One child pushed another child from behind, injuring the second child. The first child clearly understands the difference between right and wrong, so what was done was wrong if it was intended to injure the second child.
Which one of the following principles, if valid, most helps to justify the reasoning in the argument?
(A) An action that is intended to harm another person is wrong only if the person who performed the action understands the difference between right and wrong. X
It’s does not have to be true that an action that is intended to harm another is wrong ONLY IF the person who performs the action understances the difference between right and wrong. There could be other reasons why an act is morally wrong.
(B) It is wrong for a person who understands the difference between right and wrong to intentionally harm another person. CORRECT. This is an unstated assumption in the passage.
(C) Any act that is wrong is done with the intention of causing harm. X
First off, this is not even remotely true. Second, it does not strengthen anyway.
(D) An act that harms another person is wrong if the person who did it understands the difference between right and wrong and did not think about whether the act would injure the other person. X
So basically this is saying an act that harms another person is wrong if the perpetrator didn’t think about injuring the other person…This goes in the wrong direction. The conclusion states that ‘what was done was wrong ‘if it was intended to injure’. Presumably intention involves pre-meditated thought. So, it doesn’t help to suggest that the wrong-doer didn’t think about their act…
(E) A person who does not understand the difference between right and wrong does not bear any responsibility for harming another person. X
The CONSEQUENCES are irrelevant.