Final answer:
James Rachels claims that common moral rules exist across different societies because they are required for societal survival, which is true. These moral principles facilitate trust, planning, and civil interaction, demonstrating the universal necessity for a moral framework. Despite variations, this suggests a collective sense of morality ensuring community existence.
Step-by-step explanation:
James Rachels argues that certain moral rules are shared across all societies because they are necessary for the existence of a society; this statement is true. Morality is essential for social living, providing a framework for trust, expectation, and the ability to make plans among human beings. Philosophers like Socrates and Plato have sought to discover universal ethical principles through reason. Furthermore, moral norms are enforced within communities to facilitate civilized life, implying an inherent need for moral guidelines. Although there is variation in specific moral rules among different societies, the underlying need for a moral structure suggests that some sense of how to behave is critical for human communities to thrive.
Philosophers have struggled to establish a universally accepted set of moral principles, often facing dilemmas in their application, as seen in the concept of competing duties according to W. D. Ross. For instance, he highlighted the conflict that can occur when deciding whether to adhere strictly to a rule like "never tell a lie," which can come into conflict with other moral obligations in certain situations.
To conclude, every society exhibits a form of morality, shaped by the common need to live together harmoniously. This shared underpinning points to the existence of some fundamental moral rules that transcend cultural differences, supporting Rachels' assertion.