Chapter 7 Self-Check Questions

. True or False: when developing an Argument from Principle about a target case or issue, it is usually best to go with the first moral principle that you think of.

True

False

. While brainstorming principles to use in an argument about a target case or issue, your goal should be to identify a principle that [pick the best 2 options]:

Is cited in famous philosophical or literary works.

Doesn't give definite guidance about the target case.

Gives guidance about the target case.

Avoids obvious counterexamples.

. When trying to develop a good argument on a moral issue, it is best to:

Pick the position on that moral issue that seems most intuitively plausible and then focus on developing an argument for that position.

Work to identify the best arguments for opposing positions on the topic, and then decide which is most defensible.

Pick the position on the issue that is most commonly defended, and focus on developing an argument for that position.

Pick the position on the issue that is most commonly defended, and focus on developing an argument that opposes that position.

. After you've identified a plausible moral principle that bears on your target moral issue, the next step is to represent the whole argument in standard form using the General Form of Argument from Principle. To determine if the argument is good enough to be worth defending, you should:

Identify possible objections to each premise and think about whether they warrant any changes to the argument.

Nothing -- if your argument fits the General Form of Argument from Principle, then it is a good argument.

Share the conclusion of your argument with other people and ask them if they agree with it.

Search to determine if there is a precedent for the argument and if it has been defended in some form before.

. In addition to the standard form representation of your argument, you will need various kinds of supplementary information to successfully present your argument to others. When explaining premise 1 of your argument (the moral principle), which kind of supplementary information is especially important?

Illustrative examples to explain and justify the premise.

Empirical data to show why the premise is true.

Clarification of the topic the argument is about.

Rhetorical questions to keep the audience thinking and emotionally engaged.

. When explaining preise 2 of your Argument from Principle, which kind of supplementary information is often important?

Illustrative examples to explain and justify the premise.

Empirical data to support any empirical claims made in the premise.

Clarification of the topic the argument is about.

Rhetorical questions to keep the audience thinking and emotionally engaged.

. The chapter describes some common pitfalls people encounter when developing an Argument from Principle. Which common pitfall does the following argument fall prey to?
The argument:
1) It's always wrong to destroy nature.
2) wFracking destroys nature.
So, fracking is wrong.

The conclusion is counter-intuitive.

The connection between your principle and the case under discussion is dubious.

The principle is subject to obvious counterexamples.

. The chapter describes some common pitfalls people encounter when developing an Argument from Principle. Which common pitfall does the following argument fall prey to?
The argument:
1) Slavery is wrong.
2) Keeping animals as pets restricts their freedom.
So, keeping animals as pets is wrong.

The conclusion is counter-intuitive.

The connection between your principle and the case under discussion is dubious.

The principle is subject to obvious counterexamples.

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