Contemporary Moral Problems

PHIL !""

Second Short Paper (900-1200 words)
15% of final grade
Due no later than 11:59PM on Friday, 2/28

Your paper should answer exactly one of the following three questions. Read
each question carefully before deciding which one to answer. Be sure to answer
every sub-question within the question you decide to answer. Also be sure to
read and follow all of the INSTRUCTIONS listed below.

#. Harman asks: Why is humanely killing an animal morally permissible if
torturing that animal is not? She maintains that there is no satisfactory
answer to this question. In her view we must deny either (a) that it is
morally permissible to kill an animal or (b) that it is morally
impermissible to torture that animal. Provide what you consider to be
the strongest answer to Harmans question, and then formulate what you
consider to be the strongest objection to that answer. Is Harman right
when she says that we must choose between (a) and (b)?

$. Singer maintains that all sentient beings are entitled to equal moral
consideration. Is he right about this? Outline Singers primary argument
for his conclusion, and then give what you take to be the strongest
objection to Singers argument. How might Singer reply to this
objection? Is this reply successful in defusing the objection? Why or why
not?

!. Ryan asks: In a context of self-defense, why is the victim justified in
killing the aggressor, if the aggressor is not justified in killing the victim?
Ryan maintains that there is no satisfactory answer to this question. Is he
right about this? Consider the following two answers to his question: (a)
the victim is justified because the victim has acquired the right to kill the
aggressor; and (b) the victim is justified because the aggressor has put
the victim in a position to have to choose which life is lost. Choose either
answer (a) or answer (b) and give it the best defense you can. Then
provide the strongest objection you can think of. Does the answer youre
defending escape the objection?



INSTRUCTIONS:

Your paper must be submitted electronically in accordance with the
instructions of your GSI no later than ##:"%PM on Friday, February $&th.
Unexcused late papers will be marked down #/! of a letter grade for each
calendar day they are late (for example, A- to B+ or B+ to B).

Put your 8-digit student ID number at the top of the first page.

Put an accurate word count at the top of the first page, underneath
your ID number.

Do not put your name anywhere on your paper.

Number the pages of your paper.

Quotations and paraphrases from the readings should end with the relevant
author and a page number in parentheses. For example:

! Quotation: So long as the total amount of well-being is the same, it
doesnt matter who receives how much (Kagan, '&).

! Paraphrase: As Kagan points out, most people today think that the
well-being of animals matters to some extent (Kagan, '().

You are encouraged NOT to consult any sources other than the readings that
have been either assigned or recommended for this class. If you feel that you
must do so anyway, please be sure to list those sources at the end of your paper,
whether or not you decide to quote or paraphrase from them. Also be sure to
place any words which are not your own in quotation marks with complete
citation.

It is important to keep in mind that copying the ideas or organization of any
source even if you change all the words still constitutes plagiarism. For
further information on plagiarism and cheating, see the various resources
available here:

http://www.lib.umich.edu/shapiro-undergraduate-library/understanding-
plagiarism-and-academic-integrity

For further guidance on how to write this paper, and for some explanation of
how it will be graded, consult directly with your GSI.