Essays and Research Papers on Ethics

This 10 page paper focuses on eugenics laws that were enforced in Sweden between the 1930s and 1970s. Criteria used by Swedes to sterilize those with undesirable traits are discussed. Other nations are compared and contrasted to Sweden in respect to eugenics such as Germany, Australia and the United States. Bibliography lists ...

3 pages in length. Given the interpretive nature of moral relativism, it is difficult to impose one's ethical perspective upon another whose choices do not abide by one's standards. Global societies embrace a significant diversity when it comes to moral relativism, and no single community can claim a higher measure of morality than ...

A 3 page paper discussing the function of the University of Tennessee's Anthropology Research Facility, commonly referred to as the Body Farm. Cadavers are left exposed to the elements so that forensic anthropologists can study how unburied bodies decompose. The Body Farm appears to operate well within the guidelines of accepted scientific practice ...

A 15 page paper that provides an ethical analysis of this famous case of the spilled coffee. The facts are first related and discussed, including those that did not get published in the media. For example, Liebeck, the plaintiff, was not driving the car and the car was not in motion when the coffee spilled. ...

A 10 page examination of the question of the need for man's morality as supported by Nietzsche, a German philosopher most often known for what is perceived as his opposition to morality. Concludes that Nietzsche's work actually supports rather than denounces the need for morality. Bibliography lists seven sources.

Immanuel Kant was born in 1724 in Konigsberg, Germany. He is undeniably one of the most influential philosophers in the realm of moral and political thinking. In The Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals, Kant defines and elucidates the concept he calls 'categorical imperative'. Kant's philosophy deals with the ethical duties of ...

5 pages in length. There exist a great many philosophies by which people live their lives. These philosophies help maintain order and a sense of direction that otherwise would merely drift in subconscious thought. Two of these fundamental principles are ethical relativism and ethical objectivism, which provide the concepts of how people ...

The subject of morality is addressed in this 6 page paper. Philosophers such as Kant and Epictetus are recognized as well as more contemporary views such as those of Carol Gilligan. The reason why man should behave morally is derived after looking at two basic divisions in thought. The concept of utilitarianism, and its applicability ...

This 5 page paper analyzes the third essay of the popular work. The essay addresses a variety of issues, including mental illness and religion, but the primary focus is on asceticism. No additional sources cited.

In the third essay in the Genealogy of Morals, Friedrich Nietzsche presents a discourse on Christianity. In his words: 'When one looks for the beginnings of Christianity in the Roman world, one finds associations for mutual discovery.' This 4 page paper examines Nietzsche's views on Christianity. No additional sources are listed.

This 5 page report discusses Nietzsche and his views about Christianity and its origins. Nietzsche was adamant in his assertions that Christianity was at the core of humanity's lack of individualism and blind willingness to be part of what he referred to as 'the herd.' Bibliography lists 2 sources.

This 5 page report discusses Nietzsche's criticisms of Plato and then what Plato's reaction would be to Nietzsche's theories and beliefs. Plato believes that good is an absolute. There is one vision or one conceptually agreed upon consciousness of good and it is applicable for all people regardless of circumstance. In contrast, Nietzsche believes ...

A 5 age paper arguing that abortion is not always wrong from the perspective of Immanuel Kant. Bibliography lists 3 sources.

The tenets of Christianity have been built on a foundation derived, to a large part, from the philosophies of Plato. Nietzsche was vehemently opposed to Christianity, and by extension, to Plato's most basic of ideas. He thought that the emphasis on the transcendental nature depreciated the value of corporeal life and the innate ...

A 5 page essay on Alasdair MacIntyre's "After Virtue" and the application of his philosophy to academic dishonesty & ethics. The writer explains his views on emotivism, virtue, and the state of modern moral discourse. Bibliography lists one source.

A 5 page paper that considers what elements are necessary for determining the "good life" and happiness. By providing numerous examples, the writer supports the belief that morality and personal ethics are necessary elements in achieving internal happiness. Bibliography lists 1 source.

A 7 page paper positing that desire is a mental construct, that curtailing desire is natural to human nature and is formulated by reasoning, that reasoning leads to both individual and community ethics based on moral principles established for the good of the community, and that obligation and duty of individuals within the community establish ...

Throughout time man has attempted to understand the motivations of moral conduct. The associations between the individual and the establishment of society have been the subject of numerous debates and discourses that included the primary consideration of moral or ethical beliefs in the instigation of laws and, or the ethical meaning of community. ...

Immanuel Kant and John Stuart Mill are philosophers who addressed the issues of morality in terms of how moral traditions are formed. Kant's theory of categorical imperative states that humanity is of ultimate value and should be regarded as an end in itself. Mill's 'principle of utility' or 'the greatest happiness principle' sought ...

This 6 page research paper examines the morality principle of German philosopher Immanuel Kant. Specifically discussed are the definition of this principle, its intention, and the necessary components to ensure this 'supreme morality.' Bibliography lists 4 sources.

It is difficult to address any study of ethical behavior without addressing the work of Immanuel Kant. He addresses morality through the interpretation of autonomy. In The Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals, Kant defines the concept he calls 'categorical imperative'. He sets his thoughts within the parameters of the rights and ...

A 5 page paper discussing the rights of a mentally ill and institutionalized pregnant woman extends to refusing the abortion on which her mother is insisting. Mill's theory says that all involved must have some common ground of equality, but that equality is not possible for the pregnant woman because of her mental condition. ...

A 5 page paper discussing the relationship between utilitarianism and a specific quote from 'Warren Massacre' by Nagel. The line is examined, in detail, and is found to have many qualities that address the issue of utilitarianism. But the line also offers the reader a view into vague associations which possess the possibilities of being ...

A 6 page paper discussing Kant's imperatives to government and the governed people as they relate to the firing of the Air Traffic Controllers by Ronald Reagan. The paper postulates that Reagan's decision was short-sighted, because his actions have potentially lead to that which he sought to prevent--a socialistic public labor pool. The paper discusses ...

A 7 page paper that considers the philosophical question of societal and individual moral determinations of the welfare system. This paper demonstrates that the current welfare system is based on the moral and ethical choices of society and of the individual, and considers Kant's perspectives on moral obligations in its development. Bibliography lists 4 ...