Effective Altruism
1. Introduction [maximum 150 words]: Supply context and explain why the topic is interesting or important, give a concise explanation of how you will approach the issues, and establish your thesis.
Thesis Statement You must include a single sentence that summarizes your position clearly and succinctly. This should be the last sentence of your introductory paragraph. I recommend simple and straightforward language, such as: I will argue that _________ (where you fill in the blank with the particular position you are taking). Here’s an example: I will argue that compulsory voting in national elections would satisfy the greatest happiness principle.
Notice that there is a 150-word maximum for this section (that’s about half a page). An introduction much longer than this is inappropriate for a paper this short. If you find your introduction is getting too long, then you should delete anything that isn’t necessary or think about moving some of the content to another section.
2. Exposition [maximum 200 words]
Explain basic theories and concepts as needed. For example, if you are writing about utilitarianism you will need to say something about what utilitarianism is, and you will need to define certain terms (where relevant), such as speciesism, sentience, the GHP, etc. Some of this could be done in your introduction as well. However, keep in mind that this is not a book report or a research paper. You should have a maximum of about 200 words of exposition.
3. Arguments
The focus of this section is for you to supply reasons that support your thesis. Do not merely assert your conclusion; spell out the reasons why we should accept it. You might want to break this section into separate paragraphs for each argument (reason) for your position. Clearly explained examples or analogies are often important ways to support your arguments. Remember to have clear topic sentences – that is, the first sentence of each paragraph should clearly state the purpose of that paragraph.
4. Objections and Replies
Explain at least one objection. Explain why a reasonable person might disagree with your position. This is a way to make sure you present both sides of the issue fairly. Provide at least one reply to the objection(s). This might involve explaining why the objection is somehow mistaken, even though it seems plausible. Or you might show that your view is consistent with the objection, despite an apparent contradiction. Whatever you say, you have to explain why your view is still right, despite the objection(s) you raise. You may have more than one objection/reply.
5. Conclusion [maximum 100 words]: The conclusion should restate your thesis and add some concluding remarks. For example, you might point out ways in which your topic should be further explored, or how it could be useful for understanding other related topics. The conclusion has a maximum limit of about 100 words.
Works Cited
[Remember you may only use course assigned readings as sources. Any other sources must be approved by me first (andrew.chau@sjcd.edu). Works cited entries for course readings are below. Simply delete whichever sources you do not use. Remember you still must provide in-text citation yourself instructions are on Blackboard in Module 3.5].
Descartes, Rene. Meditations on First Philosophy. Translated by Jonathan Bennett, www.earlymoderntexts.com.
Doane, Ashley. Shades of Colorblindness. 2012, uhaweb.hartford.edu/doane.
Kang, Jerry. Implicit Bias Primer for Courts. 2009, jerrykang.net/research/2009-implicit-bias-primer-for-courtsn
Mill, John Stuart. Utilitarianism. Translated by Jonathan Bennett, www.earlymoderntexts.com.
Plato. Euthyphro. Translated by Cathal Woods and Ryan Pack, 2007, sites.google.com/site/cathalwoods/plato-translations.
Singer, Peter. Animal Liberation. London: Granada Publishing Ltd., 1977.
Singer, Peter. “Famine, affluence, and morality.” Philosophy & Public Affairs, 1972, pp. 229-243
Effective Altruism: Assuming that we morally ought to help people in need, who should we help and why? For example, but not limited to, people in our own community, in the U.S., or people living in extreme poverty. Articulate your view about whom you think should be the focus for philanthropic support. Explain how your view is (or is not) supported by the greatest happiness principle. Your arguments must explain and utilize the concepts of entitlement and desert, as well as relative and absolute poverty.
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