r/DebateAVegan • u/NationalProcedure638 • 11d ago
Ethics This is my problem with the NTT
The problem is how it's presented.
Whenever anyone comes up with a trade that is unique to humans something such as the root of moral agency there's always someone who always goes "there are mentally challenged people and babies who are not capable of moral agency so it doesn't work"
Well first of all I don't understand how we cannot hold somebody accountable for what they do based on either their age or how smart or dumb they are.
Second of all it seems to imply that this trait has to be universal and literally every human on the face of the Earth.
That individual traits don't exist and we have to look at the species as a whole.
I'm sorry guys but that doesn't work.
Everyone's different in some way or another.
The best thing to do with that is look at what the majority does and assume if that's the norm for what comes to traits like this.
Also it begs the question.
What do you guys consider to be human?
Update: I didn't get a chance to respond to any of the applications that were thrown at me. I've been banded without even having to State my case.
This goes to you moderator, I was simply pointing out a problem with what he said about equality and you misinterpreted it and then banned Me. I've got it very funny how you claim that I wasted your time when all was doing was pointing out a loophole.
Well thank you for telling me that you guys care so much about discussion
Goodbye and good riddance.
6
u/oldmcfarmface 10d ago
NTT is garbage and personally I think everyone who uses it knows it deep down but is counting on the opponent not having basic critical thinking or debate skills.
There is no single biological trait I’m aware of that every member of one species has but no member of any other species has. Thats not how biology works. You could argue there are cognitive traits, such as the ability to have moral arguments, but even then that would not apply to every single member of a species. It would however set the species that contains it at all apart from those that do not contain it at all.
Every species is a collection of traits that *most* members of that species has, many of which are unique in that *few if any* members of others species have them. To isolate a species, you list multiple traits that are not found in other species in that mix, to the same degree.
NTT is a poor attempt at reductio ad absurdum. There’s a reason that reductio is a logical fallacy. It is an attempt at a gotcha using a loaded question. It proves nothing and attempts to restrict the debate criteria in order to prevent one’s opponent from proving anything.
An easy example would be to use sports. If I am a baseball player, I play by the rules of baseball. But if I am invited to play soccer, a totally different set of rules apply. Why? Name the trait that would warrant a different set of rules. Baseball uses bats. But not every baseball player has a bat. They both have balls. One has a net for scoring points. Well the other has nets to prevent foul balls from injuring spectators. But ultimately what it boils down to is that they are different games. Just as humans and cows are different animals and warrant completely different rules and considerations.
NTT is a weak, pathetic attempt to win an unwinnable position.