Moral Argument and Moral Theory

I.  	Recap:  morality and objectivity
A. Moral convictions vs. mere tastes and preferences
B. Moral problems and objectivity

II.	Moral truth and reasons
A. Moral truths (answers to moral problems) are “reason-dependent”.
B. Specifically, if some action is wrong, it must have some “wrong-making” 
property or properties, which are moral reasons not to do it.
C. Determining whether an action is right or wrong is thus a matter of 
determining whether there are moral reasons for doing or not doing it that 
make it right or wrong.

III.	Reasons and arguments
A. Dealing with moral problems is thus a search for reasons that determine the 
solution.
B. In other words, we are searching for arguments that can be given for and 
against various candidate solutions and looking for the solution that is 
supported by the strongest, best, or most convincing argument. 

IV. Short logic lesson—how to evaluate arguments
An argument has premises and a conclusion:		P1
							P2
							P3
							 Therefore, C.
In a good argument:	(A) The premises are true.
			(B) The premises, if true, would support the conclusion.

A sound argument proves its conclusion.  

In a sound argument: 	(A) The premises are true.
(B) The conclusion follows logically from the premises. 
(The argument is valid.)

V. Moral arguments generally have the following form:
A. Moral Premise (E.g., “Actions with feature F are wrong”)
B. Factual Premise  (E.g., “This action has feature F”)
C. Therefore, Moral Conclusion (E.g., “This action is wrong”)

VI. Moral premises and moral principles.

VII. Not all good arguments are deductively sound.  Often moral principles are put 
forward as prima facie, or what is true “other things being equal.”  Determining 
the solution is then a matter of weighing reasons for and against and judging 
where, on balance, the weightiest reasons lie.