SUS1501
Assignment 8
PORTFOLIO
Semester 2
Unique No: 590471
DUE 18 October 2025
, Portfolio Assignment
SUS1501 – Sustainability and Greed
Student Number:
Date:
Teaching Assistant Name: <Note: grades will be allocated for getting this right>
Declaration:
By submitting this portfolio, I implicitly declare that this is my own work except for the
“Introduction” which was kindly written for me by my lecturer.
I am aware that if ANY unacknowledged copying is detected in ANY answer, I will get 0 (zero)
for the entire assignment.
Instructions:
• Please read the instructions on myUnisa carefully.
• Please download the most up-to-date version of this template from your group site on myUnisa.
• DO NOT delete the template to reduce the Turnitin score. We do not look at the score we look
at the detailed report.
• Go through the MCQs again, and record your current choice in the template (we suggest that
you don’t look at your original choices before you have been through all questions)
• For each question, record your original choice in assignment 1.
• Write a note of AT LEAST 100 words discussing YOUR option for each of the five (5) questions
that are written in red (questions 1 – 5).
• Write a note of AT LEAST 100 words discussing YOUR option for any other five (5) questions of
your choice.
• Write your conclusion of AT LEAST 500 words
, • Somewhere within your notes and/or conclusion there must be meaningful references to the
major theories that we covered (deontology, consequentialism, distributive justice, virtue ethics
and environmental ethics).
• Your notes and conclusion should also make reference to discussions with fellow students that
you found meaningful.
• Save the file as a Word document with a short name (myUnisa will reject files with long names).
• Take a screen grab of the final submission acknowledgement on myUnisa and save this
somewhere safe in case of any disputes.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS CHECKLIST – i.e. if you do not fulfill ALL of these you will NOT pass this
portfolio:
1. Correct template version used
2. All 20 multiple choice question original answers captured
3. All 20 multiple choice question answers now captured
4. Notes for the five (5) questions in red
5. Notes for AT LEAST five (5) other questions of your choice
6. Each note AT LEAST 100 words long
7. Conclusion present
8. Conclusion AT LEAST 500 words long
9. Template NOT deleted
1 Introduction
My aim in compiling this portfolio was to reflect on the things that have struck me throughout
this crazy module.
My starting point for doing this was to revisit my opinions to the multiple choice questions
which were presented in the Crossroads assignment. I present these current opinions, together
with my original opinions, and some brief notes in the section entitled: “Back at the
Crossroads!”
, Once I have done this, I draw some key conclusions about this crazy module and about the
things that did indeed strike me.
Back at the Crossroads!
1. (YOU MUST WRITE NOTES ON THIS QUESTION) “It’s easier to imagine the end of the world than the
end of capitalism.” (Mark Fisher) My personal opinion on this statement, is most closely described
by:
a. Who cares?
b. This is what comes from a world population that believes that the path to enlightenment is
X.
c. Capitalism is absolutely the only viable economic system, so yes, this is true and right.
d. I had never thought of this, but as unreasonable as this might sound, it is actually so true.
e. I think that we need to work on our imagination then because this is clearly absurd.
Choice now: d
Choice in assignment 1: (please confirm your original choice)
Notes: Mark Fisher’s observation reflects the deep entrenchment of capitalism as the dominant global
system. The idea that people find it easier to imagine global catastrophe than alternatives to capitalism
highlights the lack of imaginative space for post-capitalist societies. I agree with option d, because over
time, capitalism has become so naturalised that it feels like the only viable economic system, even
though it has clear flaws such as inequality, overconsumption, and environmental destruction. From an
ethical perspective, consequentialism forces us to ask whether capitalism’s outcomes growing wealth
for the few but environmental degradation and poverty for many are justifiable. Distributive justice also
questions whether the unequal distribution of resources under capitalism is fair. In discussions with
fellow students, many agreed that unless new economic models based on sustainability and ethical
responsibility are explored, humanity may face environmental collapse. Thus, Fisher’s claim challenges
us to think beyond capitalism, however “unrealistic” it may sound.
2. (YOU MUST WRITE NOTES ON THIS QUESTION) "The wealth of the few depends upon the poverty
of many." My personal opinion on this statement is most closely described by:
Assignment 8
PORTFOLIO
Semester 2
Unique No: 590471
DUE 18 October 2025
, Portfolio Assignment
SUS1501 – Sustainability and Greed
Student Number:
Date:
Teaching Assistant Name: <Note: grades will be allocated for getting this right>
Declaration:
By submitting this portfolio, I implicitly declare that this is my own work except for the
“Introduction” which was kindly written for me by my lecturer.
I am aware that if ANY unacknowledged copying is detected in ANY answer, I will get 0 (zero)
for the entire assignment.
Instructions:
• Please read the instructions on myUnisa carefully.
• Please download the most up-to-date version of this template from your group site on myUnisa.
• DO NOT delete the template to reduce the Turnitin score. We do not look at the score we look
at the detailed report.
• Go through the MCQs again, and record your current choice in the template (we suggest that
you don’t look at your original choices before you have been through all questions)
• For each question, record your original choice in assignment 1.
• Write a note of AT LEAST 100 words discussing YOUR option for each of the five (5) questions
that are written in red (questions 1 – 5).
• Write a note of AT LEAST 100 words discussing YOUR option for any other five (5) questions of
your choice.
• Write your conclusion of AT LEAST 500 words
, • Somewhere within your notes and/or conclusion there must be meaningful references to the
major theories that we covered (deontology, consequentialism, distributive justice, virtue ethics
and environmental ethics).
• Your notes and conclusion should also make reference to discussions with fellow students that
you found meaningful.
• Save the file as a Word document with a short name (myUnisa will reject files with long names).
• Take a screen grab of the final submission acknowledgement on myUnisa and save this
somewhere safe in case of any disputes.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS CHECKLIST – i.e. if you do not fulfill ALL of these you will NOT pass this
portfolio:
1. Correct template version used
2. All 20 multiple choice question original answers captured
3. All 20 multiple choice question answers now captured
4. Notes for the five (5) questions in red
5. Notes for AT LEAST five (5) other questions of your choice
6. Each note AT LEAST 100 words long
7. Conclusion present
8. Conclusion AT LEAST 500 words long
9. Template NOT deleted
1 Introduction
My aim in compiling this portfolio was to reflect on the things that have struck me throughout
this crazy module.
My starting point for doing this was to revisit my opinions to the multiple choice questions
which were presented in the Crossroads assignment. I present these current opinions, together
with my original opinions, and some brief notes in the section entitled: “Back at the
Crossroads!”
, Once I have done this, I draw some key conclusions about this crazy module and about the
things that did indeed strike me.
Back at the Crossroads!
1. (YOU MUST WRITE NOTES ON THIS QUESTION) “It’s easier to imagine the end of the world than the
end of capitalism.” (Mark Fisher) My personal opinion on this statement, is most closely described
by:
a. Who cares?
b. This is what comes from a world population that believes that the path to enlightenment is
X.
c. Capitalism is absolutely the only viable economic system, so yes, this is true and right.
d. I had never thought of this, but as unreasonable as this might sound, it is actually so true.
e. I think that we need to work on our imagination then because this is clearly absurd.
Choice now: d
Choice in assignment 1: (please confirm your original choice)
Notes: Mark Fisher’s observation reflects the deep entrenchment of capitalism as the dominant global
system. The idea that people find it easier to imagine global catastrophe than alternatives to capitalism
highlights the lack of imaginative space for post-capitalist societies. I agree with option d, because over
time, capitalism has become so naturalised that it feels like the only viable economic system, even
though it has clear flaws such as inequality, overconsumption, and environmental destruction. From an
ethical perspective, consequentialism forces us to ask whether capitalism’s outcomes growing wealth
for the few but environmental degradation and poverty for many are justifiable. Distributive justice also
questions whether the unequal distribution of resources under capitalism is fair. In discussions with
fellow students, many agreed that unless new economic models based on sustainability and ethical
responsibility are explored, humanity may face environmental collapse. Thus, Fisher’s claim challenges
us to think beyond capitalism, however “unrealistic” it may sound.
2. (YOU MUST WRITE NOTES ON THIS QUESTION) "The wealth of the few depends upon the poverty
of many." My personal opinion on this statement is most closely described by:
