Required Resources
Read/review the following resources for this activity:
Textbook: Chapters 3, 4
Lesson
Minimum of 2 scholarly sources (in addition to the textbook)
Instructions
Review the following ethical dilemmas:
1. John Doe has decided to clone himself. He is sterile. He cannot find anyone to marry him. He wishes to have children. He knows that he will not be able to love a child that is adopted or not connected directly to him biologically. He will be making use of a new procedure that involves taking his skin cells to produce a twin. The twin starts out as an embryo and grows into a child. The child in this case will have the same genetic information as John Doe. John Doe and his child will be twins.
2. Jane Doe is eighteen. For as long as she can remember she has been sexually attracted to other females. Her parents belong to a religion that has a religious text stating that God forbids one to be a lesbian. This religion goes on further to say that lesbians will be punished in the afterlife. Jane Doe is debating whether she should tell her parents about her sexual attraction. She has not yet decided if she should come out to her parents and live as a lesbian now that she is a legal adult.
3. Joe and Mary are a couple. Before becoming sterile, they had a child. This child died of a rare disease. Joe and Mary miss their child terribly. They have heard that there is a new IVF procedure that can ensure that they can have another child. However, their religion forbids using IVF.
Use the resources assigned for this week and additional research,
Select two of the situations above and then address 2 of the following:
1. What is the relation between ethics and religion? Formulate and investigate the relation.
2. For each case, determine the ethical path of conduct. Then, determine what paths of conduct would be unethical
3. For each case, what would an emotivism say to appraise what you determine is the ethical form of conduct?
4. For each case, would a natural law ethicist agree with what you say is the ethical form of conduct? Why or why not?
5. Articulate, explain, and evaluate in each case an approach that makes use of divine command ethics.
Requirements
Length: 2-3 pages (not including title page or references page)
1-inch margins
Double spaced
12-point Times New Roman font
Title page
References page (minimum of 2 scholarly sources)
Grading
This activity will be graded based on the rubric provided.
Outcomes
CO 2: Examine the relation between ethics and religion via a valuation of divine command and natural law ethics as ways of determining the morality of actions
CO 3: Argue the importance of subjectivity in ethics and interpret the significance of emotivism as an explanation of moral propositions.
Due Date
By 11:59 p.m. MT on Sunday
Rubric
ETHC445 Week 2 Assignment Rubric – 100 pts
ETHC445 Week 2 Assignment Rubric – 100 pts
Criteria Ratings Pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeSituation/Question Selection 20 pts
Selects two of the situations and thoroughly answers two of the questions. 17 pts
Selects two of the situations and answers two of the questions. 15 pts
Selects either two of the situations and answers only one of the questions or selects only one situation but answers both questions. 12 pts
Selects only one scenario and one question. 0 pts
The student does not identify any policy areas.
20 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeAssignmentContent 40 pts
Addresses all aspects of the questions, applying professional knowledge, and research regarding weekly concepts. 34 pts
Addresses most aspects of the questions, applying professional knowledge, ,and research regarding weekly concepts. 30 pts
Addresses some aspects of the questions, applying professional knowledge, and research regarding weekly concepts. 24 pts
Minimally addresses the questions, applying professional knowledge, and research regarding weekly concepts. 0 pts
No effort
40 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeProfessionalCommunication 20 pts
Presents information using clear and concise language in an organized manner (minimal errors in English grammar, spelling, syntax, and punctuation). 17 pts
Presents information in an organized manner (some errors in English grammar, spelling, syntax, and punctuation). 15 pts
Presents information using understandable language but is somewhat disorganized (some errors in English grammar, spelling, syntax, and punctuation). 12 pts
Presents information that is not clear, logical, professional or organized to the point that the reader has difficulty understanding the message (numerous errors in English grammar, spelling, syntax, and/or punctuation). 0 pts
No effort
20 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeSourceIntegration 10 pts
Paper includes reference to 2 scholarly sources and properly integrates the sources. 7 pts
Paper includes reference to 2 scholarly sources but does not properly integrate the sources. 0 pts
Paper does not make reference to a scholarly sources.
10 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeAPAFormat 10 pts
Paper meets all source requirements, and is properly formatted in APA style throughout (i.e. title page, spacing, font, in-text citations and references.) 8.5 pts
Paper meets all source requirements, and is mostly properly formatted in APA style (i.e. title page, spacing, font, in-text citations and references.) 7.5 pts
Paper meets all source requirements, and is somewhat properly formatted in APA style (i.e. title page, spacing, font, in-text citations and references.) 6 pts
Paper fails to meet source requirements and/or is improperly formatted in APA style throughout 0 pts
No effort
10 pts
Total Points: 100
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What is the relation between ethics and religion? Formulate and investigate the relation.
Ethics and religion have a complex relationship. On one hand, religion can provide a framework for ethical decision-making, as many religious traditions have developed codes of conduct and moral principles that guide behavior. On the other hand, there can be tension between religious beliefs and ethical principles, as religious teachings may not always align with contemporary ethical standards.
For each case, determine the ethical path of conduct. Then, determine what paths of conduct would be unethical
Case 1: John Doe’s decision to clone himself raises a number of ethical concerns. From an ethical perspective, it could be argued that creating a human being solely for the purpose of fulfilling one’s own desires is morally problematic. Additionally, the long-term implications of cloning, such as the potential for genetic manipulation and eugenics, raise serious ethical concerns. An unethical path of conduct in this case would be to proceed with the cloning without considering the potential consequences and without fully informed consent.
Case 2: Jane Doe’s decision to come out as a lesbian raises important issues of personal autonomy and self-expression. From an ethical perspective, it would be important for Jane to consider the potential consequences of coming out to her parents and her community, and to make a decision that is in line with her own values and well-being. An unethical path of conduct in this case would be for Jane to suppress her identity and live a life that is not true to herself, or to act in a way that causes harm to herself or others.
For each case, what would an emotivism say to appraise what you determine is the ethical form of conduct?
An emotivist would argue that ethical judgments are not based on objective facts or logical reasoning, but rather on the emotions and attitudes of the person making the judgment. In the case of John Doe’s decision to clone himself, an emotivist might argue that whether or not the decision is ethical depends on one’s personal feelings about cloning and genetic manipulation. In the case of Jane Doe’s decision to come out as a lesbian, an emotivist might argue that whether or not the decision is ethical depends on one’s personal feelings about homosexuality and personal autonomy.
For each case, would a natural law ethicist agree with what you say is the ethical form of conduct? Why or why not?
A natural law ethicist would likely have concerns about both of the cases presented. In the case of John Doe’s decision to clone himself, a natural law ethicist would likely argue that the cloning is unnatural and goes against the laws of nature. In the case of Jane Doe’s decision to come out as a lesbian, a natural law ethicist would likely argue that homosexuality is unnatural and goes against the laws of nature.
Articulate, explain, and evaluate in each case an approach that makes use of divine command ethics.
A divine command ethicist would likely base their Assessment of the cases presented on their interpretation of religious texts and teachings. In the case of John Doe’s decision to clone himself, a divine command ethicist might argue that the decision is morally problematic as it goes against the commandment to “be fruitful and multiply,” or that it is an abomination to create another human being in one’s own image. In the case of Jane Doe’s decision to come out as a lesbian, a divine command ethicist might argue that the decision is morally problematic as it goes against the teachings of the religion that prohibits homosexuality.
