Philosophy Kantian Ethics

Argument – Philosophical Methodology

Argument

1. Definition

2. Taxonomy

3. Identification

4. Reconstruction

5. Evaluation

Argument – a statement or a series or statements that seek to support a given statement (conclusion)

* The idea is that an argument attempts to persuade someone to adapt a new belief on the basis of reasons

Premise / statement / claim / preposition

a. Empirical statements – assertions of facts how world is

a. The world as 20 people in it factual claim, has truth condition

i. Truth can be determined thru observation or study

b. Analytic statements

b. A bachelor is a single unmarried male

ii. Truth in virtue of the meaning of the terms

c. Normative claims – something is good/ bad, right / wrong

c. These are statements of value, or preference

iii. Stealing is wrong

iv. Chocolate ice cream is yummy

v. Kenny G is dope

d. Common premise indicators: because, for, as, seeing that

e. Common conclusion indicators: therefore, in conclusion, thus

Evaluating argument

* P or Q

* Reject P

* So we must conclude Q

* A sound argument is one that is valid and has true premises

Domains of Ethical Inquiry

* Meta – Ethics – an area of study in which we ask questions about morality itself

* Common question: is morality objective?

* Normative Ethics – an area of study directed at moral theory

* Involves determining which moral theories are true

* Applied Ethics – an area in which we seek answers to problems through application of moral principles

* Is abortion morally correct?

Ethical Relativism

* Link between precedence

* Acts or policies are correct depending on where you are

* View that there are differing moral codes and that there are no moral norms that are absolute no norms saying something is always wrong

2. An argument for relativism...