College Paper Topics for Ethics, Philosophy
Essay Ideas for a College Ethics or Philosophy Class
Oct 22, 2008
Finding a good paper topic can be difficult for college students, especially when the student is faced with finding a paper topic for an analytical or argumentative essay for an ethics or philosophy class.
Nearly all universities and colleges require students to take at least one ethics or philosophy class. And finding a good paper topic is a challenge for many students, particularly if ethics or philosophy is not the student's primary area of academic study.
Whether it's a basic ethics class, bioethics, a biomedical ethics class, or an environmental ethics class, these ethics and philosophy paper topics are sure to be thought provoking and interesting. Additionally, many of the following college paper topics can be altered slightly to fit a particular college philosophy or ethics course assignment.
- How does one determine what one "ought to do?"
- How do we determine what is morally right and wrong?
- What's the difference between a moral and non-moral issue?
- Is sense of morality inherent in all individuals?
- Is Socrates right when he says that evil and other negative actions are the result of ignorance?
- Is acting morally requisite if a person is to reach his full potential?
- Do universal moral principles exist? If so, what are these universal morals?
- Is moral behavior necessary for happiness?
- Should reason be the sole basis for determining what actions are morally right or wrong?
- Are a society's values always rooted in morality? Are values necessarily based on universal morality?
- Is every human action rooted in a self-serving motivation?
- What is justice? How do we determine if something is "just."
- Is justice universal or is it a human social construct? Does justice exist outside human society?
- Do the ends ever justify the means? What is an example of this?
- Can "an eye for an eye" be morally justified?
- Is there such a thing as a justified killing? Is all murder morally wrong?
- Is capital punishment ever morally or ethically permissible? If so, when and on what grounds?
- What types of crimes should be eligible for the death penalty? Why?
- Should euthanasia be permitted in cases of terminally ill patients?
- Can the killing of one conjoined twin be justified if it saves the life of the other conjoined twin?
- A pregnant mother is in a coma. Is it permissible to deliver the baby if the procedure is likely to kill the mother? Who should decide?
- Should abortion be permitted in cases where the mother's life is at risk?
- In what, if any, situations is abortion acceptable? Who should determine abortion regulations?
- Are first trimester abortions less "wrong" than second or third trimester abortions? If so, why?
- Is stem cell research ethical?
- Is media censorship ever justified? If so, on what grounds?
- Is there an argument that can justify killing an animal to eat meat when vegetarian options are readily available?
- Is it unethical to test on animals, even if the testing helps save human lives?
- What rights should be afforded to animals? On what basis?
- Are needle exchange programs ethical? Does this promote drug use?
- Is employee drug testing justified? What are the moral and ethical implications?
- Is affirmative action ethical?
- Is it a wealthy nation's moral obligation to help poorer nations?
- Should the wealthy be required to subsidize programs to aid the poor?
- Is there a moral or ethical obligation to recycle, green-build and take other pro-environment actions?
- What ethical obligation do people have when it comes to saving endangered species?
- Is it ethical to take measures to preserve an endangered species, even if this negatively impacts other species?
In addition to these general ethics paper topics, philosophy students may want to consider focusing on a specific philosopher's view on a particular issue. Ethics students can ask, if according to a certain philosopher's or thinker's writings, would a certain action be morally or ethically permissible? Students can also compare and contrast two or more thinkers' views on an ethical or moral issue.
Looking for more help on how to write a philosophy paper? Check out the Resources for Writers Page, which includes information on how to write a philosophy paper, how to write a better college paper, web writing tips and more.
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