Their Relevance From The Empirical Propositions example essay topic

Cultural Relativism Cultural Relativism is an ethical theory to the effect that the rightness or wrongness of an action depends exclusively on the standards of the actor's culture. According to cultural relativism, the only kinds of reasons that are relevant for justifying moral propositions are: (1) Standards of the actor's culture; (2) Empirical propositions which derive their relevance from the standards identified in (1); and (3) Definitions which derive their relevance from the standards identified in (1) and the empirical propositions identified in (2). The following argument logically presupposes cultural relativism: Maria lived in America. Maria had a husband named Charles. Charles died of natural causes. Following Charles' death, Maria took her own life.

One of the standards of the American culture is that it is moral to kill yourself at the death of your husband. It was moral for Maria to kill herself following the death of Charles. This argument presupposes cultural relativism because the only kinds of reasons offered for the conclusion are (1) Reasons that identify standards of the actor's culture, namely "One of the standards of the American culture is that it is moral to kill yourself at the death of your husband", and (2) Empirical propositions that derive their relevance from the standards identified in (1), namely "Maria lived in America,"Maria had a husband named Charles,"Charles died of natural causes", and "Following Charles' death, Maria took her own life". Individual Relativism Individual Relativism is an ethical theory to the effect that the rightness or wrongness of an action depends exclusively on the standards of the actor. According to individual relativism, the only kinds of reasons that are relevant for justifying moral propositions are: (1) Standards of the actor; (2) Empirical propositions which derive their relevance from the standards identified in (1); and (3) Definitions which derive their relevance from the standards identified in (1) and the empirical propositions identified in (2). The following argument logically presupposes individual relativism: One of the standards of john is that it is moral to rape and kill girls under the age of fourteen. john did rape and kill girls under the age of fourteen.

It was moral for john to rape and kill girls under the age of fourteen. This argument presupposes individual relativism because the only kinds of reasons offered for the conclusion are (1) Reasons that identify standards of the actor, namely "One of the standards of the Steven is that it is moral to rape and kill girls under the age of fourteen", and (2) Empirical propositions that derive their relevance from the standards identified in (1), namely "Steven did rape and kill girls under the age of fourteen". Ethical Egoism Ethical Egoism is an ethical theory to the effect that the rightness or wrongness of an action depends exclusively on the value of the consequences of the action for the actor. According to ethical egoism, the only reasons that are relevant for justifying moral propositions are (1) Empirical propositions which identify the consequences of actions for the actor; (2) Evaluative propositions which compare the value of the consequences identified in (1); and (3) Definitions which derive their relevance from the empirical propositions identified in (1) and the evaluative propositions identified in (2). The following argument logically presupposes ethical egoism: If Jim robs a supermarket, he will have enough money to buy a guitar. If Jim does not rob a supermarket, he will not have enough money to buy a guitar.

Having enough money to buy the guitar is better for Jim than not having enough money to buy the guitar. It is moral for Jim to rob from a supermarket. This argument logically presupposes ethical egoism because the only kinds of reasons offered for the conclusion are (1) Empirical propositions which identify the consequences of actions for the actor, namely "If Jim robs a supermarket, he will have enough money to buy a guitar", and "If Jim does not rob a supermarket, he will not have enough money to buy a guitar", and (2) evaluative propositions which compare the value of the consequences identified in (1), namely "Having enough money to buy the guitar is better for Jim than not having enough money to buy the guitar". Act Utilitarianism Act Utilitarianism is an ethical theory to the effect that the rightness or wrongness of an action depends exclusively on the value of the consequences of the action for the greatest number of people and no universal moral propositions are true -- only particular moral propositions can be true.

According to act utilitarianism, the only reasons that are relevant for justifying moral propositions are (1) Empirical propositions which identify the consequences of actions for everyone; (2) Evaluative propositions which compare the value for the greatest number of people of the consequences identified in (1); and (3) Definitions which derive their relevance from the empirical propositions identified in (1) and the evaluative propositions identified in (2). The following argument logically presupposes act utilitarianism: If Katie commits suicide, the eight people in her immediate family will suffer. If Katie does not commit suicide, she will be depressed and need heavy counseling. Katie being depressed and needing heavy counseling is better for the greatest number of people than eight people in her immediate family suffering. It is immoral for Katie to commit suicide. This argument logically presupposes act utilitarianism because the only kinds of reasons offered for the conclusion are (1) Empirical propositions which identify the consequences of actions for the actor, namely "If Katie commits suicide, the eight people in her immediate family will suffer", and "If Katie does not commit suicide, she will be depresses and need heavy counseling", and (2) evaluative propositions which compare the value of the consequences identified in (1), namely "Katie being depressed and needing heavy counseling is better for the greatest number of people than eight people in her immediate family suffering".

Rule Utilitarianism Rule Utilitarianism is an ethical theory to the effect that the rightness or wrongness of an action depends exclusively on whether the action is consistent or inconsistent with a set of moral rules, which rules are justified on utilitarian grounds. According to rule utilitarianism, the only reasons for moral rules that are relevant for justifying moral propositions are (1) Empirical propositions which identify the consequences of types of actions for everyone; (2) Evaluative propositions which compare the value for the greatest number of people of the consequences identified in (1); and (3) Definitions which derive their relevance from the empirical propositions identified in (1) and the evaluative propositions identified in (2). The following argument logically presupposes rule utilitarianism: People should always be honest If everyone is always honest people will be able to make decisions about situations based on facts If everyone is not always honest, people would always have to wonder if they are making decisions based on facts People being able to make decisions about situations based on facts is better than people having to always wonder if they are making decisions based on facts for the greatest number of people People should always be honest This argument logically presupposes rule utilitarianism because the only kinds of reasons offered for the conclusion are (1) Empirical propositions which identify the consequences of types of actions for everyone, namely "People should always be honest, "If everyone is always honest people will be able to make decisions about situations based on facts, and "If everyone is not always honest, people would always have to wonder if they are making decisions based on facts", and (2) Evaluative propositions which compare the value for the greatest number of people of the consequences identified in (1), namely "People being able to make decisions about situations based on facts is better than people having to always wonder if they are making decisions based on facts for the greatest number of people". According to rule utilitarianism, the only reasons for actions that are relevant for justifying moral propositions are (1) Propositions which identify rules which have been justified as above; (2) Empirical propositions which derive their relevance from the rules identified in (1); (3) Definitions which derive their relevance from the rules identified in (1) and the empirical propositions identified in (2).

The following argument logically presupposes rule utilitarianism: People should always be honest Mark was not honest with his girlfriend It was immoral for Mark to be dishonest This argument logically presupposes rule utilitarianism because the only kinds of reasons offered for the conclusion are (1) Propositions which identify rules which have been justified as above, namely "People should always be honest" and (2) Empirical propositions which derive their relevance from the rules identified in (1), namely "Mark was not honest with his girlfriend". Intuitionism Intuitionism is an ethical theory to the effect that the rightness or wrongness of an action is inherent in the action itself and is known immediately through the moral intuition. According to Intuitionism, the only reasons that are relevant for justifying moral propositions are (1) Moral propositions known through the moral intuition; (2) Definitions which derive their relevance from the propositions identified in (1). The following argument logically presupposes Intuitionism: Karen's intuition sees that lying to her mother is wrong It is immoral for Karen to lie to her mother This argument logically presupposed Intuitionism because the only reasons offered for the conclusion are (1) Moral propositions known through moral intuition, namely "Karen's intuition sees that lying to her mother is wrong".

Ten Commandment Theory Ten Commandment Theory is an ethical theory to the effect that the rightness or wrongness of an action depends exclusively on whether the action is consistent or inconsistent with the ten commandments and the commandments are justified on the grounds that they are given to us by God. According to the Ten Commandment Theory, the only reasons for moral rules that are relevant for justifying moral propositions are (1) Propositions (rules) that God gives us; and (2) Definitions which derive their relevance from the propositions identified in (1). The following argument logically presupposes Ten Commandment Theory: God gave us the Ten Commandments 'Thou shal not commit adultery' is one of the Commandments Thou shal not commit adultery According to the Ten Commandment Theory, the only reasons for actions that are relevant for justifying moral propositions are (1) Propositions which identify rules which have been justified as above; (2) Empirical propositions which derive their relevance from the rules identified in (1); and (3) Definitions which derive their relevance from the rules identified in (1) and the empirical propositions identified in (2). The following argument logically presupposes Ten Commandment Theory: Thou shalt not commit adultery Mark committed adultery Mark acted immorally This argument logically presupposes Ten Commandment Theory because the only reasons offered for the conclusion are (1) Propositions which identify rules which have been justified as above, namely "Thou shalt not commit adultery" and (2) Empirical propositions which derive their relevance from the rules identified in (1), namely "Mark committed adultery".

Libertarianism Libertarianism is an ethical theory to the effect that the rightness or wrongness of an action depends exclusively on whether the action is consistent or inconsistent with the rights of individuals and there are three fundamental human rights; the right to life, the right to liberty, and the right to property. According to Libertarianism, the only reasons that are relevant for justifying moral propositions are (1) Propositions which identify rights of individuals; (2) Empirical propositions which derive their relevance from the propositions identified in (1); and (3) Definitions which derive their relevance from the propositions identified in (1) and the empirical propositions identified in (2). The following argument logically presupposes Libertarianism: Everyone has a right to life Steve murdered Seth This action violated Seth's right to life Steve acted immorally This argument logically presupposes Libertarianism because the only reasons offered for the conclusion are (1) Propositions which identify the rights of individuals, namely "Everyone has a right to life", and (2) Empirical propositions which derive their relevance from the propositions identified in (1), namely "Steve murdered Seth" and "This action violated Seth's right to life.".