Devry LAS432 All Weeks Class Discussions Latest 2019 September

LAS432 Technology, Society, and Culture

Week 1 Class Discussion

This week,
the reading and lesson trace a number of ethical theories that we will
encounter and explore this session. These include the following.

Utilitarianism

Deontology

Ethical Intuitionism

Virtue
Ethics

Ethical
Non-Cognitivism

Ethical
Contractarianism

As we begin
our discussion this week, select one theory of ethics to apply to the case
study in Chapter 2 (“Evaluating a Case Study: Developing a Practical
Ethical Viewpoint”). Based on your selected ethical theory, what are the
main ethical concerns?

LAS432 Technology, Society, and Culture

Week 2 Class Discussion

VALUE AND
DUTY

In the
reading for this week, Onora O’Neill suggests, “Most of us agree that we
should value the environment, or at least some bits of the environment; fewer
of us agree why we should do so. Leaving aside answers that appeal to sheer
prudence or mere preference and looking at some of the array of answers
offering under the heading of ‘environmental ethics’ leaves a great deal
obscure” (Chapter 4: “Environmental Value, Anthropocentrism, and
Speciesism”).

How can we
define environmental ethics in the contemporary moment? What are the factors
involved in creating an ethical scaffold for understanding the natural world
and its resources? What is the role of duty and obligation?

LAS432 Technology, Society, and Culture

Week 3 Class Discussion

INDIVIDUALS
AND COMMUNITIES

This week,
Chapter 2 considers the relationship between individuals and communities.
Oftentimes, this discussion is at the center about debates over technology and
ethics. When considering the relationship between individuals and communities,
Michael Boylan suggests that there are two main considerations (“The Self
in Context: A Grounding for Environmentalism”).

The way
that individuals understand their role and ability to act

They way
that individuals see and understand their actions within a larger social
context

Using this
schema as a guide, what is the relationship between the individual and his or
her environmental community? What are the individual roles and responsibilities
to act ethically when considering technological impact on the environment? Be
sure to illustrate your response using a concrete example of a technology and
key formations from the reading for this week.

LAS432 Technology, Society, and Culture

Week 4 Class Discussion

ETHICS,
TECHNOLOGY, AND SOCIAL JUSTICE

This week
you are reading about the connection between the worldview of ecofeminism and
social justice. This week, we will utilize the case study “The
Commercialization of Life Forms” by Wanda Teays from the textbook as a
point of departure for discussion. As you study this section, consider the
following.

What is the
relationship between ecofeminism and environmental ethics? What are some of the
key points?

How do
technologies related to microorganisms suggest ethical conflicts?

How do
these conflicts relate to social justice?

Remember to
provide specific examples and references from the reading to help support your
ideas.

LAS432 Technology, Society, and Culture

Week 5 Class Discussion

CLIMATE
CHANGE

This week’s
reading focuses on the relationship between climate change, leadership, and
ethical responsibility. What is the relationship between leadership and ethical
standards? How does advancements in technology complicate or simplify this
relationship? Utilize at least one form of technology discussed in the reading
to help illustrate your response.

LAS432 Technology, Society, and Culture

Week 6 Class Discussion

SUSTAINABLE
SOLUTIONS

In the
reading for this week, Alan Gewirth and Randall Curren discuss the roles of
human rights and sustainability, respectively, when considering environmental
ethics and technology. In the 21st century, what is the relationship between
sustainability and human rights? How does this impact the development of new
technologies? Consider a key current technological example and apply to
readings for this week to create a simple case study to serve as an example of
your reasoning.