HUM 2225 Moral Theory Research Paper

Select one of the following contemporary moral issues and decide whether you are for or against it. Evaluate the issue using Utilitarianism and Immanuel Kant’s Moral Theory (Chapters 5&6) and construct arguments supporting your moral reasoning, organize them into reasons and conclusions. Evaluate the strengths and/or weaknesses of your arguments.

Moral issues:

1. Write an essay on the moral and the legal aspects of President Trump’s Tax Reform Bill. Evaluate the issue and construct arguments supporting or opposing this moral issue using facts and moral theories.
2. Write an essay on the moral and legal areas of the Black Lives Matter Movement. Using facts and moral theories to evaluate the morality.

Grades will be based upon the quality of content and how well you demonstrate an ability to examine the issues and texts involved with your topic.  If you choose to argue for a position you will be expected to show a genuine understanding of the other viewpoint and a thorough consideration of the issues.  

An argumentative essay should be a logical, well-reasoned presentation of an issue.    It should emphasize why your approach makes more sense than another point of view.    

In order to get started, you must fully understand all points of view on your topic and analyze any data or facts.  A good place to get started is the Opposing Viewpoints database because it presents both sides of an issue.

In addition, an article on Trump's Tax Plan from the ProQuest database provides a nice overview of Trump's tax reform.

HUM 2225: Moral Theory Research Paper Sample Outline

The goal of the moral theory research paper is to select one of the topics then decide if you are for or against it. You will then analyze the issue through the lens of two moral theories: Utilitarianism and Immanuel Kant’s Moral Theory. One possible way you can organize this paper is as follows:

• Introduction
  • State which topic you are focusing on. Give a little background on the situation. In your thesis, determine if the issue is moral or not, as well as some basic reasons for your stance. These basic reasons can include the moral theories you are using in your essay.
• Section 1 – Giving Background on your Topics – Before diving into your analysis it is important to give some background and explanation on both the theories and your moral issue.
  • Part 1 – Utilitarianism and Immanuel Kant’s Moral Theory
    • What is Utilitarianism? Explain the theory of Utilitarianism and its basic principles.
    • What is Immanuel Kant’s Moral Theory? Explain the basics of Kantianism and its basic principles
  • Part 2 – Background on your topic
    • Explain and give some history on your issue. Explain what the situation is, and the moral issue came to be.
• Section 2 – Analyzing your Moral Issue – Now that you have given background on the topics (theories and the issue you selected) this part of the essay will focus on proving your thesis. Is this issue moral or amoral?
  •  Part 1 – Moral aspect of the Issue
    • Examine your selected issue through the lens of Utilitarianism and Immanuel Kant’s Moral Theory. Is it morally correct or amoral?
  • Part 2 – Legal aspect of the issue
    • Examine your selected issue, using Utilitarianism and Immanuel Kant’s Moral Theory, as it applies to the legal aspects of your issue. Legally, is it moral or amoral?
• Conclusion
  • Reiterate your position, along with recapping the arguments you used in your essay