Tоpic A: The Gаmer's DilemmаQuestiоn 1:(40 minutes, ~400-500 wоrds)A gаme called Righteous Cause allows players to roleplay as members of various terrorist organizations throughout history. Players plan and execute attacks including bombings, hostage-takings, and assassinations of political figures. Each organization has its own "ideology meter" that you must maintain by targeting appropriate victims and making propaganda videos. The game includes a mode where you play from the perspective of various real terrorist groups (fictional names, but clearly modeled on IRA, Al-Qaeda, ISIS, etc.). The developers claim they're exploring the mindset of people who believe they're freedom fighters, and that understanding extremism is important. Critics argue the game glorifies terrorism and teaches tactics.Using Luck's framework and at least TWO of the arguments we discussed (Arguments 1, 2, 3, or 5), analyze whether this game is morally problematic. Be specific about which principles apply and why.Question 2:(50 minutes, ~500-600 words)Assume Luck is correct that we cannot distinguish virtual murder from virtual pedophilia and virtual rape. You must now choose a position: either defend the Righteous Gaming (RG) principle (all are morally wrong), or defend the permissibility of virtual immoral actions (all are morally permissible).Develop your argument by:(a) Identifying the strongest objection to your position(b) Responding to that objection with specific reasoning(c) Explaining what your position implies for one specific game or game genre (such as Grand Theft Auto, Red Dead Redemption, Call of Duty, The Last of Us, etc.)Topic B: Sexual Consent & EthicsA university is deciding how to prevent sexual misconduct related to alcohol. Three competing proposals emerge:Approach X: "Mandatory education emphasizing personal responsibility for alcohol consumption and decision-making. If you choose to drink, you're responsible for your choices. No changes to consent policies."Approach Y: "Mandatory education teaching students to 'err on the side of no' when uncertain about consent. Create clear guidelines: if someone shows ANY signs of impairment, don't proceed. Violations result in disciplinary action for 'failure to ensure valid consent.'"Approach Z: "Mandatory education on both personal responsibility AND duty to ensure valid consent. Create a disciplinary category for 'reckless disregard for consent' (less severe than assault) when someone proceeds despite uncertainty about their partner's competence."Your Task:Part 1: Position Alignment (30 points)a) Match theorists to approaches: Explain which approach BEST aligns with each theorist's overall position and why:Roiphe's view on personal responsibility and autonomyPineau's "communicative sexuality" standard and legal enforcementDixon's moral agreement with Pineau but legal skepticismb) Central Park Mugger analogy: Use Dixon's Central Park Mugger analogy to explain what's wrong with Approach X from Pineau and Dixon's perspective. What does the analogy show about the relationship between foolish behavior and moral/legal responsibility?Part 2: Framework Application (35 points)a) "Err on the side of false negative": Explain what it means to "err on the side of false negative" in the context of these approaches. Why do Dixon and Pineau believe this is the morally correct approach when uncertain about consent? What makes false positives worse than false negatives in this context?b) Enforcement challenges: If Dixon were evaluating Approach Y versus Approach Z, which might he prefer despite agreeing with Pineau morally? Identify specific practical problems with enforcing Approach Y (the stricter standard) that might make Dixon favor Approach Z instead.c) Both drunk complication: Explain how each approach would handle situations where both parties were impaired and both failed to "err on the side of no." Which approach deals with this complication most fairly?Part 3: Your Position and Defense (35 points)a) State your recommendation: Which approach would you recommend the university adopt? Be specific about whether you'd choose X, Y, Z, or some modified version.b) Defend your choice: Explain what makes your recommended approach compelling. Consider effectiveness at preventing harm, respecting student autonomy, and practical enforceability. Use course concepts like perverse incentives, error minimization, or the gap between moral and legal obligations.c) Anticipate and respond to an objection: Identify the strongest objection to your chosen approach from one of the theorists (or from a perspective represented by one of the other approaches). Explain this objection thoroughly, then respond to it. Your response should acknowledge what's legitimate about the objection while explaining why your approach is still preferable overall.Topic C: Academic EthicsQuestion 1:Read the scenario below carefully. Apply course concepts about grading, extra credit, college functions, and fairness to analyze the situation. Your response should identify relevant ethical issues, explain which arguments from the course material apply, and recommend a course of action with justification. If you're unsure about a concept, explain your reasoning as best you can. Partial credit is available for thoughtful attempts. (400-500 words)Professor Rodriguez chairs the department reviewing grading policies. Data shows that average GPAs in the department have risen from 2.8 to 3.4 over the past decade, with increased use of extra credit being a major factor. Employers and graduate schools have started questioning the value of the department's degrees. Some faculty argue that the higher grades reflect better teaching and more opportunities for learning; others argue this represents credential inflation that harms their best students. The department must decide whether to restrict or eliminate extra credit policies.Your task: Should the department restrict extra credit use? Apply course concepts about grade inflation, the sorting function of college, and how changes to grading policies affect different stakeholders (current students, past graduates, employers, society).Question 2:Instructions: Choose ONE of the following prompts. Take a clear position, construct your best argument for that position, anticipate the strongest objection someone could raise, and respond to that objection. Then consider whether there's a remaining weakness in your position and address it. If you're unsure about a concept, explain your reasoning as best you can. Partial credit is available for thoughtful attempts. (400-500 words)Option A: The Priority QuestionPrompt: From society's perspective (not just as a student or future employee), should colleges prioritize their sorting function (identifying and certifying capable students) or their educating function (developing student abilities)? Take a position and defend it. Then anticipate and respond to the strongest objection to your view.Option B: The Effort vs. Achievement DebatePrompt: Should grades primarily reflect student effort or student achievement? Take a position and construct an argument that goes beyond "both matter" to identify which should be prioritized when they conflict. Anticipate the strongest objection to your position and respond to it.Option C: The Fairness StandardPrompt: Consider this claim: "Extra credit is unfair to high-achieving students because it diminishes the value of their accomplishments—it's a form of 'theft of credit.'" Do you agree with this characterization? Take a position, defend it with argument, anticipate a strong objection, and respond.Option D: The Credential Inflation Trade-offPrompt: Some argue that being generous with grades (through extra credit, curving, etc.) helps current students but harms past graduates and future students by making degrees less valuable. Others argue this concern is overblown and that we should prioritize helping students currently in our classes. Which consideration should matter more to professors when setting grading policies? Take a position, defend it, anticipate an objection, and respond.
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