The Basics (continued) Chapter 1: Second of Two Parts

Divide the following statements into two groups 1. Does God exist? Yes! I was brought up as a Christian! 2. Turtles can walk backwards! I’ve seen ‘em! 3. Does God exist? Yes! Something created the universe! 4. Turtles can walk backwards when they feel like it. 2© 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

Two items are arguments. 1. Does God exist? Yes! Something created the universe! 2. Turtles can walk backwards! I’ve seen ‘em! 3. Does God exist? Yes! I was brought up as a Christian! [no argument] 4. Turtles can walk backwards when they feel like it. [no argument] 3© 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

Which are arguments? 1. I got sick because I didn’t get enough rest over the weekend. 2. The governor should resign because everyone has lost faith in his leadership ability. 3. Pine trees are called “evergreens” because they don’t lose their leaves. 4. You are making a mistake wearing that outfit because it looks tacky. 5. Jennifer doesn’t wear outfits like that because she thinks they look tacky. 4© 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

Only two arguments! 1. I got sick because I didn’t get enough rest over the weekend. 2. The governor should resign because everyone has lost faith in his leadership ability. 3. Pine trees are called “evergreens” because they don’t lose their leaves. 4. You are making a mistake wearing that outfit because it looks tacky. 5. Jennifer doesn’t wear outfits like that because she thinks they look tacky. 5© 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

What’s the difference between the following two statements??? 1. “There is a lot of smoke in here because there is a fire out there.” 2. “There is a fire out there because there is a lot of smoke in here.” Only # 2 is an argument! A closer look… 6© 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

1. “There is a lot of smoke in here because there is a fire out there.” 2. “There is a fire out there because there is a lot of smoke in here.” Cause! Evidence! 7© 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

Write two statements of the form “X because Y.” Make only one an argument. Example: 1. She just finished working out because she is sweating. 2. She is sweating because she just finished working out. Argument! Gives a reason for thinking she just finished working out. 8© 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

Moral: “X because Y!” might be an ARGUMENT:  She just finished working out because she is sweating. Might also be CAUSE/EFFECT EXPLANATION:  She is sweating because she just finished working out. 9© 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

NEW DISTINCTION: Objective vs. Subjective 10© 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

DIVIDE INTO TWO GROUPS 1. Rice vinegar tastes better than white vinegar. 2. White vinegar removes lipstick stains; rice vinegar doesn’t. 3. None of the Supreme Court justices is competent. 4. Nine authors collaborated on that article. 5. Microsoft shares are significantly overpriced. 11© 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

Three claims are SUBJECTIVE! 1. Rice vinegar tastes better than white vinegar. 2. White vinegar removes lipstick stains; rice vinegar doesn’t. 3. None of the Supreme Court justices is competent. 4. Nine authors collaborated on that article. 5. Microsoft shares are significantly overpriced. 12© 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

“Subjective judgment”: true if you think it is true “This class is challenging!” “Hillary is lots of fun.” “That baby has a very large tongue.” 13 ©Brand X Pictures/Jupiterimages © 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

Objective judgment: it’s truth is INDEPENDENT of what you think. “There are over 300 students in this class.” “The Dow Jones went up yesterday.” “There is life on Mars.” 14© 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

Which of these is subjective? 1. “That is a scary movie.” 2. “That movie scared me.” 15© 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

Which of these is subjective? 1. “Tastes great!” 2. “Less filling!” Both! 16© 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

Which of these is subjective? 1. “Teach doesn’t care if you wear a baseball cap in class.” 2. “It is silly for Teach to care if you wear a baseball cap in class.” 17© 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

And which of these is subjective? 1. “These shirts are for sale.” 2. “These shirts are on sale.” Neither! Both are objective. 18© 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

Once more: Which is subjective? 1. “God exists.” 2. “God doesn’t exist.” Neither. 19© 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

Again:  Subjective judgment: its truth depends on what you think; if you think it is true, it’s true for you, and you can’t be mistaken.  Objective judgment: its truth depends on objective fact, not on what you think. 20© 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

Last concept: “Value judgment” 21© 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

A value judgment judges the merit or praiseworthiness or desirability of someone or something. 22© 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

Examples:  “The best looking car ever? That would not be the Scion.”  “Bush was the best president since the one who came before him.”  “It was wrong for you to eat all their cheese.” 23© 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

More examples:  “Professor Stooler is one ugly dude.”  “The side-stroke is superior to the crawl.”  “You should honor your parents.”  “I don’t deserve to be flunked!” 24© 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

NOT value judgments:  “Susan cheated on the final.”  “Jennifer’s field goal percentage is higher than Nicole’s.”  “The Congressman lied to the grand jury.”  “John Kerry has an unusual chin.” 25© 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

Unfortunately, there are borderline cases:  “Greg is a dedicated father.”  “Charles could stand to lose some weight.”  “No normal human has a chin like Kerry’s.” The speaker might well be judging someone’s merits with these statements. 26© 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

For now, we’ll stick to cases most of us will agree on. 27© 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

Which is a value judgment? A. That kid looks like his brother. B. That kid is better looking than his brother. 28© 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

Which is a value judgment? A. Secretary Rice is tall and thin. B. Secretary Rice is too tall and thin. 29© 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

And which of these is a value judgment? A. Driving solo in the car-pool lane is wrong. B. Driving solo in the car-pool lane is illegal. 30© 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

Which is a value judgment? A. This class is too difficult. B. Teach didn’t calculate my grade accurately. 31© 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

One more: which of these is a value judgment? A. These exercises are useful and entertaining. B. Most students think these exercises are useful and entertaining. 32© 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

ALL these are value judgments. Divide them into two groups: 1. Miller tastes great! 2. You should treat your brother better. 3. That was the best Super Bowl ever. 4. Stealing is wrong. 33© 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

2 and 4 are MORAL value judgments! 1. Miller tastes great! 2. You should treat your brother better. 3. That was the best Super Bowl ever. 4. Stealing is wrong. 34© 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

Which is a moral value-judgment? A. Arnold’s budget proposal is complicated. B. Arnold’s budget proposal is irresponsible. 35© 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. My budgets are the best! The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc./Jill Braaten, Photographer

Which is a moral value-judgment? A. It’s terrible to keep that dog penned up all day long. B. Brodie is one cute dog. 36© 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

Which is a moral value-judgment? A. Cheating on your girl friend is wrong. B. Hillary would make a fine president. 37© 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

Which is a moral value-judgment? A. That plumber didn’t do a very good job. B. Forget it! This stuff is way beyond me! Neither! 38© 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

The $64,000 question: Are moral value-judgments subjective? Most university freshmen think so. 39© 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

Let’s take bull fighting. 40© 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. © Iconotec.com/Pepiera Tom/Canabi Hugo

How many think bull-fighting is wrong? 41© 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

Are moral value-judgments subjective? 42© 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

It’s a difficult question! 43© 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

Think about a person who thinks dogs should be tortured. 44© 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

Which thought seems more appropriate to YOU? 1. It isn’t bad for him to torture dogs. 2. His understanding of good and bad is screwed up. 45© 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

1. “It isn’t bad for him to torture dogs.” This view is SUBJECTIVISM (If he thinks it isn’t bad, then it isn’t.) 2. “His understanding of good/bad is screwed up.” This view implies that questions of good and bad are OBJECTIVE. 46© 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

Review concepts 1. Argument 2. Argument vs. explanation 3. Premise/Conclusion 4. Issue 5. Objective/Subjective 6. Value judgment 7. Moral/ethical value judgment 8. Interesting philosophical question: Are moral/ethical value judgments objective? 47© 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

Time for the first TEST! Bring it on! 48 © Brand X/JupiterImages © 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.