Ethics †Argumentative Essay

1. What is an argument in philosophy? A set of claims one of which, called the conclusion, is said to be supported by the some other claims, called the premises. 1. acquaint 2. Premise 3. Conclusion 2. What do the terms valid and sound mean? Valid Argument If the premises be true, accordingly it follows necessarily that the conclusion is true, or it is logically impossible for the conclusion to be false. Sound Argument A valid argument that contains only true premises. Soundness = Truth + Validity. 3. Sketch the benefits arguments in estimation of harvesting indulges Theresas organs.Set out the premises and conclusion for Benefits Argument in the Baby Theresa case. The Benefits Argument 1. If we can benefit somebody without harming anyone else, we ought to do so. 2. Transplanting the organs would benefit the other children without harming Baby Theresa. 3. Therefore, we ought to transplant her organs. The Argument That We should Not Use People As Means 1. If we use someone only as a means, we do something that is morally wrong. 2. Taking Theresas organs would be using her only as a meas to benefit other children. 3. There fore, it would be morally wrong to take Theresas organs.4. Sketch the we should non use people as means argument against harvesting Baby Theresas organs. Set out the premises and conclusion for The Wrongfulness of Killing Argument in the Baby Theresa case. The Argument From the Wrongfulness of Killing 1. If we harvested Theresas organs, then we would be killing one innocent person to save another. 2. We should not kill one innocent person to save another. 3. Therefore, if we should not harvest Theresas organs. Rachels Assessment *The prohibition against killing is strong, but most people do not think it absolute.Baby Theresa is (1) going to die soon anyway, (2) not conscious, and (3) her organs could help save several other children. Rachels states that we might even regard Baby Theresa as born dead. 5. Sketch the Slippery be given Arg ument against killing Tracy Latimer. If one bad thing happens then others will follow after. 1. If we permit any sort of mercy killing, we will have stepped onto a dangerous slippery slope down which we will inevitably slide. 2. The mercy killing of Tracy was permissible. 3. Hence, we have stepped onto a dangerous slippery slope (which will acquire to the view that all life is cheap).Objection Are the causal claims supported by any evidence? In general, it is easy to make dire predictions concerning the future. charter an analogy Would gay marriage lead to the disintegration of the family? 6. What does Rachelss minimum conception of morality consist of? Morality is, at the very least, the effort to sink ones conduct by reason-while giving equal weight to the interests of each individual affected by ones decision. Reason and rectitude consist stuff 7. What are five common features of Cultural Relativism? 1.Different societies have different moral codes. 2. (a) The good is determi ned by society (b) an personation is right if it is allowed by the guiding ideals od the society in which it is performed, and wrong if it forbidden by those ideals. 3. There is no objective standard that can be used to judge one societys code as better than an others. 4. The moral code of our society has no special status. 5. We should conjoin an attitude to tolerance. 8. What is the Cultural Differences argument for Cultural Relativism? Does Rachels think it is sound? he thinks it is unsound, 9.If Cultural Relativism is true, then some odd consequences for ethical theory follow. What are they? 10. Does Rachels check into that there are some moral rules that all societies have in common? 11. What are the three traditional divine attributes of monotheism? 12. What is the difference between theism, atheism, and agnosticism? 13. What is the problem of evil? 14. What is the Divine Command theory? 15. What is Socratess question in the Euthyphro? How does it bear on the Divine Comman d Theory? 16. What are some of the main elements of Natural Law Theory? 17.Raise some objections to Natural Law Theory. 18. What is Ethical Egoism and how does it differ from Psychological Egoism? 19. mend altruism. Why does the Psychological Egoist hold that altruism is not possible? 20. Some object that Ayn Rands argument for Ethical Egoism presents us with a false dichotomy. Explain. 21. Why doesnt Rachels think Ethical Egoism is a fair reflection of common sense morality? 22. What is the article of belief Equal Treatment? How does it relate to Ethical Egoism? *There will be some extra-credit questions pertaining to material discussed in lecture.