1. Virtue Ethics
Do you agree with virtue ethic's focus on character? Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables offers an opportunity to examine the strengths and weaknesses of centering a normative theory around the question "who am I?" In the narrative, the hero Jean Valjean is an escaped convict living under an assumed name. He has built up a successful business in which he employs most of his fellow townspeople.
He is also the mayor and a public benefactor. He learns that another man, a feeble minded old beggar, has been arrested as Jean Valjean . The beggar will be sent to the gallows in his place. The real Jean Valjean decides that it his moral duty to reveal his identity even at the price of being sent to the gallows to save the beggar.
On a one page entry you must defend whether or not Jean should turn himself as a way of accepting or rejecting virtue theory. No "fence-sitting" allowed!
2. Duty Ethics
Do you agree with duty ethic's focus on obligation? Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables, offers an opportunity to examine the strengths and weaknesses of centering a normative theory on duty and away from consequences.
In the narrative, the hero Jean Valjean, served a lengthy jail sentence becaue he stole a loaf of bread to feed a starving nephew.
Upon his release, he was shunned, beaten, and approached starvation due to his rejection. Stumbling upon an entrance to a church, he was assisted
by a kindly monseigneur. Valjean returned the kindness of the Bishop by stealing the very silver and plates, upon which, the Bishop had fed him earlier.
He was quickly caught and returned to the Bishop.
The Bishop informed the arresting officers that Valjean did not steal and had permission to take what was found on him:
On a one page entry you must defend whether or not the Bishop should lie to the arresting officers as a way of accepting or rejecting duty theory. No "fence-sitting" allowed!
