Exam 12: Critical Thinking in Morality and the Law

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The basic structure of a moral argument typically consists of a set of premises that lead to a conclusion, where the premises include at least one moral principle and one or more factual claims. The purpose of a moral argument is to justify a particular moral stance by showing that it follows logically from the accepted moral principles and relevant facts. Here is a breakdown of the components:

1. **Moral Principle (Normative Premise):** This is a general statement about what is right or wrong, good or bad, just or unjust. It expresses a value judgment or a normative standard that should be adhered to. For example, "It is wrong to cause unnecessary harm to sentient beings."

2. **Factual Claim (Descriptive Premise):** This is a statement about the world that can be true or false and is verifiable by observation, experience, or scientific evidence. For example, "Factory farming causes unnecessary harm to animals."

3. **Conclusion (Moral Judgment):** This is the moral position or action that is being argued for. It is derived from the combination of the moral principle and the factual claim. For example, "Therefore, factory farming is wrong."

Here is how a moral argument might be structured using these components:

- **Premise 1 (Moral Principle):** All individuals have a right to personal autonomy.
- **Premise 2 (Factual Claim):** Mandatory curfews infringe upon individuals' personal autonomy.
- **Conclusion (Moral Judgment):** Therefore, mandatory curfews are morally wrong.

The strength of a moral argument depends on the acceptability of the moral principle, the accuracy of the factual claim, and the logical coherence of the argument. If any of these components are weak or contested, the argument may be challenged or refuted. It is also important to note that moral arguments can be complex and may involve multiple premises and sub-arguments, especially when dealing with intricate ethical issues.