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October 28, 2007
Questions about Kant's Categorical Imperative
As we saw last Wednesday, Kant thinks that moral action should be guided by the Categorical Imperative. I presented Kant's first version of the Categorical Imperative: Act only on that maxim through which you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law.
The second version of the same Categorical Imperative sounds very different. It says: Act in such a way that you always treat humanity, whether in your own person or in the person of any other, never merely as a means, but always at the same time as an end.
Kant thinks he has provided two versions of the same principle. How are these two versions connected? How does the act of treating people as ends in themselves connect with universalizable laws? Try to think about how they are connected with a concrete example, say a lying promise and money lender.
Posted by seschmid at 07:53 PM | Comments (0)
October 22, 2007
Presentation #5: Global Warming
1. Do you believe Global Warming is the most pressing moral concern of our time?
2. Would you chose to harm the global economy to help the environment?
3. Do you believe Global Warming is part of a natural cycle or a man-made condition?
4. Do we have a moral obligation to provide our children with a healty planet?
Posted by seschmid at 12:37 PM | Comments (19)
October 20, 2007
Presentation #4: Accomodating Immigrant Students in Public Schools
Accomodating Immigrant Students in Public Schools
1) Should immigrant students be taught in English or in their native language? Why?
2) Are there benefits to teaching immigrant students in their native language? Are there any to teaching them in English?
3) Is it the responsability of the United States to teach English to immigrant students?
4)Is it immoral for the United States to force students to learn in English instead of in their native language?
Posted by seschmid at 10:58 AM | Comments (21)
October 14, 2007
The Happiness Machine
Imagine there is a machine that you could plug into and that would satisfy any desire you might have. Inside this machine, you are given any experience you desire. The scientists in control of this machine stimulate your brain into thinking you are the greatest athlete, the richest person on earth, the most famous celebrity, a wonderful novelist, or you are simply enjoying physical and psychological pleasures. Moreover, the scientists vary the pleasures so you don't get bored.
Even though you are inside the machine, it's as if you were living in the real world. On top of that, you are free to leave the machine at any time, although no one ever has.
Would you plug yourself into this Happiness Machine? Why or why not?
Posted by seschmid at 11:47 AM | Comments (8)
October 08, 2007
Presentation #3: Sweatshop Labor
1. Is promoting the use of sweatshops immoral?
2. Is there a difference between sweatshops and slavery?
3. If you were aware of all the stores that use sweatshops would you feel guilty buying products from them? Would you stop shopping at those stores?
4. Do you think the United States will ever refuse to sell products that were made in sweatshops? Should they? And if they did would it stop companies from using sweatshops?
Posted by seschmid at 10:12 AM | Comments (22)
October 07, 2007
Presentation #2: Welfare
1. Are we morally obligated to offer welfare to the nation's lower class?
2. Do you believe that welfare is abused?
3. Does welfare encourage dependence?
4. Do you think that people benefit from welfare or does it just makes things worse?
Posted by seschmid at 07:19 PM | Comments (26)