Chapter 13 Self-Check Questions

. Developing a moral IBE is especially helpful when:

There's a clear and obvious principle that should be applied to your target case, but it's unclear what the principle implies you should do in that case.

The target issue is clear and uncontroversial.

You're focused on a case or issue where it's unclear what principle is relevant or where the principles offered are controversial.

. The first step in developing a moral IBE is to clarify your target. In other words, you should:

Identify the aspects of the target case that seem most obviously morally important.

List all the historical background information on the target case/issue.

Specify all the special terminology you'll need when discussing your argument.

. The second step in developing a moral IBE is to brainstorm paradigm cases. According to the chapter, you should try to identify cases that are [pick all that apply]:

Clear and specific.

Realistic and likely found in the real world.

Cases that have the features that seemed morally salient in the paradigm case.

Uncontroversial.

. The third step in developing a moral IBE is to:

Brainstorm principles that could explain the paradigm cases until you find one that explains all the paradigm cases.

Brainstorm principles that could explain the paradigm cases until you find one that explains all the paradigm cases and gives clear guidance on the controversial target case.

Brainstorm principles that could explain the paradigm cases until you find one that explains all the paradigm cases or gives clear guidance on the controversial target case.

. One potential pitfall when developing a moral IBE is a poor selection of paradigm cases, including:

Cases that are unclear, not specific, vague, or ambiguous.

Cases that are fanciful or unrealistic.

Cases that we can't make an uncontroversial judgment about.

Cases that can't be described in a sentence or less.

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