approach is best used in determining what is right and what is wrong overall in regard to the central issues of the movie. Be sure to give reasons for your view in a reasoned and argued account.
Note the following:
- Essays must not exceed 1500 words or 6 typed, double spaced pages in 12 pt font Times font, with a full bibliography on additional pages.
- Electronic copies of essays must be uploaded to www.turnitin.com by 11:59 pm Sunday 22 November 2015.
- Essays will be graded on the basis of philosophical content as well as clarity, proper grammatical form, and spelling. Proofread your essay before submitting it! Spelling counts!
- Each essay must be accompanied by a one-page detailed outline of the structure of the essay. Essays submitted without an outline will have the grade reduced by one letter grade.
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-Late papers may have grades reduced by 1 letter per day.
I suggest this as a possible clear way of proceeding:
1. Introduction: write this last so you are sure it introduces exactly what follows.
2. Ethical Theory #1
2.1. Explain in one substantial paragraph the basic notions and principles of the ethical theory as studied.
2.2. In a second paragraph give one and only one example of a character in the movie displaying that ethical theory in action. Relate it to what you write in the previous paragraph.
3. Ethical Theory #2
3.1. Explain in one substantial paragraph the basic notions and principles of the ethical theory as studied.
3.2. In a second paragraph give one and only one example of a character in the movie displaying that ethical theory in action. Relate it to what you write in the previous paragraph.
4. Ethical Theory #3
4.1. Explain in one substantial paragraph the basic notions and principles of the ethical theory as studied.
4.2. In a second paragraph give one and only one example of a character in the movie displaying that ethical theory in action. Relate it to what you write in the previous paragraph.
5. Ethical Theory #4
5.1. Explain in one substantial paragraph the basic notions and principles of the ethical theory as studied.
5.2. In a second paragraph give one and only one example of a character in the movie displaying that ethical theory in action. Relate it to what you write in the previous paragraph.
6. Ethical Theory #5
6.1. Explain in one substantial paragraph the basic notions and principles of the ethical theory as studied.
6.2. In a second paragraph give one and only one example of a character in the movie displaying that ethical theory in action. Relate it to what you write in the previous paragraph.
7. Concluding part: answer this part of the question: (c) offer your view on what ethical approach is best used in determining what is right and what is wrong overall in regard to the central issues of the movie. Be sure to give reasons for your view in a reasoned and argued account.