Text 1: Philosopher Dr. Alan West defends moral realism. "Moral truths exist independently of human opinion," West argues. "Slavery was wrong before anyone recognized it. Ethics discovers truths; it doesn't invent them."
Text 2: Social constructionist Dr. Nina Liu emphasizes moral change. "Moral standards evolve with societies," Liu observes. "What counts as ethical behavior shifts across cultures and centuries. This variation suggests morality is made, not found."
How would West likely respond to Liu's observation about moral variation?
By arguing that moral disagreement doesn't preclude objective truth
By agreeing that morality has no objective basis
By claiming moral beliefs have never varied
By dismissing the relevance of social context entirely
Correct Answer: A
Choice A is the correct answer. West believes moral truths exist even when unrecognized ("was wrong before anyone recognized it"). He'd argue variation reflects ignorance of truth, not absence of truth.
- Evidence: West: slavery was objectively wrong even when accepted.
- Reasoning: Disagreement about facts doesn't eliminate facts.
- Conclusion: West would distinguish between beliefs and truths.
Choice B is incorrect because West explicitly defends objectivity. Choice C is incorrect because West could accept variation while maintaining realism. Choice D is incorrect because acknowledgment differs from dismissal.