PHI332 : The Class : Argument Evaluation : Analogy : Exercise4.2.22

Exercise4.2.22

The violinist analogy (as adjusted from 4.2.13)

Target

1. "The fetus is a person from the moment of conception"
   
2. "Every person has a right to life."
   
3. "So the fetus has a right to life."
   
4. "A person's right to life is stronger and more stringent than the mother's right to decide what happens in and to her body.
   
5. "So a person's right to life outweighs the mother's right to decide what happens in and to her body."
   
6. "So the fetus may not be killed; an abortion may not be performed."

Analog

Background information: I am not responsible in any way for being hooked up to the violinist in the first place. Perhaps I was kidnapped and hooked up while unconscious, or the like.

1. "Violinists are persons."
   
2. "All persons have a right to life."
   
3. So the violinist has a right to life.
   
4. A person's right to life is stronger and more stringent than your right to decide what happens in and to your body.
   
5. "So a person's right to life outweighs your right to decide what happens in and to your body."
   
6. "So [there ought to be a law that] the violinist may not be killed; [there ought to be a law that] you may not be unplugged from him."

If you want a hint about limitations or disanalogies here, see Warren, p. 345; Callahan, pp. 368-9.

Download Word file.

Check your work.

Once you have completed this excercise you should:

Go on to Exercise4-2-23
or
Go back to Argument from Analogy

E-mail George Rudebusch at George.Rudebusch@nau.edu
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