Lecture Notes

Argument: A set of reasons given in support of a claim.

Conclusion: The claim intended to be supported by the argument.

Premises: The claim given as reasons. The conclusion of the argument is true.

Inductive Argument: Predicts the future based on the past. It’s based on probability and makes general claims based on specific ones.

Deductive Argument: Makes specific claims based on general claims. Conclusions are based on conclusions on analysis of language conditions or rules.

Truth: Statement that corresponds to a fact.

Prescriptive: The idea that something should or ought to be.

Descriptive: The idea that something is; classifying or describing.

Empirical: Observational and physical evidence.

Ruth Benedict: A Defense of Ethical Relativism

Aberrant: Something or someone that is considered abnormal, odd, or uncommon.

FGM and Ethical Relativism

Relativism: Right, wrong, and knowledge are subjective to cultures, societies, and context, rather than being universal.

Descriptive Relativism: People from different cultures have distinctive views and norms.

Ethical Relativism: The actions of right and wrong are dependent of one’s culture.

Cultural Relativism: Morals cannot be evaluated or compared across cultures.

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