READINGS

Desjardins  Ch.2 pp.37-41, Ch 8 and Ch 9.

Nestle (2015) “Eating Made Simple”, Scientific American, Special Edition, 24 (2s), pp. 39-45 (available on iLearn)

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. What is eudaemonia and how can it be achieved? How is it different to happiness?
2. What are the virtues that Aristotle provides? What virtues might you want to add or delete?
3. Why does Aristotle believe that eudaemonia is not available to everyone? Do you agree with this view?

Refer to the Desjardins Ch. 8 and 9 readings to answer the following:

4. What is the difference between the ‘caveat emptor’, ‘negligence’ and ‘strict liability approach’ to product liability? Which do you think is most appropriate in the cases of 1/ buying a knife; 2/ buying a car; 3/ buying headache medicine?
5. Define the following pricing practices and provide an example for each: price gouging, monopolistic pricing, price fixing, and predatory pricing.
6. What are the ethical issues concerning marketing and advertising in relation to consumer ‘autonomy’ and ‘targeting the vulnerable’? Discuss, using the example of advertising to children, with reference, to one ethical theory you find to be relevant.

PROFESSIONAL TOPIC QUESTION

7. A key component of willpower is eating well. As per the Nestle (2015) article above, while there are many fad diets, the fundamental principles of nutrition have remained the same for many years – a balanced diet which is high in vegetables.

For the next week,

1. a) Choose one change that you can make to improve the health of your diet; and
2. b) Each day record when you did or did not implement this change.

RESEARCH TOPIC QUESTION

8. Find one example of an advertisement in a newspaper, magazine or online that you believe is morally questionable and explain why, drawing on the three major ethical theories in your answer. Attach a copy of the advertisement (or a link) to your assignment. In your analysis from a virtue ethics perspective, be sure to consider Aristotle’s list of virtues and the extent to which they are consistent with the actions of the key decision-makers. Consider also whether you believe the actions are likely to result in eudaemonia for the decision-makers,