Positive  & Normative Statements & Claims
What are they & how are they related to justifications for action?

Positive claims – statements about what we know.

Normative claims – statements about what we value or ÒshouldÓ value

Positive claim - essential concern is about how things are, not how they should be.
 
In this regard, all scientific claims and questions are positive.
Examining evidence is a powerful and often effective means for resolving disagreements over positive claims.

Normative claim – essential concern is about how things should be; claims that something is good or bad, right or wrong, virtuous, wise or foolish, just or unjust, etc.
Normative questions & claims always involve value judgments; hence, basis for believing that they have right or wrong answers is much weaker than for positive questions.
Unstated assumptions behind an argument can be normative as well as positive.  Mixing of normative and positive claims with powerful unstated assumptions, obfuscates & obstructs reasoned deliberations on public policy, creates confusion, exacerbates conflict, makes it difficult for citizens to understand an argument and arrive at an informed view.