The goal of this assignment is to demonstrate your ability to apply an ethical theory-- Mill's utilitarianism or Kantian deontologism-- to a scenario presented in a movie. Choose a movie from the list provided below. While watching the movie, choose a decision that you believe involves a difficult ethical/moral dilemma. You are not, at any point, to include your personal opinion or beliefs. You must use only the ethical theory from the three listed above. Any deviation, of any sort, whatsoever, from the moral theory chosen will result in a zero "0" for the assignment.
In an essay of between 1000 to 1500 words, complete the following requirements:
• Briefly describe the situation/decision you have chosen from the movie.
• Analyze the situation/decision according Mill's utilitarianism or Kantian deontology. In your analysis, briefly describe the important aspects of the ethical theory you have chosen. Then discuss whether the decision made by the characters involved in the situation should be considered moral or immoral according to the ethical theory you are using.
List of movies from which you must choose
• Any of the "Iron Man" movies (all are good choices, but the first two may be better choices, and virtue ethics is an easy one to use here...)
• "Captain America"
• Any of the "X-Men" movies (although some are just plain better movies than others...)
• Either of "The Hulk" recent movie adaptations with Edward Norton (not the old-school tv show, not the cartoon....)
• "Thor" (either movie with Helmsworth as Thor is fine)
• "The Avengers" movies (live action versions released by Marvel Studios...any of these movies are fine).
• The "Batman" film "Dark Knight Rises"