PH3330/PHIL333 Part IV of the Final Exam April 2015 – Take-home question\n\n For Part IV of the final exam, you have the option of bringing a prepared answer with you to the start of the exam or, alternatively, you may write an answer in the exam period along with the rest of the exam in the classroom – all of which is a closed book exam. (I strongly suggest you take advantage of the take-home option.) Late submission is NOT an option envisioned for this part of the exam. Note, too, that early submission is not an option envisioned either.\n\n Your answer to Part IV will be marked out of 25.\n\n \n\n Please put your name, date and the course number on a cover page. Do not put your name anywhere else.\n\n Place quotation marks around any direct quotations. Provide author information and specific page numbers in brackets in the appropriate places for any and ALL quotations AND paraphrases of specific points. Make sure to provide citations for any material from any specific place that you use in presenting your answer. \n\n Limit the number and length of quotations, however. Your aim should be to present your own perspective on course material. \n\n There is no need for a Works Cited or References page unless you should choose to use material in addition to the textbooks and other assigned readings.\n \n Answers will be marked upon the basis of demonstration of familiarity with course material, thoughtfulness, comprehension of ideas of philosophers and other writers, clear and effective communication of your ideas, quality of writing, and referencing of sources, to the extent that it is needed.\n\n Options appear on the next page.\n\n\n\n\n\n\nChoose either option 1 or option 2.\n\nOption 1. A number of writers of articles we have discussed in this course have argued that professionals ought to be encouraged to develop various virtues. These authors include Domenec Mele (pp. 67- ), Michael Martin (pp. 218-20) and John Ladd (pp. 192- ) (and Kenneth Kipnis when he refers to core professional values on pages 480-2). Taking into account what they say, which of the following three positions would you agree with most and why?\n\nPerson A: Professionals should be encouraged to develop a good number of virtues. Not only laws, and codes of ethics but moral outlooks and rules do not really provide sufficient guidance what to do when professionals have challenging ethical questions to address. Professionals need to use good judgment taking into account all the relevant factors in each situation, and demonstrate the right virtuous character traits when doing so. Besides, a professional with virtuous character traits will be motivated to make the best decision for everyone involved, especially when no one else is watching, which is much of the time.\n\nPerson B: I quite disagree. Virtues like courage, honesty, integrity, trustworthiness, compassion, and others are actually hopelessly vague and certainly provide little guidance when a professional has to make difficult choices. Consider the following scenarios. A physically healthy but despondent person asks for a nurse to help him die. The boss tells an accountant to record revenue from a contract in this year’s numbers in order to receive a bonus even though the money will not be received until the next fiscal year. A teacher driving to work passes one of her students getting drenched in a heavy rainfall. Even though school policy prohibits giving rides to students in their private vehicles, the teacher ponders whether to make an exception in this case… Cases like these show that people, professionals included, need moral guidelines in the form of principles for deciding what the right and wrong thing to do or not do would be. \n Besides, what kind of person you are, with what kind of character, should be your own business. Meddling, moralistic busybodies should not try to impose that on you. \n\nPerson C: Even though A and B present their views as conflicting ones, I think we need both virtue ethics and moral principles for deciding what morally right and wrong actions are. Virtues and principles are compatible. They can even overlap.
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