SHDH2035 Values and Ethics in Daily Life

Individual Essay

Guidelines

 This is an individual essay.

 The essay requires students to pick a topic out of the four selected topics on the next page
derived from the four applied ethics topics covered in this subject, decide on a position to
take, and justify your position.
 Word limit: 900 - 1,000 words in English or 1,400 - 1,600 words in Chinese.
 Deadline: December 12th, 2023
 Students are required to submit an E-copy through Turnitin. Please keep backup of your
work just in case.
 Format: 1.5 or double line spacing, any legible font type & size, APA style of referencing
and citation
 Provide word count at the end of your work.
 Regarding style, write clearly, in active voice, put other’s ideas in your own words, as
much as possible, and give credit whenever you have used someone else’s idea or quoted
someone.
 Suggestions on the flow of a philosophy paper:
1. Identify the problem you want to analyze.
2. As clear as possible, state the problem and what position you want to argue for.
3. Set forth your argument in a logical order, supporting your premises with reasons.
Illustrate your points with examples.
4. You must use at least one ethical theory learned in this subject.
5. Consider alternative points of views and objections to your own position. Try to
meet these charges and show why your position is more plausible.
6. End your paper with a summary and a conclusion. You may review your
argument and show its implications for other issues.
7. Include a section of “References” at the end of the paper, listing all the sources
you used for your paper. Please note that only journal articles and book chapters
are counted as academic readings. Government or ordinary websites are not
counted. For APA format guideline, please visit:
https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/
apa_formatting_and_style_guide/general_format.html
Topics

Euthanasia

1. Some argue that since every person has the right to determine when and how their life
would end, assisted suicide (active voluntary euthanasia) should always be an option to
those who have terminal illness. Do you agree with this argument?
有人主張由於每個人都有權決定自己的生命何時及如何結束，協助自殺（主動自願
安樂死）應該是對於所有患有絕症的人的一種選擇。你同意這個論證嗎？

Antinatalism

2. Explain what the consent argument is. Do you agree this argument can justify
antinatalism?
解釋何謂「同意論證」。 你是否同意此論證能證明反生育主義是合乎道德？

Environmental Ethics

3. Plastic waste is one of the major causes of global environmental degradation, causing a
huge amount of harm to mankind. Suppose a person is considering giving up bottled
drinks. First, briefly explain whether, according to the Argument of Causal Inefficacy, a
person is under a moral obligation to make this change. After that, critically evaluate that
argument.
塑膠廢物是破壞全球環境的主因之一，對人類帶來巨大傷害。設想一個人正考慮從
此放棄使用膠樽飲品。首先簡單解釋根據因果無力論證，一個人是否在道德上有義
務作此改變。之後對此論證作出批判。

Animal Rights

4. Suppose a person consumes meat produced by intensive factory farming merely out of
habit and for gustatory pleasure. He puts forward the following argument to defend
himself: “My dietary habit is not unethical. I agree that, since other animals are sentient, I
must give some weight to their interests. But looking at it from the perspective of the
whole species, their intelligence is inferior to that of mankind. Therefore, their moral
standing is inferior to that of human.” Do you think this is a reasonable argument?
設想一個人純料因為習慣使然及為了味覺上的享受而食用由密習式工廠化養殖生產
的肉製品。他提出以下論證為自己辨護：「我的飲食習慣並非不道德。我同意其他
動物因為有感知能力，因此我要給予牠們的利益一些份量。但從整個物種的層面來
看，牠們的智力比人類為低，因此牠們的道德地位亦比人類為低。」你認為這是一
個合理的論證嗎？
Grading Criteria for Essay:

1. Description of the problem 5%

2. Application and articulation of relevant ethical theories 35%
3. Development of the essay: sound arguments, effective support, analysis, and 40%
well-founded conclusions
4. Breadth of academic reading 10%
5. The work is concisely written within the word limit provided. The formatting 10%
of the text follows the stated requirements. Complete and proper citation
following the APA style.

Plagiarism is a serious offence. Use citation for quotes and remember to include a reference list
in your research. A ‘fail’ grade will be given if a student is found plagiarizing other writers’ or
students’ work. Students are required to submit their written works onto the Turnitin system to
check for plagiarism.

In principle, CPCE considers GenAI tools as positive and creative forces in education and
encourages their use in learning, teaching, and assessment. However, extensive copy-pasting
from AI-generated content without citation is considered plagiarism.

You are also strongly advised to review the hot tips about plagiarism and how to avoid it with
reference to the following document:
https://www.polyu.edu.hk/ogur/docdrive/Academic_Integrity/Plagiarism_Booklet.pdf