Logical Reasoning

PT123 · S3 · Q18 Editorialist: In all cultures it is almost universally

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Editorialist: In all cultures, it is almost universally accepted that one has a moral duty to prevent members of one’s family from being harmed.

Evidence

In all cultures, it is almost universally accepted that one has a moral duty to prevent members of one's family from being harmed.

Intermediate Conclusion

Thus, few would deny that if a person is known by the person's parents to b falsely accused of a crime, it would be morally right for the parents to hide the accused from the police.

Conclusion

Hence, it is also likely to be widely accepted that it is sometimes morally right to obstruct the police in their work.

Evaluate

The gap in the reasoning is that there may be a moral duty to prevent members of one's family from being harmed, and also a moral duty to assist the police in whatever capacity one is able.

18.

The reasoning in the editorialist's argument is most vulnerable to criticism on the grounds that this argument

  1. utilizes a single type of

    Wrong Conclusion

    The conclusion of the argument is that it is sometimes morally right to obstruct the police in their work. The term sometimes is not a broad generalization.

    28% picked this

  2. Correct

    fails to consider the possibility

    Why this is right

    This points out that the argument overlooked other moral duties that may conflict with the one to protect one’s family from being harmed.

    Skill tested: Flaw · how this choice captures the argument's function is the move to repeat next time.

    51% picked this

  3. presumes, without providing justification, that

    Negation

    This negates the assumption of the main argument.

    8% picked this

  4. takes for granted that there

    Too Strong

    The argument does not rule out all moral obligations to obey the law. Such obligations, however, must be less important than the obligation to prevent members of one’s family from being harmed.

    7% picked this

  5. takes for granted that the

    Out of Scope

    Whether the parents’ belief is mistaken has not impact on the fact that they hold that belief and will act according to what they believe.

    6% picked this

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