PHIL2003 Major Written Assignment (25%)
This assignment must be at least 700 words in length. It must be submitted as a document attachment, in
Microsoft Word-compatible format (.docx, .doc., .rtf, etc. – check to see if you can access it in Word before
sending it), in the assignment drop-box I will set up under Assignments on Blackboard. No email
submissions will be accepted.
Assignment
First, find a brief online editorial or argumentative written piece (around 500 words) or video clip (2-3
minutes) that takes a stand on a moral issue (for example, assisted suicide, abortion, capital punishment,
war, terrorism, sweatshops, the use of racist stereotypes in sports team brands, the right to dress in
accordance with religious requirements, etc.). If you are unsure about your choice, check with me.
Second, carefully read the article or watch the video clip, and identify, as clearly as possible, the position
or standpoint that the author is taking on the moral issue. In other words, identify the main claim or
conclusion of the piece.
Third, identify the reasons or premises offered in support of the author’s main claim. The conclusion plus
supporting premises constitute the author’s argument.
Fourth, critically analyze the argument, by answering two questions:
1. Do the premises offer conclusive support for the conclusion, or is it the case that the conclusion
could still be false even if all of the premises are true? This is the validity question. A (deductive)
argument is valid if and only if it is impossible for it to have all true premises and a false
conclusion at the same time.
2. Are all of the premises in fact true? This is the truth question. The premises will likely contain
descriptive statements and normative statements, or factual statements and moral value
statements. When considering whether or not the normative or moral value statements are true or
false, please consider any and all relevant moral theories we have considered in the course (maybe
the statements presupposes ethical egoism, or utilitarianism, or Kantian ethics, or some other
theory or idea from the course – make this explicit).
If (1) the argument is invalid, or if (2) the argument is valid but the truth of one or more of its premises is
false, then the argument is unsound and can be rejected. If the argument is valid and all of its premises
are in fact true, then the argument is sound, which means that all rational beings are required to accept its
conclusion as true.
Your assignment should include the following:
A working link to the written piece or video clip you have selected.
A clear, thorough summary of the argument in the written piece or video clip.
A critical analysis of the argument, which clearly and thoroughly indicates whether or not (1) the argument
is valid, (2) all of the premises of the argument are true, and (3) the argument is sound.
