Reference no: EM133338294

Philosophers often argue for the rejection of general moral principles like "Lying is wrong" on the grounds that there are cases in which, for example, lying is morally acceptable. Few people are likely to find these arguments convincing. After all, it might similarly be argued that physicists who state "An object in motion will remain in motion" are mistaken because a ball rolled on a carpeted floor will eventually stop. But the physicists will not be persuaded, since they already know that their statement does not account for factors like friction.

The argument depends on assuming which one of the following?

1. Philosophers often think that physicists who state "An object in motion will remain in motion" are mistaken.

2. When physicists state "An object in motion will remain in motion," they typically qualify their statement by adding "until acted upon by an outside force."

3. Most people understand that general moral principles can be overridden by other principles in some cases.

4. The number of cases in which an object in motion does not remain in motion is no greater than the number of cases in which lying is morally acceptable.

5. Philosophers use cases in which lying is morally acceptable to identify factors that make lying morally acceptable.