Does doing the right thing ever lead to worse overall circumstances than doing the wrong thing?

Topic:
Does doing
the right thing ever lead to worse overall circumstances than doing the wrong
thing? Consider this question in light of the ethical positions of
utilitarianism and consequentialism. Discuss the arguments that might be given
in favor of consequentialism, and
discuss the position of Mill. What arguments might be given against consequentialism?

Your task is to
write a clear argumentative and critical essay in which you discuss a
controversial area in ethical theory, and argue for your own position on the
issue. In particular, you should aim to do one or more of the following:
• state and defend an argument
in favor of a clearly formulated ethical theory or principle
• state and defend an argument
against one of the ethical theories discussed in the course
• state and defend a response
to a commonly given objection to a certain ethical theory
•
state and defend a rejoinder to a response typically
given to a commonly given objection to a
certain ethical theory

Your paper should
be approximately 4-6 pages in length (double-spaced, 12pt. Times New Roman
font).

Suggestions:
•
Give me an introductory paragraph in which you briefly
outline the paper and provide your overall thesis. What is the paper going to
generally cover and what is your position
on the matter going to be?
•
Organize your paper into three main sections. In the first
section, clearly lay out the issue under discussion and what possible views or
positions someone might hold with regard to
the issue. In the second section, lay out the argument or arguments that will
be your main focus. In the third section, consider possible responses to those
argument(s), and possible responses to those responses. Play devil’s advocate throughout and try to
consider how someone with a contrary position would respond to your position.
•
Re-read the appropriate readings from the course, and
discuss the positions of those authors.
•
Incorporate and discuss the viewpoints of your peers
raised in your discussion posts if possible.
•
Create your own examples, possibly examples from your
own life, but do not get lost in discussing details of the situations that are
not relevant to the theoretical issue you’re discussing.

•
Check your arguments for logical validity. Avoid
superfluous introductory and concluding
remarks.

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