Intro to Ethics Essay
Date: August 2017 – December 2017
Competencies: Information Literacy lv. 3&4, Information Synthesis lv. 1,2&3
Competencies: Information Literacy lv. 3&4, Information Synthesis lv. 1,2&3
Summary
My first semester at MSU, I took an Intro to Ethics class as part of the College of Business curriculum. Throughout the semester, my class read through the book Nicomachean Ethics, which contained translated teachings of the philosopher Aristotle. We also participated in weekly discussions and wrote two research papers on the information we were learning. For my second term paper of the semester, I decided to write on the subject of self-love, and how today’s view of it differs from what Aristotle taught about the subject.
My first semester at MSU, I took an Intro to Ethics class as part of the College of Business curriculum. Throughout the semester, my class read through the book Nicomachean Ethics, which contained translated teachings of the philosopher Aristotle. We also participated in weekly discussions and wrote two research papers on the information we were learning. For my second term paper of the semester, I decided to write on the subject of self-love, and how today’s view of it differs from what Aristotle taught about the subject.
Reflection
When I began my Intro to Ethics class, I was not very excited. I had not had much exposure to the subject of philosophy, and I didn’t think I was going to like it. However, some of the subjects we covered were surprisingly interesting, and it was fun to tap into the more creative side of my psyche.
When I began organizing my essay, I realized I had a lot of information that I could include! We had covered almost 200 pages of potential research that could be applicable, but I had to figure out which pieces of information would be most well-suited for my thesis statement (Literacy lv. 4), which was to share Aristotle’s musings on self-love, and how it compares to today’s view. Once I had researched what statements and sections would best support my thesis, and what might oppose it, I had to narrow down what would best flow into my writing and portray what was in my head (Literacy lv. 3). I learned that I could fairly efficiently research a topic and find worthwhile information, but I had more difficulty ascertaining whether it would add enough value to warrant adding it to my paper (Synthesis lv. 3). Once I had decided on which pieces of research I would include in my essay, I found that the rest of the paper came together fairly quickly (Synthesis lv. 1), since all I had left to do was analyze and explain how the research backed up my thesis statement. I also found that writing was enjoyable when I got to see all my hard work seamlessly integrate together before my eyes! The last body paragraph of writing was the most difficult part of the paper, since I was taking two different views on self-love – separated by thousands of years – and attempting to integrate them together. However, I found that by analyzing two different views on a topic, I could add value by acknowledging other opinions on the subject and the ways self-love is not always black and white (Synthesis lv. 2).
Writing this philosophy paper helped me hone my newly learned information literacy and synthesis skills from my FYEX, and showed me that I need to be open to topics and activities I might not usually pursue, because a life lived only in my comfort zone is a life ill-spent.
When I began my Intro to Ethics class, I was not very excited. I had not had much exposure to the subject of philosophy, and I didn’t think I was going to like it. However, some of the subjects we covered were surprisingly interesting, and it was fun to tap into the more creative side of my psyche.
When I began organizing my essay, I realized I had a lot of information that I could include! We had covered almost 200 pages of potential research that could be applicable, but I had to figure out which pieces of information would be most well-suited for my thesis statement (Literacy lv. 4), which was to share Aristotle’s musings on self-love, and how it compares to today’s view. Once I had researched what statements and sections would best support my thesis, and what might oppose it, I had to narrow down what would best flow into my writing and portray what was in my head (Literacy lv. 3). I learned that I could fairly efficiently research a topic and find worthwhile information, but I had more difficulty ascertaining whether it would add enough value to warrant adding it to my paper (Synthesis lv. 3). Once I had decided on which pieces of research I would include in my essay, I found that the rest of the paper came together fairly quickly (Synthesis lv. 1), since all I had left to do was analyze and explain how the research backed up my thesis statement. I also found that writing was enjoyable when I got to see all my hard work seamlessly integrate together before my eyes! The last body paragraph of writing was the most difficult part of the paper, since I was taking two different views on self-love – separated by thousands of years – and attempting to integrate them together. However, I found that by analyzing two different views on a topic, I could add value by acknowledging other opinions on the subject and the ways self-love is not always black and white (Synthesis lv. 2).
Writing this philosophy paper helped me hone my newly learned information literacy and synthesis skills from my FYEX, and showed me that I need to be open to topics and activities I might not usually pursue, because a life lived only in my comfort zone is a life ill-spent.
Artifact
Attached is the second term paper I wrote for my Intro to Ethics class.
Attached is the second term paper I wrote for my Intro to Ethics class.