Syllogistic Decision-Making

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document in english

humanities/philosophy

presentation

date published 15/06/2008

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level : General public

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Summary

The process of syllogistic decision-making is predicated on the conclusions that can be drawn from presenting two or more pieces of evidence. In its most rudimentary form the process of syllogistic decision-making follows the following pattern: a = b and b = c, therefore a = c. If the context of syllogistic decision-making, the conclusions that can be drawn are simplistic in nature as they allow a logical progression of the specific information that is presented. In the example provided above the conclusion drawn is that a equals c. This conclusion is drawn based on the information provided which shows that b is equal to both a and c. Although this method of provides a logical and rational means for decision making, there have been notable examples that demonstrate the problems that can arise when syllogistic decision-making models are used absolutely for making decisions.

With the basic context of syllogistic decision-making elucidated, it is now possible to consider the various elements of a moral argument and the functions of each within the context of this process of decision-making.
What is perhaps most interesting about the moral judgment that is provided in the context of the syllogistic decision-making process is that it does not always accurately produce a defensible conclusion.
Examining first the arguments that have been made in support of abortion, it is evident that scientific discourse has served as the basis for establishing the woman's right to choose.
When examined in this context, it becomes evident that scientific data which definitively proves a specific moral argument carries more weight than a proposed hypothesis that is predicated upon data that cannot be substantiated.
Looking first at the ideology of consequentialist moral theory, Shaw and Barry (2005) make the following observation
If the nonconsequentialist approach to moral decision-making has been utilized, the argument used to oppose abortion would have taken precedence over the consequentialist approach.
Placing this moral theory into the consequentialist/nonconsequentialist framework, the decisions that are made in the egoism framework are clearly those that are predicated on the outcomes of the decision made.
Finally, considering the libertarian approach to moral decision-making, it is also possible to examine this moral theory in the context of the consequentialist/nonconsequentialist framework.