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Philosophy & ethics · Grades 7–12

Reasons, values and ethical disagreements

Separate factual premises from value judgments.

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Learn the idea

Argument

An argument offers reasons intended to support a conclusion.

Facts and values

A factual claim can be checked against evidence; a value judgment evaluates what matters.

Perspective

Different priorities can lead to different judgments even when facts are shared.

Respect

Analyze reasons and consequences without assigning lesser worth to groups of people.

Worked examples

Which is primarily a factual premise?

A closing time is a checkable factual claim in the scenario.

The fictional park closes at 8 p.m.

Which is a value judgment?

The statement evaluates what should matter more.

Access should be prioritized over convenience in this decision.

Check your understanding

  1. Why can people agree on facts but disagree about a decision?

  2. A proposal allocates 12 places equally among 3 groups. How many places does each group get?

  3. Does an equal numerical division settle every question of fairness?

    1. No.
    2. Yes, always.
    3. Only if the total is even.

Answers and marking notes

Answers and marking notes
  1. They may weigh values, duties or consequences differently.

    Identify a difference in priorities rather than assuming ignorance.

  2. 4

    12/3 = 4; whether this allocation is fair is a separate question.

  3. No.

    Needs, rights and relevant context may also matter.

Independent educational review required. Grade bands are approximate; these are not officially aligned curricula.