Below are four distinct arguments that rely on unstated conditional rules. Pair each argument with the corresponding overarching principle that conclusively bridges the gap between its premises and its conclusion.
- The city council's decision to subsidize the new solar farm is unjustified. Although the solar farm will significantly reduce regional carbon emissions, it will neither create local jobs nor reduce energy costs for residents.The allocation of public funds to a private enterprise is illegitimate unless it provides tangible financial or occupational advantages to the immediate jurisdiction, regardless of any positive externalities it generates on a macroeconomic scale.
- The university is ethically permitted to revoke the honorary degree it awarded to the billionaire. While the billionaire has committed no statutory violations, he recently engaged in a highly public smear campaign against a respected climate scientist.An organization may rightfully withdraw a previously conferred symbol of prestige from an individual who deliberately attempts to destroy the professional reputation of an expert, even in the absence of any legal infractions by that individual.
- The governor ought to veto the proposed infrastructure bill. It is true that the bill has widespread bipartisan support and would repair failing bridges across the state. However, it also includes a provision that would weaken environmental review standards for future projects.A leader possessing veto power is duty-bound to block any comprehensive legislative package that dilutes existing regulatory protections, even if the package also contains universally lauded remedies for systemic physical decay.
- The streaming service should not cancel the sci-fi series after its first season. Admittedly, the show's viewership numbers are far below the threshold typically required for renewal, and production costs are exorbitant. But the series has cultivated a small, intensely loyal fanbase that would likely cancel their subscriptions if the show is axed.A commercial distributor is obligated to sustain an unprofitable product line if discontinuing it would prompt a highly engaged minority of consumers to withdraw their overall patronage from the distributor.
Answer
The solar farm subsidy scenario pairs with the principle on allocating public funds; the honorary degree scenario pairs with the principle on withdrawing prestige; the infrastructure bill scenario pairs with the principle on blocking legislation; and the streaming service scenario pairs with the principle on sustaining an unprofitable product line.
Each scenario presents an argument with a logical gap between its premises and its normative conclusion. To justify each conclusion, a universal principle must establish a sufficient formal condition that guarantees the outcome based strictly on the provided premises. The correct pairings align the specific factual situations with highly abstract conditional rules that logically demand those precise outcomes.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Principle - Justify