What solution do you defend for the issue you have selected

Assignment Help Other Subject

Reference no: EM132220004

Assignment: Overview: Write a 2-3-page essay on a selected issue related to the tension between individual freedom and social institutions.

By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies

1. Competency 1: Explain the nature of ethical issues.

• Explain the ethical basis for the relation of individuals to their government.

2. Competency 2: Critically examine the contributions of key thinkers from the history of ethics.

• Describe the social contract theories of Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau.

3. Competency 3: Engage in ethical debate.

• Assess the advantages and disadvantages of these theories as they relate to a selected issue.

4. Competency 4: Develop a position on a contemporary ethical issue.

• Apply traditional social contract theories to a selected contemporary issue.

5. Competency 5: Communicate effectively in the context of personal and professional moral discourse.

• Communicate in a manner that is scholarly, professional, and consistent with expectations for members of professional communities.

Context

Another dose of ethical theory, focused this time on social organization. Several political philosophers have explained the foundation of governmental authority in terms of a fictional social contract:

1. Hobbes

• Individuals are purely selfish, so they naturally exist in a state of war with all

• In self-defense, we join together under the authority of a sovereign who rules

2. Locke

• In nature, rational agents have equal right to enforce the natural law

• For protection of "life, liberty, and property" we consent to be governed

• (Notice the influence of this approach on founders of the United States.)

3. Rousseau

• We are born free, so any agreement to join together is purely voluntary

• Each individual freely chooses to serve the "general will," the welfare of all

Present-day nations exhibit a variety of social organizations:

• Authoritarian: absolute power in a single dictator who imposes power over everyone

• Elitist: a small group rules for all, based on birth family, wealth, or merit

• Democratic: everyone participates in governance, usually by electing representatives

Under any form of government, the fundamental question is how much freedom individual citizens retain in the face of legitimate authority.

If we accept the need for some protection of the public good, we must submit in some circumstances, but each of us wishes to pursue our own choices within that broad framework.

With respect for justice, we allow the law to prevent us from harming each other, but otherwise we like to be left alone.

Questions to consider

- deepen your understanding, you are encouraged to consider the questions below and discuss them with a fellow learner, a work associate, an interested friend, or a member of the business community.

As you think about the theme "freedom and authority," consider addressing the following questions:

• Which version of social contract theory offers the best understanding of your issue?

• How much individual freedom is compatible with the legitimate authority of government?

• What solution do you defend for the issue you have selected?

Resources

General Education Information Research Skills Library Guide

A Capella University library guide has been created for your use in General Education courses. The General Education Information Research Skills Library Guide contains tips on how to use the Capella University Library to find resources for your General Education courses. You are encouraged to refer to the resources in this library guide to direct your research in this course.

Note: This Program Guide supports the Essential Undergraduate Learning Outcome of Information Literacy.

Assessment Instructions

Assessment Overview

Political philosophy concerns itself with the formation and maintenance of civil societies. Its central theme is the need to explain the relationship between individual human beings and their governments. You have been considering several specific examples of the tension between individual freedom and social institutions. From among those examples, you have chosen one as the focus for your own views on freedom and authority.

Assessment Instructions

Your assessment is to write an essay assessing the issue you selected, both in terms of versions of social contract theory proposed by Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau and from your own view of the proper relation between society and the individual.

Address the following concepts in your essay:

1. Explain the ethical basis for the relation of individuals to their government

2. Describe the theories of Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau about how societies are organized.

3. Assess the strengths and weaknesses of the theories in justifying the imposition of authority over individuals.

4. Apply these social contract theories to the issue you have selected.

Your instructor may provide video feedback on your work, as well as completing the official scoring guide for the assessment.

Assessment Requirements

• Written communication: Ensure written communication is free of errors that detract from the overall message.

• APA formatting: Format resources and citations according to current APA style guidelines.

• Number of resources: Use your judgment to ensure your topic is thoroughly researched. There is no minimum number of resources required, however.

• Length of paper: Submit 2-3 typed, double-spaced pages.

• Font and font size: Use Arial, 12-point font.

Reference no: EM132220004

Questions Cloud

Explain the nature of ethical issues : By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies: Explain the nature of ethical issues.

Method for resolving ethical dilemmas : Which of the following is not a method for resolving ethical dilemmas?

Self-employment as one of your five explorations : If you choose to do “Self-Employment” as one of your five explorations, What type of business would you like to own?

Reflect possible conflict of interest : Which of the following situations does not reflect a possible conflict of interest?

What solution do you defend for the issue you have selected : Which version of social contract theory offers the best understanding of your issue? What solution do you defend for the issue you have selected?

Stakeholders responsible for managing the aftermath : Disasters take place around the globe on a regular basis, creating challenges for various stakeholders responsible for managing the aftermath.

Develop a vocabulary for criticizing works of art : Competency: Develop a vocabulary for criticizing, evaluating, and describing works of art. Instructions: For this competency, you will assume the role.

Perform a key stakeholder analysis : HI6026 Audit, Assurance, and Compliance - Holmes Institute - Perform a key stakeholder analysis for an AS' listed company. Explain how the key stakeholders

Describe the consequences of a threat or vulnerability : In a business environment, controlling who has access to business information and at what level is critical for facilitating day-to-day business operations.

User Account

All Pages