Applied Ethics and Sustainability

Assessment details
Due: 11 pm 29 March 2019
Word guide: 750
Weighting: 20%
You should follow the ‘Assignment Planning’ activities in the SOC10236 Study Guide and all relevant online discussions concerning this assessment to perform well in this assignment.
You are required to select one of the five topics listed below and clearly define one focused and specific ethical question relevant to your chosen topic which you will analyse in both assignments 1 and 2.
The five topics are
1. Media, advertising or journalism (including social media);
2. The operating, investing or financing activities of multinational business organisations;
3. The taking of human or non-human life;
4. Artificial intelligence, robots, or any new technology;
5. Equity, diversity, multiculturalism, immigration (in the workforce or society).

Required tasks:
a. Select one of the five topics.
By carefully following the extensive guidelines provided in the Study Guide (Topic 1) clearly and concisely define one specific ethical question relevant to one of the five topics in no more than one short sentence.
(3 marks- Marking Criteria: Apply guidelines, Clarity of language)

Note: This is a critical stage of your assignment and it is not easy. If you don’t clearly define the ethical problem/question then you cannot perform a focused ethical analysis. It is strongly recommended that you rigorously apply the guidelines provided in the Topic 1 assessment planning activity to form your ethical question.

b. Explain why your specific ethical problem is important and worthy of your analysis?
(3 marks- Marking Criteria: Understand concepts, Depth of research)

c. Identify and fully reference 6 key facts relevant to the analysis of your ethical question. (6 marks- Marking Criteria: Depth of research, Referencing)

d. Analyse the ethical act central to your ethical question using act utilitarianism by forecasting three important positive and three important negative consequences. (6 marks- Marking Criteria: Understand concepts, Apply theory, Analyse and interpret information)

e. Provide an ethical conclusion which compares expected positive with negative consequences including an estimate as to whether net utility will rise or fall.
(2 marks- Marking Criteria: Analyse and interpret information)

Due: 11 pm 21 April 2019
Word guide: 750
Weighting: 20%

This assignment is a continuation of Assignment 1 Part A and you must analyse the same ethical question which you defined in Part A.

Restate your ethical question from Assignment 1 Part A on page 1 of Assignment 1 Part B. You can modify the precise wording of your ethical question drawing on feedback provided in Assignment 1 Part A.

a) Identify the act central to your ethical question.
(Note: you are analysing the ethics of this specific act.)
(1 mark- Marking Criteria: Understand concepts)

b) Identify 2 virtues relevant to the morality of the act central to your specific ethical question. Define each virtue in no more than one sentence.
(2 marks- Marking Criteria: Understand concepts, Apply theory)

c) Discuss the morality of the act central to your ethical question by comparison with your 2 chosen virtues.
(2 marks- Marking Criteria: Apply theory, Analyse and interpret information)

d) Apply Kant’s categorical imperative by completing the following tasks. You need to support any yes/no answers with reasons.

i) Define a specific rule which authorises the act central to your ethical question.
(2 marks- Marking Criteria: Apply theory)
ii) Define the general rule which authorises the act central to your ethical question.
(1 mark- Marking Criteria: Apply theory)
iii) Is the general rule inherently self-contradictory? Why or why not?
(2 marks- Marking Criteria: Critical thinking)

iv) Does the general rule violate Kant’s practical imperative or any of Kant’s other absolute moral rules?
(2 marks- Marking Criteria: Apply theory, Understand concepts)

v) Is the general rule contrary to its fundamental purpose?
(1 mark- Marking Criteria: Critical thinking)

vi) Is the act ethical according to Kant’s ethical system?
(2 marks- Marking Criteria: Apply theory)

e) Provide an ethical conclusion by comparing your conclusions from the act utilitarian analysis in Assignment 1 Part A, your virtue ethics and Kantian analyses in Assignment 1 Part B, and drawing on your own ethical conscience.
(5 marks- Marking Criteria: Apply theory, Understand concepts, Analyse and interpret information, Clarity of language)