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A WebQuest
Created by Michael Wagman
for the students of Quest Themes
Springfield
Township High School
Gifted Support Program
For more information about the creation of
WebQuests, visit
http://mciunix.mciu.k12.pa.us/~spjvweb/webquests.html
Resource Page for teachers interested in using this activity in their classrooms
| Introduction | Task | Procedure for Phase One |
Procedure for Phase Two |
| Ethical Theories and Issues |
Resources | Evaluation | Student Projects |
We know from class that over thousands of years, human beings have developed systems through which we can test our morals and laws and reason our way to right courses of action. Philosophers (including writers and theologians) for whom the development of such theories are of central concern are called ethicists. You might be inclined to think that these theories, or modes of reasoning, are not connected to real life. You are likely to find, however, that your everyday decision making reflects a belief in what distinguishes right behavior from wrong behavior and, upon close inspection of the process through which you make these decisions, your larger world view will be revealed. The theories to which you will be exposed in this WebQuest may shine a light on or challenge your own mode of reasoning. You are also likely to find that the complexities of the real world call these theories into question when each is considered in isolation.
Ethics, both theoretical and applied, are still of concern to philosophers of our time. The questions occupying the thoughts of Aristotle occupy our thoughts today as we propel ourselves faster and faster into frontiers of science and technology. Some of these questions include:
Can something be inherently right or wrong / good or bad?
Should we concern ourselves with what motivates an action or the results of that action?
Can ethical standards be universally applied or relative to a time or place?
Should the needs of the individual or the group be of central concern?
From what source do we, as humans, derive our concern for ethics?
In our age of science and technology, these questions are profoundly meaningful. Computers have greatly increased the power of our own minds. We have discovered keys in nature capable of creating new forms of life or destroying all existing life. Our ingenuity has forced us to address questions of life and death on a scale unprecedented in human history.
We are about to explore some (not all) of the major ethical theories that have dominated our thinking as a society over the ages. You will discover that these theories have strange names and within each major theory, many variations have developed over the years. Don't feel intimidated. As an introduction to the philosophy of ethics, we will focus on the general principles of each theory as expressed by one of the philosophers we generally associate with that theory. We will then try to apply the general principles to some of the issues occupying our thoughts today.
A product of our genius is the virtual world we call cyberspace. The use and abuse of cyberspace, in and of itself, raises a host of ethical questions around which we are trying to form some consensus. However, one indisputable characteristic of cyberspace that some find unsettling is its ability to distort our sense of time and distance. Another characteristic is its potential to give every idea, good and evil, a global audience. You will give a global voice to dead ethicists. To this end, your task, as a class, will be to launch the Dead Ethicists in Cyberspace web site. Each of you will be a contemporary spokesperson and/or web designer for one of the big names in ethical philosophy!
Step 1: You will be divided into teams of approximately three.
Each member of the team should commit to coordinating one of the following tasks:
Research Coordinator: Responsible for organizing research materials, graphics and other web page resources.
Writer: Responsible for merging, editing and preparing the written work for inclusion on the web pages.
Web Page Design and Layout Coordinator: Responsible for learning to use the web development tools and coordinating the web page development process including communicating with the instructor with respect to the design of the web pages and the protocols for linking to this page on our server.
Step 2: Each team will be assigned an ethical theory from the list below.
Step 3: Using Internet and library shelf resources, each team will research the ethical theory and the life of the philosopher most associated with advancing your assigned theory. You will share and discuss your findings within your team first and then with me.
Evaluation: Before moving to the next step, each team must demonstrate an understanding of the material reviewed. Evidence of understanding the theory at this stage includes being able to answer the questions in the introduction from the perspective of the theory you are researching. An understanding of the philosopher would include being able to put his/her work into historical context. When did he/she live? What were some of his/her significant works? Were there specific events around which the theory was forged?
Step 4: Once each team demonstrates an understanding of the mode of reasoning and of the relevant ethical philosopher, the teams will examine similar and opposing theories by sharing their research findings.
Step 1: Each team will select an issue of importance to contemporary society.
Suggested Issues
Suggested
Resources
Step 2: Using FrontPage or Dreamweaver, each team will develop two web pages. The web pages will be evaluated based on the presence the following features:
Page one (theory): This is your fan page. In your own words, it should describe your philosopher's life, promote his/her philosophical theories, critically critique other modes of ethical reasoning and anything else you deem relevant. You can use a word processor and import the text into FrontPage or Dreamweaver.
Page two (application)- Choose one
1. You will write an editorial on the
selected contemporary issue as you would imagine your philosopher would
have written it if he or she were alive today, based on your team's understanding of the
ethical mode of reasoning and the selected issue The
team should synthesize similar points of view under your
general ethical theory and apply it to the issue. OR
2. You will write a speech your ethicist might deliver to a college
graduation class on how to live a good and ethical life. The
team should also address opposing points of view based on other modes of
reasoning.
Again,
you can use a word processor and import the text into FrontPage or
Dreamweaver.
Each team will create or search for graphics resources consistent with the life and times of the philosopher, characteristics of the mode of reasoning and the issue discussed. We will review the relevant citation and copyright issues in class.
The design and layout should be clear and attractive.
The two pages should be linked.
The pages should be spell-checked and grammatically sound.
More about evaluation
.Step 3: Each team will present their web page design and editorial to the other teams. Members of other teams will represent their assigned mode of ethical reasoning as they believe it relates to the editorial being presented. Web pages considered good or excellent will be linked below.
It should not and will not be
assumed that the theory you are assigned to
research and advocate is consistent with your own personal view.
Step 4: Each student will write an entry in their journal consisting of a critical evaluation of their assigned theory in terms of its ability to address, in a just and effective manner, the issue considered. This is your opportunity to tell me how you really feel about your assigned philosopher.
More about evaluation
The Categorical Imperative
Utilitarianism
Ethical Relativism
Virtue Ethics
Ethical Egoism
Divine Command Ethics
Suggested Issues
The Death Penalty
Abortion
Cloning
Euthanasia
Environment
War on Terrorism
Poverty
Internet (free web)
SHS Virtual
Library
Philosophy in
Cyberspace--An outstanding resource (mostly on
ethics)created by Mrs. Valenza for Quest I students.
An Introduction to
Ethics
Survey of Ethical
Theories
Lawrence N. Hinman's Ethical
Updates Homepage--One of the finest resources on the free
web for background on and useful links to ethical theories and
contemporary issues.
Divine
Command Ethics (Hinman PowerPoint presentation)
Ethical
Egoism (Hinman PowerPoint presentation)
Sophie's World - text from the
CD ROM made available on the web for academic use.
Web Page
Development and Resources-- An outstanding resource for new
web developers created by Mrs. Valenza.
Web Aesthetics
Internet (subscription sites)
Shelf Material Available in the Library
Non-Internet Resources Available in the Classroom
A Short History of Ethics
[Paperback] by Alasdair MacIntyre
Being Good: A Short Introduction
to Ethics by Simpn Blackburn
Encyclopedia of Ethics edited by Susan Neiburg Terkel and
R. Sahnnon Duval
Introduction
to Ethical Theory by Kenneth F. Rogerson (Editor)
Philosophical Ethics by Stephen Darwall
The WebQuest is worth 35 points, not including the journal entry, and can be divided as follows:
| Max. Points | Assigned to: | ||
| Research: Fan Page / Editorial | 15 | Team | Criteria for evaluation |
| Web Design: Functional and Consistent | 10 | Team | Criteria for evaluation |
| Presentation
of Design and Editorial Participation in Discussions |
5 | Team | Criteria for evaluation |
| Journal | 3 | Individual | Criteria for evaluation |
For each section the maximum number of
points will be awarded if all criteria are met.
75-90 percent of the maximum will be awarded if most of the
criteria are met.
50 percent of the maximum will be awarded if some of the criteria
are met.
© 1999 School District of Springfield Township (Revised in 2002)