Philosophy 235
Second paper assignment

The formatting and grading standards will be the same as for the previous assignment.

Topics:
Pick one:

* If [conditions] then it is morally obligatory for a person to participate in a moral collective action puzzle. If [those conditions] are not met, then it is not morally obligatory to participate.

* All non-participation in moral collective action puzzles is morally permissible.

* If [conditions] then it is morally [obligatory / permissible (pick one)] to break the law to engage in environmental direct action; if [those conditions] are not met, then it is not.

* If [conditions] then it is morally [obligatory / permissible (pick one)] to violate property rights in order to commit environmental direct action; if [those conditions] are not met, then it is not.

* All [breaking the law / violating property rights (pick one)] to commit environmental direct action is morally wrong.

* If [conditions] then a state is obligated to do more than its fair share to fight climate change; if [those conditions] are not met, then not.

* Whenever a state does just its fair share and no more to fight climate change, this is morally permissible.

* I'm open to you writing on other topics, but you must get your topic approved by me in writing.

One easy way to go wrong on this paper is to choose a thesis that is trivially true. What does this mean? Imagine that someone's thesis is "If there is a duty to participate in MCAP, then one is obligated to participate." This thesis is trivially true - it is true but that's just because the antecedent and consequent mean the same thing. So the thesis says nothing, really. Don't do that.

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Outline due: April 2, 8pm. Subject line 235 OUTLINE PAPER 2.
Draft due: April 12, email it to your partner and cc me, subject line 235 DRAFT PAPER 2
Comments due: April 14, 8pm, email to your partner and cc me, subject line 235 COMMENTS PAPER 2
Paper Due: April 19, 8pm, subject line 235 PAPER 2 FINAL.