SUS1501
Assignment 5 Semester 1 2025
Detailed Solutions, References & Explanations
Unique number: 523321
Due Date: 7 April 2025, 8:00 AM
, 1. BACKGROUND FACTS
―In 2024, Elon Musk's net worth increased by about ZAR 12 billion
every day!‖
―60% of the world’s cobalt is mined in the DRC. Significant amounts of
this is mined under appalling conditions often by child labourers.‖
―Of the top 10 wealthiest people (all men), eight are tech billionaires.
Their net worth is US$ 1.6 trillion or ZAR 31 trillion!‖
2. INTRODUCTION (written for me by Prof Eccles)
In assignments 2, 3 and 4 we have, as a group, reflected on the facts above. We
debated whether it was ok for Elon Musk’s net worth to have increased by about ZAR
12 billion per day in 2024. Some of us thought this was a reflection of his business
brilliance. Some of us thought that this was morally outrageous.
We then debated the issue children working in appalling conditions in cobalt mines in
the DRC. Although most of us thought that this was a problem, we saw how other
ethical interpretations were possible.
And in the final analysis we considered the possibility that these two scenarios –
great wealth and great poverty – might in fact be linked. On the basis of this, we
debated whether the whole picture looked ok. I think it is safe to say that most of us
were left feeling a bit uneasy about things.
That is all well and good. But what about me? In this short essay, I’m going to think
about this question. I’ll start out by trying to figure out where I currently fit in in this
picture. Then I’m going to think forward in time. Specifically, I’m going to imagine what
I hope my legacy will have been over the course of the good (eudaimonic) life I have
lived. In formulating this vision of a life well lived, I’m going to make reference to key
virtues or excellences (arête) that I think I will need to develop in order to achieve this
good life. And I’m going to think about the sort of problems that these excellences
might present if taken too far or not far enough.
Assignment 5 Semester 1 2025
Detailed Solutions, References & Explanations
Unique number: 523321
Due Date: 7 April 2025, 8:00 AM
, 1. BACKGROUND FACTS
―In 2024, Elon Musk's net worth increased by about ZAR 12 billion
every day!‖
―60% of the world’s cobalt is mined in the DRC. Significant amounts of
this is mined under appalling conditions often by child labourers.‖
―Of the top 10 wealthiest people (all men), eight are tech billionaires.
Their net worth is US$ 1.6 trillion or ZAR 31 trillion!‖
2. INTRODUCTION (written for me by Prof Eccles)
In assignments 2, 3 and 4 we have, as a group, reflected on the facts above. We
debated whether it was ok for Elon Musk’s net worth to have increased by about ZAR
12 billion per day in 2024. Some of us thought this was a reflection of his business
brilliance. Some of us thought that this was morally outrageous.
We then debated the issue children working in appalling conditions in cobalt mines in
the DRC. Although most of us thought that this was a problem, we saw how other
ethical interpretations were possible.
And in the final analysis we considered the possibility that these two scenarios –
great wealth and great poverty – might in fact be linked. On the basis of this, we
debated whether the whole picture looked ok. I think it is safe to say that most of us
were left feeling a bit uneasy about things.
That is all well and good. But what about me? In this short essay, I’m going to think
about this question. I’ll start out by trying to figure out where I currently fit in in this
picture. Then I’m going to think forward in time. Specifically, I’m going to imagine what
I hope my legacy will have been over the course of the good (eudaimonic) life I have
lived. In formulating this vision of a life well lived, I’m going to make reference to key
virtues or excellences (arête) that I think I will need to develop in order to achieve this
good life. And I’m going to think about the sort of problems that these excellences
might present if taken too far or not far enough.
