Question 1

Which of the following is NOT an example of a question-begging argument?

Accepted Answer

A)  Abortion is a personal choice 
B)  Women and girls will die if abortion isn't allowed 
C)  Some women who have abortions feel guilty, and all should 
D)  Adoption is a better option than abortion 
E)  Those who oppose abortions just want to control women 
A)  Abortion is a personal choice 
B)  Women and girls will die if abortion isn't allowed 
C)  Some women who have abortions feel guilty, and all should 
D)  Adoption is a better option than abortion 
E)  Those who oppose abortions just want to control women B

Question 2

What do Nobis and Grob say about the relationship between law and religion?

Accepted Answer

A)  Laws should not be based on any particular religion 
B)  Laws should be informed by widespread religions 
C)  It is difficult to know what relationship religion should have to the law 
D)  Religions should be the foundation of all laws 
E)  Religions should not be allowed under the law 
A)  Laws should not be based on any particular religion 
B)  Laws should be informed by widespread religions 
C)  It is difficult to know what relationship religion should have to the law 
D)  Religions should be the foundation of all laws 
E)  Religions should not be allowed under the law A

Question 3

What do Nobis and Grob say about the word "termination" with respect to abortion?

Accepted Answer

A)  It is the word that should be used when describing abortion 
B)  It is a helpful word to start with 
C)  It is question-begging 
D)  It is contentious and value-laden 
E)  It is vague and uninformative 
A)  It is the word that should be used when describing abortion 
B)  It is a helpful word to start with 
C)  It is question-begging 
D)  It is contentious and value-laden 
E)  It is vague and uninformative E

Question 4

When you hear conversations about abortion, what arguments do you hear the most? Would Nathan Nobis and Kristina Grob think that these arguments are problematic? If so, what might you say the next time you end up in a conversation about abortion? If not, what kind of progress do you think we could make if we discussed arguments like this one?

Accepted Answer

F1F1F1S1F1F1F10Outline a few arguments

Question 5

Which definition of abortion do Nobis and Grob think is best?

Accepted Answer

A)  An abortion is the intentional termination of a fetus to end a pregnancy 
B)  An abortion is the intentional killing of a fetus to end a pregnancy 
C)  An abortion is the death of a human fetus 
D)  An abortion is the murder of an unborn baby or child 
E)  An abortion is the unintentional murder of a fetus to end a pregnancy 
A)  An abortion is the intentional termination of a fetus to end a pregnancy 
B)  An abortion is the intentional killing of a fetus to end a pregnancy 
C)  An abortion is the death of a human fetus 
D)  An abortion is the murder of an unborn baby or child 
E)  An abortion is the unintentional murder of a fetus to end a pregnancy

Question 6

What do Nobis and Grob have to say about the argument, "men shouldn't make decisions about matters affecting women?"

Accepted Answer

A)  Because of their impartial perspective, men should make most all decisions about matters affecting women 
B)  Because of the history of the patriarchy, men should not be allowed to make decisions that exert power over women 
C)  Someone's sex or gender is very important in deciding whether they can make good arguments about matters that affect them and others 
D)  Someone's sex or gender is only important in deciding whether they can make good arguments if the arguments are related to sex and gender 
E)  Someone's sex or gender has little to no bearing on whether they can make good arguments about matters that affect them or anyone else 
A)  Because of their impartial perspective, men should make most all decisions about matters affecting women 
B)  Because of the history of the patriarchy, men should not be allowed to make decisions that exert power over women 
C)  Someone's sex or gender is very important in deciding whether they can make good arguments about matters that affect them and others 
D)  Someone's sex or gender is only important in deciding whether they can make good arguments if the arguments are related to sex and gender 
E)  Someone's sex or gender has little to no bearing on whether they can make good arguments about matters that affect them or anyone else

Question 7

In their "Everyday Arguments" section, Nathan Nobis and Kristina Grob list a number of popular arguments that they say are poor arguments about abortion. Still, there are plenty of people who spend a lot of time in making arguments like these. In your essay, pick one of these everyday arguments and develop a response to Nobis and Grob. Imagine that you are defending this position-what else could you say to support this argument? Is there more to say about this argument that Nobis and Grob don't capture in their essay? Or is there a way to improve this argument so that Nobis and Grob's criticism doesn't work anymore?

Accepted Answer

F1F1F1S1F1F1F10Pick one argument from t

Question 8

When does the term "innocence" apply to some being, according to Nobis and Grob?

Accepted Answer

A)  When that being is shown to be morally praiseworthy 
B)  When that being is not proven guilty of immorality 
C)  When that being can do wrong and chooses not to 
D)  When that being can do no wrong but can be wronged 
E)  When that being lacks guile or corruption 
A)  When that being is shown to be morally praiseworthy 
B)  When that being is not proven guilty of immorality 
C)  When that being can do wrong and chooses not to 
D)  When that being can do no wrong but can be wronged 
E)  When that being lacks guile or corruption

Question 9

What does it mean for an argument to be question-begging?

Accepted Answer

A)  The reason given for the conclusion assumes that conclusion 
B)  The reason given for one premise is an unanswerable question 
C)  The reason given for the conclusion is a demanding question 
D)  The reason given for one premise appeals to one's emotions 
E)  The arguer begins by begging to ask a question 
A)  The reason given for the conclusion assumes that conclusion 
B)  The reason given for one premise is an unanswerable question 
C)  The reason given for the conclusion is a demanding question 
D)  The reason given for one premise appeals to one's emotions 
E)  The arguer begins by begging to ask a question

Question 10

What do Nobis and Grob have to say about the argument, "life begins at conception."

Accepted Answer

A)  It isn't true that fetuses are alive 
B)  Fetuses being alive does not make abortion wrong 
C)  Life is the most important moral attribute 
D)  Fetuses are alive, which makes killing them wrong 
E)  It is difficult to determine with certainty when life begins 
A)  It isn't true that fetuses are alive 
B)  Fetuses being alive does not make abortion wrong 
C)  Life is the most important moral attribute 
D)  Fetuses are alive, which makes killing them wrong 
E)  It is difficult to determine with certainty when life begins

Question 11

In their essay, Nathan Nobis and Kristina Grob define abortion because having a good definition helps us to make progress when talking about this issue. What is another moral issue where you think it's important to have a good definition of a key word? In your essay, list at least three definitions of the term you've identified. Then, analyze these definitions in the way that Nobis and Grob do. Are there any definitions that are either question-begging or vague? How would having a clear definition of this term help to improve conversation about the issue that you've chosen?

Accepted Answer

F1F1F1S1F1F1F10Identify a moral issue w

Question 12

Which of the following is best fits the definition of "murder"?

Accepted Answer

A)  Any killing of a person 
B)  Killing of an innocent person 
C)  Illegal killing 
D)  Intentional killing 
E)  Wrongful killing 
A)  Any killing of a person 
B)  Killing of an innocent person 
C)  Illegal killing 
D)  Intentional killing 
E)  Wrongful killing

Question 13

What do Nobis and Grob have to say about the argument, "if you don't like abortions, then don't have one!"

Accepted Answer

A)  It is a good and praiseworthy argument 
B)  It helps to show the importance of empathy 
C)  It is not really an argument about abortion 
D)  It is insensitive to pro-abortion advocates 
E)  It assumes that abortion is not wrong 
A)  It is a good and praiseworthy argument 
B)  It helps to show the importance of empathy 
C)  It is not really an argument about abortion 
D)  It is insensitive to pro-abortion advocates 
E)  It assumes that abortion is not wrong

Exam 9: Defining Abortion and Critiquing Common Arguments About Abortion

Which of the following is NOT an example of a question-begging argument?

What do Nobis and Grob say about the relationship between law and religion?

What do Nobis and Grob say about the word "termination" with respect to abortion?

Which definition of abortion do Nobis and Grob think is best?

What do Nobis and Grob have to say about the argument, "men shouldn't make decisions about matters affecting women?"

When does the term "innocence" apply to some being, according to Nobis and Grob?

What does it mean for an argument to be question-begging?

What do Nobis and Grob have to say about the argument, "life begins at conception."

Which of the following is best fits the definition of "murder"?

What do Nobis and Grob have to say about the argument, "if you don't like abortions, then don't have one!"

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