Description
1.The Hierarchy of Value
The most basic moral obligation that we have is to pursue what is good and avoid what is evil. But what counts as “good” and “evil”? How do we rank the various things that are good or evil? Friendship is a good thing, but is more important than (say) honesty? Cheating is generally a bad thing, but is it worse than (say) hypocrisy?
This assignment will require a bit of thinking. You will attempt to rank moral values and vices on a hierarchy.
Begin by listing the top five moral values or obligations that you think are definitive of a life well-lived.
For each value or obligation, give a (minimum) one-paragraph description of what it is and why you have ranked it that way.
You should not simply give a list – you should explain and justify the hierarchy you have put together. Make sure you organize them by order of importance. If you’re not quite confident in your ranking, give it your best attempt.
You will then do the same thing for moral vices.
In order of heinousness, list five vices that you consider to be among the worst.
Make sure that you include at least a one-paragraph description of each vice along with an explanation of why you have ranked that vice in the way you did.
Make sure that you are specific. Do not simply say “be good” or “avoid harming people” – you should be referencing specific virtues or vices.
The goal of this assignment is to organize your thoughts on morality. Not all good things are equally good, and not all bad things are equally bad. We often prioritize certain things when making moral decisions, so it is good to develop a framework for a hierarchy of virtues and vices.
As a tip, you might look at some of the lists of virtues and vices that have been assembled by philosophers and theologians throughout history. Two examples are the four cardinal virtues and Dante's seven deadly vices. But avoid copying them – this assignment should be your own work and reflect your own thinking.
W3 Quiz
To access this week's quiz, click on the link above. This quiz consists of 10 questions: 5 Multiple Choice and 5 True/False. It will not be timed, but will only allow for a single attempt.
W3 Midterm Exam
To access your Midterm Exam, click on the link above. This exam consists of 20 questions: 15 Multiple Choice and 5 Short Answer. The exam will not be timed, but will allow only one attempt.
Misleading Statistics
Statistics are powerful and convincing when used properly. This feature of statistical reasoning, however, also makes them liable to misuse. In this week’s assignment, you will find a legitimate statistic and explain how it might be used to mislead an audience.
Start by searching the internet for a reliable statistic. Make sure the statistic you find comes from an original or primary source – whether it be a peer-reviewed article, think-tank, or other organization. Do not use news articles that report the findings of a study; use the original study itself. Please remember to cite your source.
After you locate your statistic, explain how it might be used to mislead an audience into embracing conclusions that the statistic does not support by playing the role of someone who is trying to lie with statistics.
Design a fake advertisement or news story in which you will try to use the statistic in question to make a persuasive point.
oYour advertisement or story can consist of a written document, graphic, or video.
oWhatever you decide to do, you should feature a depiction or description of the statistic and an explanation of how it might be used to support a misleading agenda.
After creating your fake advertisement or news story, include a short one paragraph statement on why it is misleading and what can be done to avoid being misled by it.
Please utilize this tutorial to assist you with this assignment.
W5 Quiz
To access this week's quiz, click on the link above. This quiz consists of 10 questions: 8 Multiple Choice and 2 True/False. It will not be timed, but will only allow for a single attempt.
Overcoming Cognitive Biases
It is easy to be taken in by cognitive biases, especially given that they operate at a subconscious or non-rational level. It is therefore important that we be aware of them. Accordingly, this week’s assignment will be a poster project in which you design warning posters. You will be creating three warning posters for three different cognitive biases. A warning poster might look something like this:
Here is a direct link to the image.
Begin by selecting three cognitive biases covered in this week’s reading or lectures. Using an online tool or application such as Microsoft Word, create three warning posters that explain the dangers behind the three cognitive biases you have selected. Each warning poster should contain the name of the cognitive bias, a very brief explanation of what it is, a message on how to avoid falling into it, and at least one image. All three posters should be different.
Feel free to be creative!
W6 Quiz
To access this week's quiz, click on the link above. This quiz consists of 10 questions: 5 Multiple Choice and 5 True/False. It will not be timed, but will only allow for a single attempt.
Analyzing the News
News reporting is done by journalists, who are charged with the important responsibility of curating information in ways that are fair and honest.
This week you will assume the role of a news editor or executive. Using the knowledge gained from this week’s readings and lectures, write a mock job posting for a journalist. Your job posting should include:
A description of what the journalist will do (feel free to be creative, given that there are many different kinds of journalists)
A list of qualities necessary for being a good journalist
A list of expectations that the journalist will fulfill. Make sure to include required skills that address reliability and validity in reporting.
Make your mock job posting look as realistic as possible. If you are unsure about how to write a job posting, look for examples online.
W7 Quiz
To access this week's quiz, click on the link above. This quiz consists of 10 questions: 5 Multiple Choice and 5 True/False. It will not be timed, but will only allow for a single attempt.
Civility on the Internet
The internet offers anonymity, and anonymity changes the way in which we present ourselves. Many individuals, acting behind the veil of a screen, say things and do things that they would otherwise not do in a face-to-face environment. This has led to an online phenomenon known as “trolling,” wherein individuals deliberately act to incite anger or resentment. Add to this the ways in which online discussions can get heated very quickly, and it is clear that civility is becoming a lost art.
You will be writing a five-paragraph essay in which you explain the nature of civility, why it is important in an online setting, and what can be done to recover civility in the context of news media and cyber-culture.
1.Your first paragraph should contain a definition of civility and an explanation of what it means to be civil.
2.Your second paragraph should contain an explanation of what it means to be civil in an online setting. Why do we need civility online? Why do you think the internet tends to foster incivility?
3.Your third paragraph should contain a discussion of what can be done to recover civility. How can we promote civility online? What are some ways in which we avoid heated discussions and debates?
4.Your fourth paragraph should apply what you have said about civility to a specific contentious issue in today’s culture (e.g. healthcare, gun control, capital punishment, abortion, war, economic policy). What does it mean to have a civil discussion about said issue? How can being civil advance our understanding of this issue?
5.Your final paragraph will summarize what you have said and make concluding remarks about civility going forward. What advice would you give to internet users about developing and maintaining a sense of civility in the way they approach online interactions?
Your completed assignment should be approximately 1000 words. Submit your paper, written in APA style, including a title page, reference page, and appropriate citations, to the dropbox for grading.
W8 Quiz
To access this week's quiz, click on the link above. This quiz consists of 10 questions: 5 Multiple Choice and 5 True/False. It will not be timed, but will only allow for a single attempt.
W8 Final Exam
To access your Final Exam, click on the link above. This exam consists of 12 questions: 5 Multiple Choice, 5 Short Answer, and 2 Essay. The exam will not be timed, but will allow only one attempt.
Explanation & Answer
Attached.
Running Head: HIERARCHY OF VALUE
1
Hierarchy of Value
Student Name
Instructor
Date
HIERARCHY OF VALUE
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Moral Values
Respect for others
This value is all about regarding others as important, and appreciating them for who they are. In
the world we live in, we interact with people from different backgrounds which makes every
person unique in their own way. That is, we are all different and certainly there is always
someone better than the other. In this case, everyone needs to be allowed the space to be
themselves without being judged and disregarded. I ranked it in first position because I believe
that I also deserve to be respected, and because it relates to how we interact with others. I believe
that we need one another, and therefore, for relationships with one another to work, respect is
critical.
Hardwork
This is all about putting on your efforts towards achieving something. It involves making
sacrifices for the sake of achieving one’s dreams, even when those sacrifices are not easy to
make. I ranked it at the second position because I believe that working hard in life is not an
option because nothing comes easy. Everyone has a purpose in life, and our lives revolve around
this purpose. It cannot be achieved without Hardwork. Therefore, Hardwork is quite critical for
me.
Honesty
Honesty is all about being truthful and meaning what you say at any given time. Honest people
tell the truth and they are able to stand by what they said regardless of any situation. It is an
important virtue for me because without honesty, it is hard to hold the other values together.
Therefore, I placed it at the third position because it is all about character. Character defines who
you are, and I believe that honesty is very critical in building a good character.
HIERARCHY OF VALUE
3
Loyalty
Loyalty is all about being faithful and committed to fulfilling our obligations and responsibilities.
I ranked loyalty at the fourth position because it is also about character. I believe that when I am
loyal, I avoid colliding with people around me and also with the law. It is all about keeping
promises and commitments, and especially to people around me. Relationships are important to
me, and I believe that they cannot be established without loyalty.
Kindness
It is the act of being open to help others and be good to them without expecting anything in
return. I placed this at the fifth position because it is all about how we respond to others and it is
also about character. I believe that a little kindness goes a long way towards brightening up a dull
day. I also believe that everyone deserves to be treated nicely because I also love it when people
treat me well. However, this should be done without feeling obliged or without expecting any
kind of appreciation.
HIERARCHY OF VALUE
4
Moral Vices
Pride
My definition of pride is being so full of one-self, such that you consider others as lesser beings.
I rank pride in the first position because it is all about attitude. Sometimes the things that make
people proud are not even substantial. Also, pride stands in the way of establishing good
relationships, which I value so much.
Envy
It is about being discontented with oneself, hence longing for what others have. For example, if I
have a good smartphone and my friend buys an iPhone and I start feeling bad about that, then I
am being envious of what he has. I ranked it at the second position because it is also about our
attitude. People ought to understand that there will always be someone better than them.
Therefore, the best way to accommodate such people is in appreciating what we have and
accepting that they are better than us, and we do not have to be the same.
Discrimination
Discrimination...
Review
Review
