“Some people would be happier as slaves.” is an is-statement—it’s either right or wrong (true or false) as a matter of fact, regardless of morality.
I agree generally with your point, but this sentence assumes “happier” is an objective quality—which may not be true. if we were to taboo “happier” in that sentence, the new phrasing might include a moral claim. Consider:
“Everyone is happier if jocks can haze nerds without complaint” --> “Jocks by show virtue by hazing nerds, and nerds show virtue by accepting hazing without complaint.”
The second sentence contains a number of explicit and implicit moral claims. Those moral claims are also present in the first sentence, just concealed by the applause light word “happy.”
I agree generally with your point, but this sentence assumes “happier” is an objective quality—which may not be true. if we were to taboo “happier” in that sentence, the new phrasing might include a moral claim. Consider:
“Everyone is happier if jocks can haze nerds without complaint” --> “Jocks by show virtue by hazing nerds, and nerds show virtue by accepting hazing without complaint.”
The second sentence contains a number of explicit and implicit moral claims. Those moral claims are also present in the first sentence, just concealed by the applause light word “happy.”