Outside Writing Assignment on REASON/ETHICS

(1) Locate an article, story, poem, picture, movie, or other cultural item which to you poses a difficult or interesting ethical question. Many ideas will work. For example, a philosophical essay like the ones written by Stace or Ross on ethics or reasoning would work. However, a movie such as Schindler’s List also raises questions about what is right. In this true-life story, a German businessman using Polish Jews in his factory during WWII must make decisions about what is right and how to achieve that. Similarly, a Native American tale of Spilyay might raise a question about proper behavior (which Spilyay tends to lack). You might even find a song or work of art which raises an ethical issue or explores the question of making good decisions.

(2) In 1.5-2 pages, write out a summary and explanation of the ideas about ethical reasoning expressed in the cultural item.

(a) Begin by introducing the item and its creator to the audience. Be sure to connect the creator with a particular culture (for example, link a Spilyay story to the Yakama Nation as the culture whose beliefs and values it expresses).

(b) Then spend a page or so illustrating and explaining the ideas contained in the item. For example, what view of ethics does the philosopher/writer/artist/creator express? What is right to him or her? Is that value fixed and unchanging or fluid and changing or changeable? What of others with differing views? Can we (or characters in a story/movie/tale) know what to do in the real world?

(c) Be sure to connect your analysis with specific details or events or dialogue or key passages from the item.

(d) Finally, in the conclusion connect the philosopher/writer/artist/creator’s ideas with the cultural context you identified in the introduction. If you wish, you may also inject your own commentary or reactions at this point.

Write out your essay and then bring a draft to class or to Elluminate for discussion.

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