Midterm

Assignment Overview: For the midterm, you will complete a creative, independent project that engages with a central theme, question or thinker from the course. This assignment moves beyond a uniform model of evaluation, giving you the freedom to demonstrate philosophical understanding in a format that best reflects your strengths and interests. As part of the assignment, you will also present your project during Socratic Dialogue Days. Each student will have approximately ~10 minutes to share their work, followed by peer discussion and questions. Consequentialism and Utilitarianism Define and explain the key components of Consequentialism and Utilitarianism. How does John Stuart Mill contribute to the development of Utilitarian theory? How might a Utilitarian respond to common criticisms, such as the theory being overly demanding, violating individual rights, or instrumentalizing people? If you choose not to submit a traditional essay, you must also include a 500-word written explanation of your project. This explanation should clearly connect your creative work to the philosophical concepts, arguments, or thinkers you are engaging with. Project Format: Potential prompts [Creative Project]: Your project should creatively engage with at least one major theme, question, or thinker from our course. Below are some suggested prompts to help you get started. You are also welcome to develop your own idea in consultation with me. 1. Platos Ring of Gyges & Ethical Egoism a. Imagine a modern-day Ring of Gyges b. Would ethical egoism justify such power for personal gain? c. How does this thought experiment challenge the possibility of morality without accountability? Students may choose the form their project takes. Acceptable formats include, but are not limited to: Written essay (1250 word minimum)