HU245 Ethics

Week Four Seminar

Terrorism

Old Business!

• Unit Three Discussion Threads• Unit Three Position Paragraphs

New Business!

• Discussion Thread: Capital Punishment

New Business Continued!

• Letter to Your Leader-Option A: Compose a letter to the President regarding the current war. In this letter, explain your position regarding the ethics of war and responses to terrorism. In your explanation, be sure to draw upon ethical concepts and reasonings to support your position. State what you believe should be done and why. The letter should be one page in length, double spaced, and free of grammatical errors.

-Option B: Compose a letter to your state governor regarding the death penalty. In this letter, explain your position regarding capital punishment. In your explanation, be sure to draw upon ethical concepts and reasonings to support your position. State whether or not the death penalty should be abolished and why.

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How should we define terrorism?

• How do you define it?• How do terrorists define it?• Does terrorism always involve overt violence? • What are some of the ways power is involved?

One Definition

The U.S. Code of Federal Regulations defines terrorism in the U.S. as:

The unlawful use of force and violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives (28 C.F.R. Section 0.85).

Goals of Terrorism

• Economic Aims• Social Aims• Political Aims• Religious Aims

Terrorist or Freedom Fighter?

• What is the difference?

Are all acts of terrorism, in all forms, morally wrong? • Are there terrorist acts in war?• Are they justified?

Under which circumstances is terrorism justified? • Are there any?

 What sorts of responses to terrorism are morally permissible?

How Should We Treat Suspected Terrorists?

• Is it ethical to use torture?• Should they be treated like combatants or accused

criminals?• How “rough” is too rough?

What ethical principles determine which responses are appropriate? • Utilitarian considerations• Ethical egoism• Justice• Rights and liberty• Virtue

Are there any peaceful solutions to terrorism? If so, what are they?

Questions and Comments?