Exam 8: Analyzing Arguments From Analogy

Which is the best standard-form representation of the following Argument from Analogy? Someday we may be able to use genetic manipulation to alter a fetus's genetic code so that it will live a better life. For instance, suppose that one day it is possible for people to increase their child's healthy life-span well beyond the current average. Suppose we have developed the ability to do this safely, with no risk of adverse side-effects for the child. In that situation, parents who can afford it would be morally obligated to use genetic manipulation to extend their child's health span. After all, parents are morally obligated to provide healthy food to their children, because that increases the child's chances for living a longer, healthier life. Genetic manipulation to increase a child's healthy life-span is no different.

Which is the best standard-form representation of the following Argument from Analogy? Some people argue that it's wrongful cultural appropriation -- wrongful use of the ideas or practices of another culture -- for a white person to wear dreadlocks. But that condemnation is totally unjustified. No one says it's wrongful cultural appropriation for a black woman with kinky hair to straighten it. But, this is relevantly similar to a white person wearing dreadlocks: both are cases where a person is adopting practices from another culture. So, it's not wrongful cultural appropriation for a white person to wear dreadlocks.

Which is the best standard-form representation of the following Argument from Analogy? Suppose that Jones lives in a time of serious inequality between racial groups. One racial group has much more wealth, many opportunities for better jobs, better living Conditions, better food. Jones, luckily for him, is a member of the much-better-off racial group. Imagine that Jones consistently gives preference to members of his own racial group. When he has jobs to offer, he offers them to people of his race. When he gives to charities, he gives to charities that benefit people of his race. Jones's behavior, it seems to me, is morally offensive. American patriotism, understood as the practice of giving preference to the interests of one's own country and compatriots over those of people in other countries, is not importantly different. Patriotism perpetuates unjust inequality between groups by giving preference to people who are already benefiting from that inequality. Patriotic, "Americans first" behavior, like Jones's behavior, is morally offensive.

Supply the missing conclusion to make a properly structured Argument from Analogy: 1) Denying people the vote based upon their race is unjust. 2) Denying people the vote based upon their sex or gender is relevantly similar to denying people the vote based upon their race. Therefore, ...

Which is the best standard-form representation of the following Argument from Analogy? We legally prohibit discrimination against people based upon their race or religion when they are searching for a job, a home, or trying to access off-the-rack sales and services. We have good reason for prohibiting these forms of racial discrimination--we have seen for ourselves that allowing them leads to the kind of racial oppression common in the American South before the Civil Rights Act of 1968. Many states currently allow similar forms of discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. In many states, for instance, there is no law prohibiting someone From being fired because they are gay or lesbian, being rejected for apartment rental because they are queer or trans, and so on. Discriminating against someone based upon their sexual orientation or gender identity is, morally speaking, no different than discriminating based upon their race or religion. That's why we should prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in employment, housing, and the sale of goods and services.

Which is the best standard-form representation of the following Argument from Analogy? Some bakers refuse to bake wedding cakes for same-sex couples on the grounds that same-sex relationships violate their religious values. But, the law should not protect bakers who refuse to sell wedding cakes to same-sex couples. We can see this by looking at other cases. For instance, Muslim taxi drivers should not be protected from penalties by their state or their employers if, based upon their religious convictions, they refuse to give rides to people carrying duty-free alcohol in their luggage. Since bakers refusing to bake cakes for same-sex couples is relevantly similar, such actions shouldn't be protected from sanctions either.

Which is the best standard-form representation of the following Argument from Analogy? Commercial surrogacy is a practice in which a woman--the surrogate--is paid to carry a baby to term on behalf of another woman who cannot, or does not want to, carry a pregnancy to term. Commercial surrogacy should be illegal. The reason is simple: legalizing commercial surrogacy is, morally speaking, no different from legalizing prostitution. In both cases, women are renting their bodies to people willing to pay to use them as they please. Thank goodness prostitution is illegal! Prostitution exploits women by treating their bodies like commodities, and it disrespects women by treating them as objects to be used instead of persons deserving of respect. This is exactly what commercial surrogacy does.

Which is the best standard-form representation of the following Argument from Analogy? Suppose a photographer takes pictures for all sorts of different events but refuses to do children's birthday parties, because they don't feel comfortable around children. Clearly, this photographer has a right to refuse to do children's birthday parties without being penalized. Some Christian bakery owners have refused to sell cakes to same-sex couples because they don't feel comfortable around gay people. These cases are morally identical. Therefore, Christian bakers have the right to refuse to sell cakes to same-sex couples without being penalized.

Which is the best standard-form representation of the following Argument from Analogy? Imagine that you are a famous concert pianist. One day, while walking along the train tracks, you see a stranger about to be crushed by a train. You know you could save them but in the process you'd lose your hand. Now, it would certainly be nice of you to sacrifice your hand, and thus your career, to save the life of this stranger. But this much is clear: the law should not require you to sacrifice your hand for the sake of the stranger. Carrying a pregnancy to term likewise involves significant physical sacrifice. If the law shouldn't require you to sacrifice your hand for a stranger, the law shouldn't require you to carry a pregnancy to term, either.

Which is the best standard-form representation of the following Argument from Analogy? Some pharmacists have moral objections to the use of birth control, and further believe that because of those moral objections, it is morally permissible for them to refuse to fill birth control prescriptions. Regardless of their moral objections, I believe these pharmacists have a duty to fill birth control prescriptions. Think about it this way. Many vegetarian pharmacists have moral objections to medications that were tested on animals. These vegetarian pharmacists still have a moral obligation to fill prescriptions for patients, whether or not the prescriptions they are filling were tested on animals. Pharmacists who object to birth control have a moral obligation to fill those prescriptions for the same reason.

Supply the missing premise to make a properly structured Argument from Analogy: 1) Despite the serious risk of injury to their body and brain, people should be allowed to take paying jobs as players in the NFL. 2) ).. Thus, people should be allowed to be paid to participate in dangerous clinical trials.

Supply the missing premise to make a properly structured Argument from Analogy: 1) ).. 2) Consuming factory-farmed meat is relevantly similar to paying to watch a dog fight. So, consuming factory-farmed meat is wrong.

Which is the best standard-form representation of the following Argument from Analogy? First trimester abortions are morally permissible. That early in a pregnancy, the fetus lacks the brain capacity required for even the most minimal conscious experiences, including pleasure and pain. An abortion that removes a cluster of fetal tissues that can't possibly have conscious experiences is not morally different than a surgery that removes a benign tumor.

Which is the best standard-form representation of the following Argument from Analogy? Doctors should never even consider helping a patient die, even if the patient has requested it, for the same reasons doctors should never even consider having sex with their patients. A total prohibition on doctors having sex with patients, even in situations in which the patient requests it, removes any temptation a doctor might feel to seduce a vulnerable patient. A total prohibition on assisted suicide removes any temptation a doctor might feel to urge a vulnerable patients to prematurely end their lives

Supply the missing premise to make a properly structured Argument from Analogy: 1) Throwing your trash in the street is wrong. 2) ... Therefore, failing to recycle is wrong.

Which is the best standard-form representation of the following Argument from Analogy? It would be wrong to end the life of a person in a temporary coma, even if they are currently totally unconscious. Abortion is like ending the life of someone in a coma: a fetus cannot currently think, feel or experience anything right now, but at some point it will be able to do those things. Even if the fetus isn't yet conscious, abortion is wrong.

Supply the missing conclusion to make a properly structured Argument from Analogy: 1) It would be morally wrong for a firefighter to refuse to fight a fire just because it is dangerous. 2) A nurse refusing to treat an Ebola patient out of concern for his own well-being is relevantly similar to a firefighter refusing to fight a fire just because it is dangerous. Therefore, ...

Which is the best standard-form representation of the following Argument from Analogy? People should be allowed to do stupid and dangerous things like skydive if that's what they want to do. It's their right to take whatever risks they want. Similarly with people who refuse to vaccinate themselves or their children. Jumping out of a plane and refusing vaccines--I personally think they are both pointless risks. But just as you should be allowed to skydive, you should be allowed to refuse vaccines for yourself or your kids.

Supply the missing premise to make a properly structured Argument from Analogy: 1) It is morally permissible for a taxi driver to protect themselves by refusing to transport a violent passenger. 2) ).. Thus, it is morally permissible for a nurse to protect themselves by refusing to care for a patient with a highly contagious deadly disease (such as Ebola).

Supply the missing premise to make a properly structured Argument from Analogy: 1) ).. 2) Internet service providers selling information about your browsing habits without your consent is relevantly similar to your roommate making and selling videos of you showering without your permission. So, Internet service providers selling information about your browsing habits without your consent is wrong.