Week 5 Assignment: Ethics of Abortion

Assignment for Week 5: Ethics of Abortion

Directions: Using the modified System of Ethical Analysis presented in the Week 5 Overview, develop your own Ethical position on the issue of Abortion and support it Ethically. Make sure you state your Ethical position in terms of an Action that an individual, group, or society should take. Due this Sunday, 11:30 pm (100 points).

The modified System of Ethical Analysis is shown below, as well as in the Week 5 Overview:

Keep in mind also that you will not be graded on the position you take, but how effectively you can support that position Ethically.

1. State the Facts and Judgments regarding the Issue of Abortion

The assigned reading from your textbook provides for you an excellent resource on the various Facts and Judgments about Abortion. Feel free here to add Facts and Judgments that youve gained from other sources, including your own thoughts on the issue. Make sure that you understand the issue as thoroughly as possible. Consider also points of view that may oppose your own point of view.

1. State Possible Actions

Identify several Actions that either individual people or a society could take regarding Abortion. Again, consider some Actions which may not agree with your own. Watch out for the Either/Or fallacy regarding your possible Actions.

1. Choose one Action that you think you can best Support.

Also, identify the Individual and the Group that will be most affected by the Action youve chosen. Most Ethical actions, as weve seen this term, affect both an individual and a group. Also, identify WHO (primarily) needs to take the Action. Individuals themselves? Government bodies and agencies? Religious or social groups?

1. Support your Choice of Action, using the Ethical Concepts weve talked about in this class.

We will do so in several different ways. Keep in mind that choosing a different Action will doubtless require different Support.

1. Oppositions (Use all four in your Analysis.) Is the Action:

• Good for the Person or Good for the group?
• Right for the Person or Right for the group?
• Duty to self vs. Duty to Others?
• Teleology vs. Deontology: End-justifies-the Means or Means-justify-the-End?

1. Ethical Motivations (Choose at least one.)

• Threat of punishment; Promise of reward.
• Practical (It works).
• Group influence/Peer pressure.
• Maintain legal order.
• Maintain social order.

1. Ethical/Moral Systems (Choose at least one.)

• Egoism: Do whats in my self-interest.
• Natural Law: Do whats consistent with human nature. (Most religion-based arguments regarding Abortion come from a Natural Law system.)
• Utilitarianism: Do what would accomplish the greatest good for the greatest number.
• Respect/Rights: Do whatever most shows respect for peoples dignity.
• Virtue: Do what shows the best character.

(By the way, all of these Ethical/Moral systems are legitimate. Choose which one best describes your Action.)

1. Positives vs. Negatives

Any Ethical Action regarding the issue of Abortion will have both positive and negative consequences. We need to keep these consequences in mind, since were attempting to determine the BEST choice (not the correct choice). In any case, the Action will have a cost. But do the benefits outweigh the costs?

• State the Positive outcomes of this chosen Action.
• State the Negative outcomes of this chosen Action.
• Do the Positives outweigh the negatives or vice versa? Why?

Remember that for any choice of Action you recommend regarding Abortion , you need to be able to clearly Justify that choice logically and morally.

Assignment Grading Rubric 2023 Wk 1, 3, 5, 7 & 9 (1)

Assignment Grading Rubric 2023 Wk 1, 3, 5, 7 & 9 (1)

Criteria Ratings Pts This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome Content/ Comprehension Critical thinking/ Evidence/ Construction

25 to >20.0 pts Excellent *Addresses Assignment question completely/ *Demonstrates understanding of course content and synthesis of concepts/ *Offers clear point of view and details to support evidence

20 to >13.0 pts Good *Assignment question is not completely addressed but paper shows understanding of course content/ * Point of view is somewhat unclear/ *Detail is appropriate, but limited / *Assignment is late/ *Minimum word count not achieved.

13 to >7.0 pts Fair *Assignment question is addressed but paper does not demonstrate depth of understanding of course content/ *Point of view is unclear / *Detail is underdeveloped or not appropriate for Assignment

7 to >0 pts Poor *Assignment question is minimally addressed/ *Detail supporting evidence or point of view is missing OR Assignment is missing (0 points)

25 pts

This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome Ethical theory Application

25 to >20.0 pts Excellent Correctly applies applicable ethical theories and concepts and adds supporting detail.

20 to >13.0 pts Good Applies ethical theories correctly and makes some connections with relevant explanation and detail.

13 to >7.0 pts Fair *Applies some ethical theories correctly and makes a few connections with few explanations or details.

7 to >0 pts Poor *One of the following has occurred: Refers to ethical theories in haphazard manner, or does not extend the concept or add detail OR Assignment is missing (0 points)

25 pts

This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome Mechanics/ Spelling/ Grammar / APA formatting/ Timeliness

20 to >18.0 pts Excellent *Writing is coherent, organized and easy to follow/ *0-1 spelling, APA or grammatical errors/ *At least two scholarly references are listed for the initial post/ *Scholarly references used from a wide range of sources. No more than 1 spelling or grammatical error

18 to >13.0 pts Good *Writing is mostly easy to follow with clear writing/ * More than 1 spelling or grammar error or an APA error.

13 to >7.0 pts Fair *Writing has some parts that are unclear/ *7+ spelling or grammatical errors present/ *2+ APA errors present/ *Some references not cited/ *Only course materials used for scholarly references./ *Assignment is late

7 to >0 pts Poor *Post is poorly organized and hard to read; does not flow logically/ * 12 spelling. Grammar, and APA errors (Including missing references) OR Assignment is missing (0 points)