Reference no: EM133301649

Assignment:

1. As it relates to the theme of this week's seminar, what did you find most interesting when contrasting MacIntyre's claim concerning human rights with the claims of the U.S. Declaration of Independence?

2. What did you take away from this week's literature on the distribution of justice (Pojman vs Hume)?

3. What did you find most interesting about the Sandel article on human rights and human cloning?

4. Are we equal or unequal? Explain. If equal, does equality extend into all areas of life? If not, where is the line, and how do we know where to draw it?

5. How should government and social inequalities be governed: (1) permit only those inequalities that increase the overall welfare of society; (2) permit only those inequalities that benefit the least advantaged members of society; (3) permit whatever inequalities may result when some people work hard and exercise their talents more than others? Why?

6. Is there such a thing as objective, universal moral truth, or is morality created by cultures and/or individuals? Do we really have inalienable rights? Why/why not?

7. Assume for a moment that we, in fact, have no rights... What will this imply for ethics and the resolution of conflict? Name an ethical issue that becomes less complicated if we have no rights.

Now assume that we do in fact have natural, intrinsic rights. How will this impact our ethics?

Name an applied issue that this will necessarily complicate and explain why?

8. Two people are badly injured in a driving accident. It was the driver's recklessness that caused the accident; the passenger is simply an innocent victim. Supposing that the damage sustained to their bodies is basically equal, but also supposing that only one of them can be treated at a time. Should the victim receive preferential treatment in the emergency room, or should there be some other means than guilt for determining who to treat first?

9. Is it just or unjust to give preference to applicants who are members of groups who have been historically discriminated against?

10. A terrible storm has left the streets covered in snow and ice. Sally has labored for an hour to clear away the snow from her public parking spot, in order to drive quickly to the store, just to buy a few basic provisions in order to 'weather the storm." She marks her spot with a lawn chair, attempting to lay claim to it. Of course, anyone could simply move the chair and park there. Should anyone be free to park in her spot-a public parking spot-while she's gone, or does her labor somehow lay claim to that public spot?