Paper 1

Instructions

Paper due date: October 6 (11:59pm). 

Paper outline: By September 27 (earlier if possible), students must submit to their section leader a one-page outline or precis of their paper.  This is to help students write better papers by enabling section leaders to offer guidance.

General Guidance 

Be sure to address the question directly, take a clear position on the issue, offer a thoughtful argument or series of arguments in favor of the position you take, and address one or more of the most compelling potential objections to your thesis.

You can refer to this Download this for some general advice for writing papers in this course.

Collaboration Policy

Students are strongly encouraged to discuss their papers with one another. This is a good way of testing your arguments and anticipating possible objections. The best papers typically result from sustained discussion with classmates and others.  You should make sure, however, that your written work is your own.  Please indicate, in footnotes, or informally in the text, or in a separate acknowledgement statement, the names of those with whom you have discussed any ideas, arguments, or insights that figure prominently in your paper. 

Policy for the Use of AI

The use of generative artificial intelligence (GAI) tools such as ChatGPT is not permitted for course assignments. A primary goal of the course is to enable students to develop their ability to engage in ethical reasoning, to formulate clear and persuasive moral arguments, and reflect critically on their own convictions. The rapid response questions and course essays are designed to give students experience in evaluating and advancing moral arguments and to think for themselves.  Relying on GAI tools would not advance these educational goals.  

Violations of this policy will be considered academic misconduct. We draw your attention to the fact that different classes at Harvard implement different AI policies, and it is the student’s responsibility to conform to expectations for each course. 

Prompts

Answer, in a well-reasoned essay of 1250-1500 words, one of the following questions:

Topic 1: Mandatory paternity leave

If the state provides paid family leave for employees, should fathers be required to take it, for the sake of promoting gender equality? 

Answer with reference to the arguments for mandatory paternity leave presented in one or more of the following articles:

Joanne Lipman, “Want equality? Make new dads stay home; mandatory paternity leave would help close the wage gap and strengthen family bonds.” Download Want equality? Make new dads stay home; mandatory paternity leave would help close the wage gap and strengthen family bonds.” Wall Street Journal, Sept. 28, 2018. 

Reshma Saujani, “Men Should Be Forced to Take Parental Leave,” Download “Men Should Be Forced to Take Parental Leave,” New York, March 15, 2022.

Darren Rosenblum, “Mandatory Paternity Leave: The Key to Workplace Equality,” Oct. 2, Forbes, 2020.

Topic 2:  Abortion and the right to life

In “A Defense of Abortion,” Download “A Defense of Abortion,” Judith Jarvis Thomson argues that, even if one assumes the fetus is a person from the moment of conception, abortion can sometimes be justified. Through the use of novel analogies, Thomson argues that having a right to life does not entail “a right to be allowed continued use of another person’s body--even if one needs it for life itself.”

Do you find Thomson’s argument convincing? Why or why not?