Chapter 2: Problem 16

What is the difference between a positive and a normative statement?

Short Answer

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A positive statement is a factual, objective description of the world, which can be either confirmed or disproven through empirical observation or analysis, such as "The unemployment rate is 6%." A normative statement expresses a value judgment or opinion about how the world should be and is based on personal beliefs or values, such as "The government should reduce unemployment by creating more jobs." The key distinction is that positive statements are objective and measurable, while normative statements are subjective and value-based.

Step by step solution

Definition of Positive Statement

A positive statement is a factual statement about the world based on objective data or evidence. It describes something that is happening or has happened, and can be either confirmed or disproven through empirical observation or analysis. Positive statements are value-neutral, meaning they don't describe how things should be, but rather how they are.

Example of Positive Statement

An example of a positive statement is: "The unemployment rate is 6%." This is a positive statement because it describes a fact about the current state of the economy that can be verified or refuted through data collection and analysis.

Definition of Normative Statement

A normative statement, on the other hand, expresses a value judgment or opinion about how the world should be, rather than how it is. Normative statements are subjective and cannot be empirically tested; they are based on one's personal beliefs or values and what one thinks ought to happen.

Example of Normative Statement

An example of a normative statement is: "The government should reduce unemployment by creating more jobs." This is a normative statement because it prescribes a certain course of action based on the belief that the government has a duty to lower unemployment rates and that job creation is a desirable way to achieve this goal. To summarize: - Positive statements refer to objective statements of measurable fact. - Normative statements are based on subjective opinions and suggest how things should be. Understanding the difference between positive and normative statements is important for distinguishing between what is empirically verifiable and what is a matter of subjective belief or opinion.

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