Break up into small groups. Delegate one or more members of your group to (1) prepare a summary of your group's discussion and (2) make a list of your group's members

Discuss your answers to the following questions.

1. Amauri's mother is concerned as to how he has acquired the bicycle. Given the circumstances, does Amauri have a moral right to the bicycle? Why or why not?

2. What does the bicycle represent in this story? Do the members of your group think people have a moral right to what the bicycle represents? Why or why not?

3. Read Card's own commentary on the story ("Afterward: Lost Songs," p. 673). What did he learn from his experience? What do the members of your group think of this?

4. Could Amauri have a moral right to what the bicycle represents without having a moral right to the bicycle itself? Why or why not?

5.  Given your group's responses to the other questions, what are some possible characteristics (or definitions) of a moral right that make sense of the those responses?

6.  What of the theories of moral rights considered in the lectures and readings, makes sense out of the educational rights of Amauri?  What does this suggest about rights theory and/or Amauri's situation?

For Philosophy 302, Issues in Ethics, Le Moyne College, Prof. Michael Kagan, last updated October 21, 2010