Page 176 - Smart Thinking: Skills for Critical Understanding and Writing, 2nd Ed

ANSWERS, DISCUSSION, AND FURTHER ADVICE 16 3

is certain that the legislation was passed. Voluntary euthanasia sounds more clinical
than, say, 'kill themselves'; while it might appear to be a more neutral term, in fact
it probably connotes some sense that the act is more legitimate. This example should
alert us to the value judgments concealed within attempts to be value-free.
b Most religious leaders at the time, and now, claim that legislation
permitting voluntary euthanasia is immoral.
This statement proposes simply that religious leaders have claimed the legis-
lation to be immoral. As a result the claim itself (as it stands) is not necessarily
making a value judgment. However, we would have to look at the way it is used in
an argument or explanation. The scope is defined by the word 'most', with the
claim also reporting the certainty of the 'original' claim—that the legislation is
immoral—which implies a 100 per cent certainty. This claim (which is indirect) is
certain of itself. The connotation that most springs to mind is that of 'leaders':
while it certainly denotes particular people in church power structures, it perhaps
connotes some sense that we should agree with these people (they are leaders and
we should follow).

c If a state government passed voluntary euthanasia laws, then the Federal
Government would not be able to stop that legislation in the same way that
it did for the Northern Territory.

This is an 'if. . . then' statement, with a connection between a cause ('if. . . ')
and a predicted outcome of that cause (' . . . then'). Once again, there is no obvious
value judgment, but we would have to look at the way in which it is used in the
argument or explanation as a whole before being sure. This claim has been carefully
constructed with due regard for scope and certainty: note the importance of
'similar' in the first half of the claim; then consider how the word 'likely' helps to
reduce further the claim's ambit. The claim does not express a certain, but merely
a likely, consequence.

d Several terminally ill people were reported in the media at the time as saying
they were moving to the Northern Territory.
As with claim b, the claim is about some other person's claim. As such, it may
or may not imply a positive value judgment in favour of the euthanasia legislation,
depending on the context. 'Several', in the first half of the claim, helps to define the
scope. Whether or not the people do move may be uncertain (since they may not
actually have done it, how can we be sure if they will), but the claim is itself
expressed in a certain manner—they have certainly told the media making the
claim of their intention.
e I imagine that if another state or territory were to pass similar laws, then
media reporting of the legislation would be very extensive.
This is, deliberately, a trick question. It is an if/then claim again. Remember
that the T who imagines is also the T making this claim. It would be wrong to