Ethical Issues Life Choices Spring 2016 Study Guide for Exam 2 Notes on the Exam The exam will be held on Friday Mar 18 during regular class time The exam will consist of some combination of definitions short and medium length answer You will be responsible for all of the material covered in class as well as that found in the readings The following is intended as a guide to help you know what to focus on in studying for the exam If you are able to provide thorough answers to the following questions you should be in good shape for the exam Hint Remember to think of the readings in terms of 1 the thesis of the argument i e the main point 2 support for the thesis i e the actual argument 3 possible objections focus on those found in the readings and discussed in class and 4 possible responses to the objections Arguments What is an argument An argument is a set of statements in which some of the statements called premises are offered in support of one of the other statements called the conclusion What is the difference between an argument and an explanation The goal of an argument is to show that some statement is true The goal of an explanation is to show why some statement is true What is the difference between deductive and inductive arguments Deductive argument an argument that is supposed to give logically conclusive support to its conclusion Inductive argument an argument that is supposed to offer probable support to its conclusion If you change all in the conclusion to most which means more than in this class it is still considered a weak argument However if you change all to some then it is a very strong argument Structure Has to be possibly true Gets evaluated by strong or weak Example weak argument because of a small sample size Has to be valid sound Doesn t matter if it is true or false but must offer a truth value My cat has a tail My parents cat has a tail My sister s cat has a tail So all cats have a tail 1 A is similar to B share properties of each other 2 A has property P 3 B has property P 1 What is a valid argument A valid argument is an argument in which if all the premises are true then the conclusion must also be true What is a sound argument A sound argument is a valid argument with all true premises What is the difference between descriptive statements and normative statements Descriptive statements are claims about the way things are or were or will be Normative statements are claims about the way things ought to be or ought not to be What are moral arguments What do moral arguments in particular need to succeed Why A moral argument is an argument where the conclusion is a moral statement In order to be successful at least one of the premises must also be a moral statement This is necessary because you cannot infer anything about the way things ought to be solely on the basis of the way things are owing to the logical gap between descriptive and normative statements In general there are two main ways to criticize an argument What are they One way to criticize an argument is to show that at least one of the premises is false The other way is to show that the premises even if they are true fail to adequately support the conclusion You should be able to take an argument simplify it and diagram it Euthanasia What is the difference between active and passive euthanasia Active euthanasia performed by taking a direct action to cause someone s death mercy killing Passive euthanasia performed by withholding or withdrawing measures necessary for sustaining life What is the difference between voluntary involuntary and nonvoluntary euthanasia Voluntary euthanasia performed on a person with his or her permission Involuntary euthanasia performed on a person against his or her wishes Nonvoluntary euthanasia performed on a person who is not competent to decide the issue and has left no instructions regarding end of life preferences In such cases family or physicians usually make the decision What is the difference between voluntary active euthanasia and physician assisted suicide Voluntary active euthanasia competent patients voluntarily request or agree to euthanasia communication their wishes either while competent or through instructions to be followed if they become incompetent 2 Physician assisted suicide the killing of a person by the person s own hand with the help of a physician Rachels Active and Passive Euthanasia What is the conventional view about euthanasia Passive euthanasia is sometimes morally permissible while active euthanasia is never permissible What is the main argument usually offered in support of the conventional view stated above 1 Killing is morally worse than letting someone die 2 Passive euthanasia involves letting someone die 3 So active euthanasia is morally worse than passive euthanasia Explain why Rachels thinks this is not a good argument The first premise is false Killing is no worse than letting someone die Bathtub example 1 Smith sneaks into bathroom and down child in bathtub and then arranges things so that it will look like an accident 2 Jones sneaks in planning to drown the child in his bath however the child already fell face down in the water Jones does nothing Same motivation same goal for killing someone as letting someone die Gay Williams The Wrongfulness of Euthanasia Gay Williams offers three arguments for thinking that euthanasia is wrong 1 The argument from nature 2 the argument from self interest and 3 the argument from practical effects I II III Argument from nature 1 Humans have a natural inclination to survive 2 Euthanasia goes against this natural inclination 3 It is morally wrong to act against our natural inclinations goals to survive 4 So euthanasia is wrong Argument from self interest 1 It is in our self interest to stay alive and try out new medication or wait for a 2 Euthanasia goes against our self interest and kills us and going against our self miracle interest is morally wrong 3 So we shouldn t allow euthanasia Argument from practical effects 1 All cases of euthanasia are cases that could have corrupting influence on doctors and nurses All cases that could have a corrupting influence on doctors and nurses and cause a slippery slope are morally wrong So euthanasia is wrong 2 3 3 Be able to explain each of these arguments and what they are supposed to show as well as some of the problems facing each argument Problems I Argument from nature 1 Medical treatment goes against natural inclination 2 So it s morally wrong
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