Question 1: An elderly man, James, is murdered. During the autopsy, doctors discover that James was HIV-positive for over twenty years but never developed AIDS, suggesting that he had some kind of genetic resistance to it. Studying his body might yield information that could lead to a cure, vaccine, or new treatment for the disease. James' family, however, refuses to grant permission for his body to be used for medical research, will not change their mind, and evidence exists that James himself would not have consented to such research either. Using one and only one of the following theories (Confucianism, Yangism, Mohism, or Daoism), determine what is the morally correct thing for the doctors to do in this situation.
Question 2: ISIS is a terrorist organization that has taken over and is running parts of Iraq and Syria. In addition to handling basic functions of government (utilities, police, etc.), it is responsible for multiple atrocities, keeps slaves, and has destroyed major (non-Islamic) cultural sites. Using one and only one of the following theories (Confucianism, Yangism, Mohism, or Daoism), determine what we as Americans ought to have do about them, if anything. Creativity is encouraged. Actual knowledge of ISIS and its Middle East context is required to answer the question well; if you don't know anything about either other than what I've described here, be sure to do some research before writing your paper.
Question 3: Scarcity is the great problem of human governance. It would be wonderful if we had the resources to do everything we wanted, but we don't. As a result, we often need to make difficult decisions about what projects to prioritize.
For this question, assume that we have the resources to accomplish one of the following goals: develop our space program to the point where we can send manned, round-trip missions to Mars (and perhaps even further in the future); or ensure that no one in this country dies due to lack of food or medical care. Trying to do both will just ensure that we accomplish neither. Also assume that resources cannot be shifted from other areas (military, education, etc.). Using one and only one of the following theories (Confucianism, Yangism, Mohism, or Daoism), determine which project is the appropriate one to devote our resources to.