Critical Thinking & Practical Reasoning - Unit 5: The Normative and the Empirical

A set of flashcards covering key concepts from the lecture on normative and empirical distinctions, types of laws, and their implications.

What is the distinction between factual statements and value judgments?

Factual statements describe the way the world is (empirical), while value judgments prescribe or evaluate how the world ought to be (normative).

What are natural laws?

Natural laws are statements that express regularities in nature, derived from observations and past experiences.

Give an example of a natural law.

Every planet moves around the sun in an elliptical orbit.

What are civil laws?

Civil laws are man-made laws that regulate citizen behavior and are backed by government enforcement.

How do civil laws differ from natural laws?

Civil laws come with sanctions for violations, whereas natural laws are based on observable uniformities without enforcement.

What are customary laws?

Customary laws are traditional practices intrinsic to a community's culture, governing behavior, often transmitted orally.

What is moral law?

Moral law refers to universal rules of right living that are seen as inherent and unchanging, often linked to a higher moral authority.

How are moral laws perceived in relation to cultural norms?

Moral laws are considered universal and can critique cultural norms, whereas cultural norms do not attract strict moral judgments.

What are logical laws?

Logical laws are principles for reasoning that ensure conclusions follow valid premises.

What are mathematical laws?

Mathematical laws govern operations in mathematics and summarize established practices like addition and multiplication.

What is divine law?

Divine laws derive from religious doctrines and are prescriptive, often thought to be revealed by a supreme being.