Logical Reasoning

PT124 · S3 · Q18 Ethicist: Many environmentalists

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Ethicist: Many environmentalists hold that the natural environment is morally valuable for its own sake, regardless of any benefits it provides us.

Evidence

It is philosophically disputable MV → D whether nature is morally B → D valuable, but undeniable that it is beautiful.

Conclusion

An argument for preserving B → LV nature that emphasizes nature’s beauty will be less vulnerable to logical objections than one that emphasizes its moral value.

Evaluate

The argument assumes that if D → LV an argument to preserve nature appeals to a characteristic of nature (e.g., moral value or beauty) that is philosophically indisputable, then that theory will be less vulnerable to logical objections.

18.

The ethicist's reasoning most closely conforms to which one of the following principles?

  1. An argument in favor of

    Wrong Evidence

    Both arguments for preserving nature address the issue of what makes nature worth preserving. One appeals to beauty and one appeals to moral value.

    6% picked this

  2. If an argument for preserving

    Too Weak

    While this supports the point that an argument to preserve nature based on beauty will not be vulnerable to logical objections, but does not apply to an argument based on moral value.

    8% picked this

  3. If it is philosophically disputable

    Wrong Conclusion

    This fails to establish anything about how vulnerable are arguments to preserve nature to logical objections.

    2% picked this

  4. Anything that has moral value

    Weaken

    This would make it less likely that an argument to preserve nature based on beauty is less vulnerable to logical objections than one based on moral value.

    2% picked this

  5. Correct

    An argument for preserving nature

    Why this is right

    This bridges the gap between an argument appealing to a characteristic that indisputably belongs to nature and being less vulnerable to logical objections.

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

    81% picked this

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