Bad person paper
You cant use the same philospher that used to analyze your reading responses. Must be a new analysis also no direct quotes from your citations, must be paraphrased in your own words.
bad person paper: this paper requires you to look at either a historical person or a fictional character to evaluare, whom according to one of the theories we have read would be a bad person. Most people would agree that Hitler was a “bad” person. My point is that you ought not pick people whom others regard as bad, but whom others regard as good. For example, most people think that Cesar Chavez, or Gandhi was a good person, given their contributions to the world. People also think Batman, and Spiderman are “good.” But in thinking about theories we have read in example to name a few: Utilitarianism, Consequentialism, Deontology, Social Contract, etc. whom is valued or honored by society but would be “bad” according to a specific Philosophical theory? Be sure to pick only one historical or fictional character to analyze and one Philosophical theory to analyze. You only have 5 pages to make your point, so to go into depth requires analysis and research of both philosophical theory and historical and fictional character.
We will examine historically significant ethical/moral theorists:
Choose one person to evaluate (1500 words minimum) on a person (fictional or historical) who you believe to be a bad person based on that philosopher’s views.
Answer two questions:
What is the key parts of the philosopher’s moral theory that is relevant to your analysis?
Why is this person bad on that moral theory?
The paper will be graded on:
How well you interpret the philosopher.
How well you argue the person is bad given the theory.
How you show understanding of course material.
Example of an “A” Paper
Captain Kirk of Star Trek was a cultural icon that was prevalent throughout the latter half of the twentieth century. He is considered to be one of the quintessential “good guys” of television shows of the 1960s. Even though he is the hero in Star Trek, he is actually a “bad person.” This can be shown with the theory presented in Robin West’s essay “The Harms of Consensual Sex.” Captain James “Jim” Tiberius Kirk is the protagonist of the original series of Star Trek. He was born in Riverside, Ohio on March 22nd, 2233. He joined Starfleet when he went to Starfleet academy in 2250 and graduated in 2254. At the age of thirty-four, he became the youngest captain in Starfleet history. After this promotion, he took command of a Constitution-class starship named the U.S.S. Enterprise. While in command of the Enterprise, he and his crew embarked on a five-year-long mission to explore the universe. The exploration mission is the subject of the three-season run of Star Trek: Original Series (startrek.com). The three-season run saw Captain Kirk exploring the corners of the galaxy, making the first contact with various alien races, engaging in space combat, and becoming romantically involved with various characters. The show was canceled only after three seasons by the National Broadcasting Company but became a hit in broadcast syndication in the 1970s. The show spawned a cult following and huge impact on popular culture at the time. The franchise went on to spawn eight more series and thirteen movies in which Captain Kirk was the protagonist seven times. (startrek.com)
Professor of law at Georgetown University Law Centre, Robin West believes that consensual sex has the possibility of being harmful. She believes that heterosexual sex that is consensual but is unwanted by the woman is harmful to her. The act damages her autonomy more in a subtle way than sexual harassment, sexual assault, and rape does. Feminist legal reforms and theory do not have the effect as should have. Women consent to sex even if they do not draw pleasure from the act (West 1). She states there are many reasons why this may occur. One situation where this act may occur is if the woman is dependent on her partner to help provide for her children and fears that if she refuses to engage in sexual behavior with them, she may fall out of their good graces. Another reason would be because of peer pressure. Young women may be seen by peers to be sexually promiscuous, so this pressures them into engaging in sexual acts out of fear of being labeled a prude, afraid of an argument that might occur, or they do not want to damage their partner’s pride. Fear of retaliation can force someone into having sex. This retaliation may be in the form of social beratement or in the form of violent behavior or the threat thereof. This could be argued that this form is a rape (West 2). While no physical injuries occurred in these instances, damage still is done. One way this can happen is because sex that happened despite not being pleasurable can damage a woman via her self-assertion. This degrades their own personal freedom. They would not be able to act on their own will to do something with pleasure, but rather it is done as more of a duty. If they do not act out their own pleasure, they have no way they can really assert themselves in social situations. Another aspect of the woman is damaged is through her self-possession. The human body is truly the only thing that cannot be taken away from them, barring death. If one has no real say over if they can be penetrated or not, they lose the ownership of their body basically. Those who claim to have sex that is pleasurable but are lying lose their sense of integrity. If integrity is valued by the individual heavily this can heavily damage their psyche. Those who have sex due to the dependence they have on their partner lose their autonomy. They cannot make their way in the world without being financially dependent or having safety rely on their partner (West 3).
These injuries to women’s psyche occur in a vicious cycle. They cannot assert themselves to their partner and every time they have unwanted sex their likeliness to assert themselves diminished little by little. Their self-possession also follows the same. Their autonomy is lost with every act to the point they will be completely helpless and dependent on their partner. Consensual but unwanted sexual acts are very common and are attempted to be rationalized as being normal. They believe that this is how they are supposed to act, and this is what life for them is. Even with the prevalence of these acts, they mostly go unnoticed or people just do not take these acts seriously. One reason that this may be the case is due to the cultural sexual revolution of the 60s. Since sex broke away from its conservative restraints, people are skeptical that someone would have sex consensually but not actually want it. Another reason that goes with those being dependent on their partner is that sex is an exchange. The woman exchanges her body for financial security, partnership, or safety (West 4). This makes it seem to some people that this is a normal occurrence and that no injustice is taking place. Another reason why normal society does not do anything about this is that men believe they are morally justified when they have consensual sex. To them, if sex is consensual no one can dispute the morality of his actions (West 5). Men who believe they are not in the wrong for engaging with women in consensual unwanted sex are either ignorant or womanizers. Womanizers treat women as objects and have little regard if women would actually want to have sex with them as long as they get to do it.
While Captain Kirk may be the beloved captain of a futuristic starship that many people grew up watching, he is a bad person. The reason that he is a bad person is that he fits the characteristics of a womanizer. There are many instances throughout the series where Captain Kirk becomes sexually interested in a woman. One instance in the series where Captain Kirk is inferred to have had sex with the slave of the leader of a planet who has condemned him for execution the next day. The leader ordered the slave, whose name was Drusilla, to have sex with him as a favor since he would be killed but Captain Kirk did not know he was to be executed at that time. Drusilla seduces Captain Kirk (“Bread and Circuses”(00:37:40-0000:42:30). In this instance, Captain Kirk knew that she was a sex slave and continued to have sex with her regardless. Drusilla did consent to have sex with him as she did seduce him, but it can be argued as a slave, she did not actually want to. As a slave, she has lost her ability to be self-assertive and sense of self-possession. Furthermore, she must depend on her master to make sure she is safe and has food. It would also not be surprising being that she is a sex slave that she has children of her own, therefore she needs her master to provide for them. Captain Kirk did not have to have sex with Drusilla but did anyway. This act fed the vicious cycle that is her sexual enslavement by further objectifying her. Another instance where Captain Kirk is shown to be a womanizer is in Star Trek Episode “The Enemy Within.” In this episode, Captain Kirk is involved in a teleporter accident that separates him into two different Captain Kirks. One is the “good” Kirk who is a kind but inefficient captain and the other is the “evil” Kirk who embodies all his negative qualities. In this episode “evil” Kirk attempts to rape his yeoman, Janice Rand (“The Enemy Within”(00:10:00-00:11:25). It is inferred by other episodes in the series such as “The Naked Time”,” Balance of Terror”, and “Miri” that these two have some form of relationship. However, in this instance it is unwanted.
While some may argue that this was done by the “evil” Kirk so he should not be held accountable, that version of Captain Kirk is part of his personality and should be included in the case that he is a womanizer. Campbell 4Kirk becomes sexually interested in a woman. One instance in the series where Captain Kirk is inferred to have had sex with the slave of the leader of a planet who has condemned him for execution the next day. The leader ordered the slave, whose name was Drusilla, to have sex with him as a favor since he would be killed but Captain Kirk did not know he was to be executed at that time. Drusilla seduces Captain Kirk (“Bread and Circuses”(00:37:40-0000:42:30). In this instance, Captain Kirk knew that she was a sex slave and continued to have sex with her regardless. Drusilla did consent to have sex with him as she did seduce him, but it can be argued as a slave, she did not actually want to. As a slave, she has lost her ability to be self-assertive and sense of self-possession. Furthermore, she must depend on her master to make sure she is safe and has food. It would also not be surprising being that she is a sex slave that she has children of her own, therefore she needs her master to provide for them. Captain Kirk did not have to have sex with Drusilla but did anyway. This act fed the vicious cycle that is her sexual enslavement by further objectifying her. Another instance where Captain Kirk is shown to be a womanizer is in Star Trek Episode “The Enemy Within.” In this episode, Captain Kirk is involved in a teleporter accident that separates him into two different Captain Kirks. One is the “good” Kirk who is a kind but inefficient captain and the other is the “evil” Kirk who embodies all his negative qualities. In this episode “evil” Kirk attempts to rape his yeoman, Janice Rand (“The Enemy Within”(00:10:00-00:11:25). It is inferred by other episodes in the series such as “The Naked Time”,” Balance of Terror”, and “Miri” that these two have some form of relationship. However, in this instance it is unwanted. While some may argue that this was done by the “evil” Kirk so he should not be held accountable, that version of Captain Kirk is part of his personality and should be included in the case that he is a womanizer.
Captain Kirk, even though regarded as a hero, is a bad person. This is concluded using the ideas presented in West’s essay. Captain Kirk would not be considered a bad person if he would not give in to his womanizing tendencies which lead to consensual but unwanted sex. Captain Kirk, even though regarded as a hero, is a bad person. This is concluded using the ideas presented in West’s essay. Captain Kirk would not be considered a bad person if he would not give in to his womanizing tendencies which lead to consensual but unwanted sex.
What makes this an “A” Paper?
It is just shy of the minimum requirement. The content of the paper as far as the ideas go, it is excellent. It was creatively and well thought ought. They picked someone the world regards as good, but proved they were bad according to Robyn West. The theory of West was accurate. It could have been expanded. The explanation of Captain Kirk was thorough but this paper could have used a bit more analysis of West. But overall, even if not perfect, the paper was top notch.