Kantianism

Description

Write a five page essay in which you (a) present a detailed moral scenario, (b) concisely explain the moral theory articulated by Kant in the Grounding, (c) use that explanation to assess your moral scenario, and (d) evaluate the theory: identify one problem a reasonable person can raise for Kant’s ethics and explain how the Kantian can respond to the problem. You have a great deal of latitude in developing your scenario. You may present a dilemma, a specific action, or a way of life. The scenario may be taken from history, from fiction, or from your own imagination. It is crucial, however, that you choose a scenario which allows you to explain and evaluate the essential features of Kant’s moral view. A successful essay will (1) present a scenario suitable for moral assessment, (2) articulate a clear understanding of what is central to Kant’s moral view and its justifying arguments, (3) assess the scenario in a way that exhibits that clear understanding, and (4) evaluate the grounds of this assessment thoughtfully. Technical matters: 1.  Double spaced, reasonable margins, reasonable point size, reasonable font. 2.  Indicate at the end of your essay what edition of the Grounding you are using, and cite the text parenthetically, by page number. 3.  This is not a research paper. You do not need to use any sources other than Kant’s Grounding and the course notes. If you do, however, you must cite your sources clearly. Do not plagiarize.