1. Week Four Seminar Terrorism
HU245 Ethics
Week Four Seminar
Terrorism

2. Old Business! Let’s Review Some Basics
Read the Announcements!!
Any changes to assignment requirements
Due Tuesday, end of day, no exceptions unless arranged previously: Quiz, Seminar Option 2
Work that can be submitted late (with penalty unless arranged previously): Discussion Board, Debate Forum, Position Papers
If you’re having a bad week, me and we’ll negotiate.

3. More Old Business! Grading the Debate Forum:
If all you offer is your personal opinion, B –
The purpose of the course is to inform your opinions not to change them
To receive a higher grade, you must connect your opinion to Unit Material and ethical theories to support what you say.

4. Still More Old Business
Unit 3 Discussion Board
Again, it was not looking for your opinion on abortion
You could give that without reading text or taking the course
It wanted you to evaluate moral arguments for their techniques and effectiveness
Note the underlying theories:
Pro-choice is more utilitarian and situational
Pro-life is more rights-based on absolute principles

5. Yet even more Old Business
How was writing the Position Paper?
Difficult to condense your thoughts?

6. More Thoughts on Absolute Morality
Is it OK to drive 100 mph down a residential street?
If no, why not?
Absolute moral principles underlie our laws
Absolute morality doesn’t depend on everyone following it (what would be the point of laws or rules?) but does depend on a societal consensus that a law is valid
Language is important
Distinction between killing (self-defense, war) and murder. Debate is what’s murder (abortion, etc.)
This is why we have Ethics!

7. How should we define terrorism?
How do you define it?
How do terrorists define it?
Does terrorism always involve overt violence?
What are some of the ways power is involved?

8. One Definition
The U.S. Code of Federal Regulations defines terrorism in the U.S. as: The unlawful use of force and violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives (28 C.F.R. Section 0.85).

9. Goals of Terrorism Economic Aims Social Aims Political Aims
Religious Aims

10. Terrorist or Freedom Fighter?
What is the difference?

11. Are all acts of terrorism, in all forms, morally wrong?
Are there terrorist acts in war?
Are they justified?

12. Under which circumstances is terrorism justified?
Are there any?

13. What sorts of responses to terrorism are morally permissible?

14. How Should We Treat Suspected Terrorists?
Is it ethical to use torture?
Should they be treated like combatants or accused criminals?
How “rough” is too rough?

15. What ethical principles determine which responses are appropriate?
Utilitarian considerations
Ethical egoism
Justice
Rights and liberty
Virtue

16. Are there any peaceful solutions to terrorism? If so, what are they?

17. Unit 4 Discussion Board
What are some of the arguments used for and against capital punishment? (You may want to complete some additional research to add to your knowledge.) How does the ethical debate on capital punishment touch on the issues of the value of human life, human rights, and human dignity? If you had a loved one who was murdered, would you want to have the option of capital punishment for the convicted murderer? Why or why not?

18. Unit 4 Debate Forum
Watch the "Guantanamo Bay" video located in the “Acts of Terrorism” You Decide presentation
Poll Question: Should Guantanamo Bay be closed?
Debate Questions: How should we treat suspected terrorists: military combatants or civilian criminals? Should Guantanamo Bay prison be closed? If so, where should they be taken? Your position on this issue should be constructed as a developed paragraph.

19. Unit 4 Letter to Leader
Option A: Compose a letter to the President regarding the current war. In this letter, explain your position regarding the ethics of war and responses to terrorism. In your explanation, be sure to draw upon ethical concepts and reasons to support your position. State what you believe should be done and why. The letter should be one page in length, double spaced, and free of grammatical errors.
Option B: Compose a letter to your state governor regarding the death penalty (find out if your state has a death penalty). In this letter, explain your position regarding capital punishment. In your explanation, be sure to draw upon ethical concepts and reasons to support your position. State whether or not the death penalty should be abolished and why.

20. Summary of Unit 4 Assignments
Seminar
Quiz
Discussion Board (one thread)
Debate Forum
Position Paper
Questions???????