BOYFRIEND, HOLD ME!!

Besides objective and subjective claims, there are another two different types of claims: descriptive and prescriptive claims. Descriptive claims means “says what is” whereas a prescriptive claim means “says what should be. Essentially, what that means is that a prescriptive claim is where someone commands what needs to be done.

Few weeks ago, I was with my friends who just became a couple. We were at a park late at a chilly night. My female friend was shivering of the cold.

Female friend: -shivers- It’s so cold!!
Her boyfriend: Oh, you should’ve brought a thicker jacket.
Female friend: I didn’t know it was going to be this cold!
Her boyfriend: -continues talking with the group-

A descriptive claim would be my female friend stating that she is cold.

Due to the word, should, it indicates that the statement above is a command from someone else, prescriptive claim.

A value judgment, conversely, is similar to a prescriptive claim. However, the only difference is that it includes word, such as good, better, best, or bad, worse, worst. A value judgment is someone’s opinion of whether something is right or wrong. A prescriptive claim is often backed by a value judgment saying what should or shouldn’t be done.

I thought it was kind of wrong for my friend’s boyfriend not to do anything when his girlfriend is cold. Instead of telling her what she should’ve done and letting her shiver, I think he could’ve given her his jacket or hug her to keep her warm. That would be my value judgment.