Philosophy

Write an essay in response to the question “Why be moral?” Your essay should meet the
following specifications:
1) Your thesis should clearly answer the following question: Is it better to live a just life than an
unjust life, even if one can accumulate vast material benefits through the latter? The
simplest way to formulate and defend your position is to proceed in the following way:
a) Begin by specifying an ideal of human fulfillment. That is, explain what you believe
human beings need to be truly happy.
b) Explain whether or not the existence of a higher power is necessitated or at least
compatible with your position.
c) Explain your position’s implications for human nature, indicating,
i) Whether it necessitates the postulate of a transcendent or spiritual dimension of
humanity.
ii) Whether it necessitates the presupposition of freewill.
d) Give an account of justice. (i.e., Is it internal or external? Absolute or Relative?)
e) Explain the connection between your account of justice and your preferred lifestyle.
f) Explain why the achievement of your ideal of human fulfillment necessitates living your
preferred lifestyle.
g) Explain why a different or opposing lifestyle falls short of this ideal.
2) You should refer to the thought of each of the following thinkers in defense of your position:
Plato, Aristotle, Kant, and Nietzsche, citing specific passages from the course readings.
You may include others if you so choose, just be sure to cite your sources. (While you are
required to include references to these authors in your essays, you are neither required to
agree with any of them, nor are you required to agree with anything I say. I simply
want you to understand and seriously consider various historical and contemporary
contributions to moral thought.)