1. Moral Arguments

2. Standard Form 1. State your position
2. 1st Premise (Fact 1: State fact and source)
3. 2nd Premise (Fact 2: State fact and source)
4. 3rd Premise (Fact 3: State fact and source)
5. 4th Premise (Fact 4: State fact and source)
6. Counter Argument
7. Response to Counter Argument
8. Conclusion

3. Moral Arguments
A moral argument is an argument whose conclusion asserts that something is morally good or bad.
Moral arguments don’t usually contain the words “good” or “bad.”

4. What does morally good mean?
Refers to something we should do
“We should act a certain way because …”

5. Naturalistic Fallacy Confusing what we do With what we ought to do
Is does not equal ought
You can’t do a statistical study on how people behave and extrapolate from that how they ought to behave

6. Moral Argument Indicator Words
accepting
considerate
enduring
honest
altruistic
contented
enthusiastic
hopeful
appreciative
cooperative
fair
hospitable
assertive
courageous
faithful
humble
Autonomous
courteous
farsighted
idealistic
aware
creative
flexible
imaginative
balanced
critical
focused
impartial
beautiful
cunning
forgiving
independent
beneficent
curious
free
industrious
benevolent
defiant
friendly
innocent
brave
dependable
frugal
inventive
caring
detached
funny
joyful
cautious
determined
generous
just
charitable
devoted
gentle
kind
chaste
diligent
good
loving
clean
discerning
graceful
loyal
committed
disciplined
grateful
merciful
compassionate
discrete
happy
moderate
confident
empathic
helpful
well-mannered

7. Virtues and Vices Virtues are morally good features of people
Vices are morally bad features of people.

8. Values
When someone does something, generally we can assume they value or believe that the action or outcome will be good or beneficial

9. Moral Arguments and Truth

10. Cognitivisms either true or false
Believe that moral statements that are
either true or false

11. Noncognitivists NOT true or false
Believe that no moral statements that are
NOT true or false
Morality is a preference
There are no moral truths

12. Emotion and Self-Interest
Moral arguments are often bound up with emotion and self-interest
This self-interest and self-deception can also blind people to both good and bad arguments

13. Exercise 10.2
A 1-10

14. Evaluating Moral Arguments
Structure of a Moral Argument about Actions (1) Action A has feature F. (2) It is morally good/bad to do actions that have feature F. Therefore, (3) You should/should not do A.

15. An Example
Exposing animals to cosmetics as a form of testing can cause them unnecessary pain or even kill them.
(2) (Missing)
Therefore
(3) Cosmetic testing should not be conducted on animals.
What is the unstated premise here?

16. (2) It is morally wrong to cause animals unnecessary pain or even kill them for testing cosmetics

17. Evaluating Premise Two
When we ask “When is premise (2) of the Action form true,”
What we are really asking is:
“What features of an action make it morally good or bad?”

18. Causing unnecessary pain or death of animals for cosmetics purpose is morally wrong
It might not be morally wrong if we were trying to find a cure for cancer

19. Exercise 10.3
A 1-10

20. 10.3 A
(1) Talking on the phone while driving impairs your ability to drive
(2) It is morally wrong to drive impaired
Therefore
(3) You should not talk on the phone while driving

21. Do Aplia 1-3

22. Consequentialist Moral Argument Form
Some action causes a particular effect
(a consequence)
(2) Causing this particular effect is right /wrong
Therefore
(3) People should / should not do the action in question

23. An Example
(1) Action A will produce C. (2) It is morally good/bad to produce C. Therefore, (3) H should/should not do A.
Testing cosmetics on animals may cause them unnecessary pain.
It is morally bad to produce unnecessary pain.
Therefore
(3) Cosmetics should not be tested on animals.

24. What Sort of Consequences Are Morally Important?
What types of consequences might make premise (2) true?
The range of consequences valued by humans is enormous.
To try to answer this question philosophers distinguish between instrumental and inherent value.

25. Instrumental and Inherent Value

26. Instrumental Value
Something is valued instrumentally when it’s valued as a means to getting something else.
Its value is directly related to what it can get you

27. Inherent Value
Something is valued inherently when it’s valued for its own sake.
It is valued in and of itself

28. Universalism
- all people are equally important
Maximizing Consequentialist
- create the most happiness for most people

29. Egoism
Egoism is the view that an action by any person is right when it produces the most pleasure for that person.

30. Deontological Moral Arguments
Deontological moral arguments include a premise that says that an action has a certain intrinsic feature
The intrinsic features of an action are the total of all its features minus without considering its consequences.

31. Deontological Moral Arguments
(1) Action A has intrinsic feature F. (2) It is morally good/bad to do actions with intrinsic feature F. Therefore, (3) H should/should not do A.
You should show compassion for others
It is morally good to show compassion for others in and of itself.
Therefore
(3) You should show compassion for others.

32. Universalizability Immanuel Kant
a test to determine a deontological argument
“Could I will that everyone had to do what I am about to do”
Would that make sense?

33. Kantian Action Form Action A is not universalizable.
(2) It is morally bad to do actions that are not universalizable.
Therefore,
(3) I should not do A.

34. Exercise 10.6
A 1-10

35. Aretaic Moral Arguments
Aretaic moral arguments are moral arguments whose conclusion is a statement about the moral evaluation of a person
a statement indicating that someone has a virtue or vice.
“Arete = Greek for “Virtue”

36. Virtue Ethics
Virtue ethicists hold that the moral evaluation of people is more fundamental than the moral evaluation of actions.

37. Action Form
Action A is an action that would be done by a person with virtue V.
(2) It is morally good to do actions that would be done by a person with virtue V.
Therefore,
(3) H should do A.

38. Aplia 4,5,6,

39. Review

40. Moral Arguments Conclusion makes a moral claim
Deals with Virtues and Vices
Virtue = Good
Vice = Bad

41. Cognitivism moral statements have a truth value Noncognitivism
Moral statements do not have a truth value

42. Standard Form for Moral Arguments
1. Action A has feature F
2. It is morally good/bad to do actions that have feature F
Therefore
3. Person H should/should not do A

43. Consequentialist Moral Arguments
Inherent Value
Something has value in and of itself
Instrumental value
Something has value because of what it can get you

44. Consequentialists Moral Arguments
Egoism
You do what is best for you

45. Consequentialists Moral Arguments
Universalism
Everyone is equally important
Maximizing consequentialist
You should produce as much happiness as possible

46. Deontic Moral Arguments
Universalizability
What would the world be like if everyone had to do this all the time

47. Aretaic Moral Arguments
Focuses on character qualities

48. Standard Form 1. State your position
2. 1st Premise (Fact 1: State fact and source)
3. 2nd Premise (Fact 2: State fact and source)
4. 3rd Premise (Fact 3: State fact and source)
5. 4th Premise (Fact 4: State fact and source)
6. Counter Argument
7. Response to Counter Argument
8. Conclusion

49. Evaluating Moral Arguments
Structure of a Moral Argument about Actions (1) Action A has feature F. (2) It is morally good/bad to do actions that have feature F. Therefore, (3) You should/should not do A.

50. Consequentialist Moral Argument Form
Some action causes a particular effect
(a consequence)
(2) Causing this particular effect is right /wrong
Therefore
(3) People should / should not do the action in question

51. Deontological Moral Arguments
(1) Action A has intrinsic feature F. (2) It is morally good/bad to do actions with intrinsic feature F. Therefore, (3) H should/should not do A.