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Second Written Assignment 12

Sociology

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Second Written Assignment 12.5%

HUMA 3005 – Good and Evil – Writing Assignment Part 1 (12.5%)

Due Date: June 10

Word Count: 500

 

Main Task

 

Present a case of at least one of the four basic varieties of evil discussed in the course thus far, and explain in detail how it qualifies as a case of the evil or evils in question.

 

Case Source

 

The case may be historical or fictional. If the case is historical, be sure to restrict your discussion of details to those which are relevant given the main task of the writing assignment. In other words, discuss facts that provide the necessary context for your standpoint and that clearly demonstrate the occurrence of at least one variety of evil.

 

Fictional cases may be from an external source like a novel, television show, or film; or they may be a product of your own imagination. If you select a fictional case from an external source, once again make sure you restrict your discussion of the source to facts that provide the necessary context for your standpoint and that clearly establish the occurrence of one or more of the four varieties of evil.

 

If you decide to invent your own case, then you must write a narrative (a story), and afterward conduct a conceptual analysis of the story, in which you clearly demonstrate how the story contains a case of at least one of the four varieties of evil.

 

If you are using an historical or fictional example from an external source, please restrict yourself to a single online source, and provide a link to the source. You do not need to include in-text citations of external sources or of lesson material. I know that the source material is not your own, and I know where the descriptions of the varieties of evil come from. What I am assessing is your application of moral concepts to cases, which is a critical-reflective practice. This is not a research paper where you support claims with references or direct quotes, but a critical thinking piece where you demonstrate conceptual analysis skills.

 

The Four Varieties of Evil 

 

The four varieties of evil discussed in the course thus far are (1) demonic, (2) instrumental, (3) idealistic, and (4) banal. Please keep in mind that there are two sub-varieties of instrumental evil, (a) Kantian radical evil and (b) necessary evil, which should not be confused with one another.

 

If you think that none of the four varieties of evil adequately account for the case you are discussing, then present your reasons for why this is so. Make sure, however, that you have conducted a conceptual analysis of your case and established to the best of your ability that your case in fact is a case of a new, different variety of evil, to avoid ending up arguing that something is not one of the four varieties of evil when it in fact is.

 

For example, let’s say a student discusses an act of sadism, and thinks that sadistic evil is distinct from all four varieties of evil discussed in the course. This is inaccurate, and a conceptual analysis reveals precisely how. Sadism is pleasure taken in the pain of others, and a sadist who causes others pain against their will to experience pleasure is in violation of moral principles as a means to an end. Hence, the sadistic behaviour described here is in fact an instance of instrumental evil of the Kantian radical evil variety. Do not assume that because the specific motive or disposition of the agent or agents of evil in your case are most directly characterized by words like “sadism,” “hatred,” etc., they do not fall under one of the four varieties of evil discussed in the course. Whatever your case may be, ask yourself: Is it a particular instance of and thus does it fall under one of the four varieties of evil discussed in the course?

 

Assessment

 

The assignment will be assessed as follows:

 

5 marks cover the presentation of your case. This presentation will lose marks if it is too brief, too general, too vague, or too ambiguous to be a clear case of the variety or varieties of evil you are discussing. It will also lose marks if it is far larger than what it needs to be to make the point you are making. You only have 500 words for this assignments, so choose your words wisely!

 

5 marks will cover your discussion of the variety or varieties of evil with which you are concerned. You will lose marks here if your characterizations of any of the four varieties of evil are inaccurate, or if you confuse any variety with any other variety. Make sure you keep each of the varieties clear and distinct in your minds as you complete the assignment.

 

2.5 marks will be for grammar (syntax, sentence structure), usage (word choice), and mechanics (capitalization, punctuation, spelling). One or two minor errors will be overlooked, but you will lose marks for repeated errors and for errors that obscure meaning.

 

Personal pronouns are permitted (and even encouraged).

 

The writing assignment need not conform to any specific writing format. Just be as clear, direct, thorough, and accurate as you can be in your effort to complete the task.

 

Submission

 

Submit your completed assignment in .pdf or .docx format in the dropbox I have created. Do not submit the assignment in .pages format or in any way other than through the dropbox – if you do, it will not be marked.