PAPER 3 REMINDERS

THREE SECTIONS

• Critical Thinking

• Moral Reasoning

• Tentative solution

Mechanics

• 6-8 pages long (estimate only)• Critical thinking = 3 pages• Moral reasoning = 3 pages• Conclusion/solution = 1 pages

• Full Works Cited Section

• Writing = as perfect as you can make it

• MLA format = as perfect as possible

MORAL REASONING

• A methodology to help people deal with moral dilemmas

• The Key to doing well on paper 3

Moral Reasoning and Paper 3

• Your paper has a value-laden problem

• Paper 3 uses moral reasoning to assess the moral components of each position

• Read Section 4 of the Handbook

Moral Reasoning Requirements for the Capstone Project

• For Each Side in Paper 3 you must identify analyze for the proponents and opponents– The Obligations inherent in the position– The Values underlying the position– The potential consequences of the position– The position in terms of the normative principles

and theories that support it

Moral Reasoning and Capstone

• Don’t simply list the values, obligations and consequences

• Use the literature to justify these things for each side. Do not just assume that they believe it.

WHAT IS A MORAL DILEMMA?

• Occurs when you are facing a value-laden problem and…

• All the choices appear to have merit

WHAT IS MORAL REASONING?

• Ability to work through moral dilemmas using a rule-based framework

• Involves both decision-making and taking action

• Focuses on situations that involve value conflicts – Beliefs about what is good/desirable and undesirable

What are Morals?

• What are morals?

• Moral Relativism

• Moral Absolutism

INSUFFICIENT, CRITERIA FOR MORAL DECISION-MAKING

• Feelings

• Religion

• Majority view

• Law

ACCEPTABLE CRITERIA FOR MORAL DECISION-MAKING

• Obligations

• Values

• Consequences

Be sure to consider each criteria before making any moral decisions.

OBLIGATIONS

• Relationships imply obligations

• Obligations relate to governmental roles

• Obligations imply restrictions

• Formal– Contracts, vows

• Informal– Citizenship, friendship, family, professions

When Obligations Conflict

• Sometimes both sides will have legitimate obligations

• Give preference to the more important one• Try to find a middle ground and serve both• If only one can be served– What is the first obligation– What will cause the greatest harm if not filled

WHAT ARE VALUES?

• Beliefs about what is good/desirable and bad/undesirable

• Guide us on how to behave• Unique to each individual

• Change due to time, experience

SOME EXAMPLES OF VALUES

(terminology: Milton Rokeach)

TERMINALNational securityFamily securityEconomic prosperityA peaceful worldInner harmonySalvationEqualityWisdomJusticeAn exciting life

INSTRUMENTALImaginativeHonestKindFriendlyProductivePoliteFairObedientGenerous

Questions to Help identify Values

• What utility do those holding a side expect to achieve?

• What interest do those holding a given position wish to protect or gain?

• What harm do those holding a position wish to prevent?

When Values Conflict

• Select the higher ideal

• Select the action that will achieve the greatest good

• If there is no good, then choose the one with the lesser evil

CONSEQUENCES

They are the projected results that might occur from any given action.

• Beneficial or detrimental• Immediate or long-range• Intentional or unintentional• Involve the person performing the action

and/or others

Measuring Consequences

• Difficult to predict because people behave irrationally

• Immoral Acts that produce good results – No• Moral Acts that produce mixed consequences-

maybe• What if a choice must be made