7.6 Principles 287
One particular type of claim on which
arguments and decisions are often based is an
expression of principle. A principle is a general
claim that, if true, is true under all
circumstances. A principle is not something
that can be applied selectively.
7.6 Principles
Read the following dialogue, preferably
aloud with a partner, taking a part each.
Then complete the activity that follows.
Carla: Can I borrow your new CD?
Dieter: What do you want it for?
Carla: To make a copy. I’ll give it straight
back.
Dieter: But it’s illegal.
Carla: So what? No one is going to find
out.
Dieter: They might. And if they do it’s not
just you that gets in trouble, it’s me
as well.
Carla: Dieter, am I hearing this? Do you
think the police are going to burst
into your room in the middle of the
night because they suspect you of
lending me a CD? Get real.
Dieter: I am getting real. I work for a shop
that sells CDs, or had you
forgotten? If I get caught making
pirate copies, I’ll lose my job.
Carla: But I’ve told you, you won’t get
caught. No one will know.
Dieter: I’ll know.
Carla: You mean you’ll inform on yourself!Activity
Dieter: Don’t be silly, Carla. I mean I’ll
know I’ve done something wrong.
I’ll be guilty of cheating.
Carla: Cheating! Cheating who?
Dieter: The record company, the song-
writers, the band, the retailers...
Carla: Oh, them! Do you know how much
profit they all make out of people
like you and me? If they didn’t
charge so much, we wouldn’t need
to copy CDs. They’re greedy. And if
piracy is denting their profits, good
for piracy! Anyway, it’s not like I’m
walking into a shop and taking
something off the shelf.
Dieter: It’s still theft. You’re helping
yourself to something without
paying for it. And you are cheating
the owners of the copyright out of
what is theirs. If it’s all right for you
to take from them, you can’t
complain if someone takes
something of yours. Remember
how you felt when your mobile
phone was stolen. Are you now
saying that was all right?
Carla: That was different. You know it
was. It cost a lot of money to
replace. If I copy your CD, some
fat-cat bosses are going to lose a
fraction of a cent that they won’t
even miss.
Dieter: Well, then, where do you draw the
line? One cent? Twenty? A dollar? If
it’s OK to take a small amount, it’s
OK to take a little bit more. Then a