Could someone give me an example of when morality is achieved be valuing I/P equaly?
Thesis
Merriam Webster defines a doctrine or system of moral conduct
of or relating to principles of right and wrong in behavior
Contention 1-We should value idealism and pragmatism equally.
To support this, I will use the analogy of gardening. When you are gardening, you are being an idealist by pursuing your ideal of blooming flowers and ripe vegetables. But you are also valuing pragmatism by planting, watering, fertilizing, and weeding, all practical ways to grow a healthy plant. You are valuing idealism and pragmatism equally. Unless you wanted the ideal of blooming flowers and ripe vegetables you would not put the effort into planting, watering, fertilizing, and weeding. But without planting, watering, fertilizing, and weeding, you would not be able to achieve your goal. Gardening is a perfect example of how we should value idealism and pragmatism equally.
Contention 2-The resolution is an always statement.
If I told you to jump out of this window, would you jump? I hope not. But what if I told you to jump out of this window while the hallway is on fire, and jumping was the only way to escape? Then it would be a good idea. But in mast cases, it is not a good idea. Well, the resolution works the same way. Is it always good to jump out of this window? NO! Is it always good, when in conflict, to value idealism above pragmatism? NO, in most cases it will not work.
Contention 3-Morality is the highest value.
Without my value of morality, what would the world be like? It would be in complete chaos. People would have no moral convictions and would just do whatever they wanted to do without a though of if it was good for others. Is that a world that you would like to live in? Morality is what really matters. As Thomas Jefferson wrote in a letter to Peter Carr, ***read slowly***
“Give up money, give up fame, give up science, give the earth itself and all it contains rather than do an immoral act. And never suppose that in any possible situation, or under any circumstances, it is best for you to do a dishonorable thing, however slightly so it may appear to you ... From the practice of the purest virtue, you may be assured you will derive the most sublime comforts in every moment of life, and in the moment of death.”
Contention 4-Negating the resolution allows us to pursue Morality.
As I stated earlier, valuing idealism and pragmatism allows us to achieve goal. I also stated earlier that there is no greater goal to achieve that morality. Therefore valuing idealism and pragmatism allows us to achieve morality. Just like the example of…um…
Guess I'm not done yet.
Now I would like to address the affirmative case…
