please react via posting to Aaron Chu' responses.

Aaron Chu discussion 1

My ranking is as follows:

1) Providing order such that one can depend on a promise or an expectation of obligations.

2) Guaranteeing personal freedoms.

3) Encouraging social justice.

4) Facilitating a sense that change is possible, but only after rational considerations of options.

5) Serving as a moral guide by indicating minimal expectations of citizens and organizations.

6) Prohibiting individual justice.

7) Serving as an alternative to fighting.

The factors that influenced my rankings is emperical experience and my own personal values. In my opinion, it is usually possible to achieve all the purposes of the law. However in times of extreme social unrest or during full mobilization of war time, it would be difficult to enact all the purposes of the law. Some purposes of the law must still be observed for the society to function whereas other purposes may not be as important. For example, providing order is crucial if the society is to remain one but if a few people were to fight each other to settle a grivance then it does not affect the society on the macro level.

Aaron Chu Discussion 2

1) Horton the elephant- I believe Horton the elephant is abiding by virtue ethics. In the video, he is always repeating the same lines of dialogue that shows how faithful he is to a commitment he made to Maisie even if the commitment starts to become unreasonable. It is Horton's virtue of faithfulness that guides his actions.

2) Maisie the bird- Maisie is following ethical relativism in my opinion. In the video she is shown only looking after her own best interests. After tricking Horton to sit on the egg, she goes on a extended vacation and when the egg finally hatches, she tries to accuse Horton of stealing it. Both examples are of Maisie trying benefit herself regardless of the consequences.

3) Horton's friends- The other animals that make fun of Horton are going by absolutism. Horton's friends sees Horton sitting in a tree and mock him by saying he thinks he's a bird. Horton is clearly a elephant and not a bird so going by absolutism, Horton has no business being in a tree.

4) Elephant hunters- The hunters in the video are utilizing act utilitarianism. When we first see the hunters, they first try to shoot Horton thus gaining the most from Horton's loss. They then decide to send Horton to the circus for entertainment and thereby society has the most to gain from exploiting Horton.

Aaron Chu Discussion 3

Hypothetical A: I would tell Rosalba that she could indeed sue in federal court because of diversity of citizenship. Rosalba also meets the second stipulation of diversity of citizenship because she is suing for over 75,000 dollars.

Hypothetical B: I believe Sonja has a chance in pleading her case in court because the car brakes failed without warning. I suggest she sue the car brake company because the accident does not seem like it was a result of her incompetence or negligence. It is important that Sonja proceed correctly and in a timely manner because she will recieve a copy of the complaint and thus she must render an answer. She should however, answer with affirmative defense since hitting Hank is undisputable but Hank and his attorney may not know about the failing car brakes. Sonja must give the plantiff reasonable notice of her affirmative defense or the judge will probably not allow it during the trial.