Merchandizing Cool

Instructions: Present and defend the most defensible answer to the following question in an argumentative essay.

Is merchandizing cool an example of ethical marketing?

Requirements of the assignment: You are to analyze this in terms of the principles for ethical marketing: Respect for participants as free and autonomous agents (versus simply a means to an end), actual benefit of the product, and other relevant values at stake (such as fairness, justice, health and safety, concern for the weak, vulnerable, and disadvantaged, honor, etc.). (Desjardins, Chapter 7)

General requirements of the assignment: This is an argumentative essay, which is trying to establish your answer to the question as true (at least, rationally defensible). Ethical arguments must include a relevant moral principle and factual claims. Do all your homework, and provide references/sources for any facts you cite that would not be considered “ordinary” knowledge. Keep in mind that you are trying to convince your reader to adopt a position, not trying to present or clarify your own personal views on this subject.

Your essay should include multiple arguments supporting your point; you should make those arguments as clear as you can, including offering examples meant to clarify the reasoning you are using. You must consider opposing points of view, and the arguments that would be offered to defend them; however, you should not stop there and leave those opposing views unanswered—because the view you are defending should be the view that you believe has the strongest arguments for it.

Your paper must be 3-5 typed, double-spaced, pages long, following all format rules and correct rules of grammar. It is due on November 28. (More details about my grading and format requirements are available on the course webpages; suggestions about how to write philosophy papers are also available on the webpages and in Ch 8 of Studying Philosophy, both of which I strong encourage everyone to look at carefully.)
I will use the following criteria to evaluate your finished products: effort, mastery of the material, sound organization and structure, persuasiveness, good writing. (However, they do not all count equally).

Length of this paper: 3 to 5, double-space typed, pages. (12 pt font, 1 inch margins).

Due date: November 28, 2006