Walter: For the economically privileged in a society to tolerate an injustice perpetrated against one of society's d...
NicoCapriSeptember 6, 2014
clarification needed please!
The point at issue for this question is a bit unclear to me, considering the answer choices provided. Although the correct answer is E, I do not fully understand Walter and Larissa's disagreement on this matter.
Based on their conversation, it seems as though they disagree about the reasoning the priviledged members of society should hold for not tolerating injustice for the disadvantaged.
Walter believes they should not tolerate this injustice because it may effect them in the future. Whereas Larissa believes that social unrest should be the motivating factor in not tolerating this injustice.
However, choice E indicates that their disagreement is based on whether the priviledged are exposed to the same injustices as the disadvantaged; not the reasons behind why it shouldn't be tolerated. Can you please explain?
Replies
Create a free account to read and
take part in forum discussions.
Make sure to note that Walter states that when the economically privileged tolerate an injustice to society's disadvantaged, it is "NOT JUST MORALLY WRONG, but also shortsighted." So Walter and Larissa do believe that, morally, this situation is wrong.
What they disagree on is how susceptible the economically privileged members are to injustice in comparison to the economically disadvantaged members. Walter states that a system that inflicts injustice on a disadvantaged person can EQUALLY WELL inflict on a well to do person tomorrow.
Whereas Larissa states that "the wealthy as well as the well educated can protect themselves against all sorts of injustices suffered by the less well off."
So they disagree on how exposed the economically privileged members of society are to injustices compared to the economically disadvantaged. Larissa believes that the economically privileged are much better protected, whereas Walter believes the economically privileged and disadvantaged are equally at risk.
Thus answer choice (E) is correct: "whether the economically privileged members of a society are less exposed to certain sorts of injustices than are the economically disadvantaged."
Hope that was helpful! Please let us know if you have any more questions.
lindaApril 28, 2021
I got the Question correct, but doesn't the "can" in front of the Equally Well, modify to a less strong conclusion to take issue with?
VictoriaMay 16, 2021
Hi @linda,
Thanks for your question!
The second part of Walter's argument is not the conclusion; it is the premise. Walter's conclusion is that it is both morally wrong and short-sighted for the economically privileged to tolerate injustice against the disadvantaged. Why? Because the same system could inflict the same injustice on the privileged in the future.
Additionally, we know that Walter and Larissa are committed to disagreeing on a point from the question stem. Therefore, we are not focused on the strength of Walter's conclusion, but on the ways in which it contradicts with Larissa's.
Hope this helps! Please let us know if you have any further questions.
