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Re: catholics*

By: Cactus Flower in ALEA | Recommend this post (0)
Tue, 09 Oct 12 6:29 PM | 59 view(s)
Boardmark this board | The Trust Matrix 		Msg. 10712 of 54959
(This msg. is a reply to 10710 by Cactus Flower)
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One additional point.

I know it is hard to argue for an assertion, especially of a moral claim.

You choose to believe life is sacred from the moment of conception.

If someone doesn't accept that assertion, what is your recourse?

To a god that many other don't believe in?

For me, I try to plant these things in some sort of mathematical or natural soil. I don't merely think altruism is a nice thing. I see that it is valuable and efficient thing in nature and in game theory.

So I wonder - is there some similar reason to believe in the sanctity of human life from conception? Something that isn't divinely ordained. Maybe there is. But I don't have a bead on it.

In your shoes, I'd be curious to dig a bit deeper than my assumption that god wills it. I don't think the abortion question arises in the Bible - after all, if any book is filled with justified massacres, it is that thar book. But even if it does, does nature or philosophy confirm the value of sanctifying life somehow?

and if so, why not all life? - this would make you a jain.


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The above is a reply to the following message:
Re: catholics*
By: Cactus Flower in ALEA
Tue, 09 Oct 12 6:18 PM 		Msg. 10710 of 54959

Hi csl,

Fun stuff.

But actually, arguing from exaggeration is rarely effective.

If you don't try to understand the actual argument, and oppose it on its own terms, how can you expect to persuade folks who disagree with you?

You argue no choice. clo argues choice up to the legal limit. I argue a gradually evolving spectrum of choices using the evolution from fertilised egg to sentience to viability as my timeline.

No one is arguing for the termination of viable foetuses, let alone babies, infants or adults. So it doesn't really resonate to take things to an extreme neither you, nor clo, nor I support.

But one thing I would note. I don't believe in the state employing capital punishment. Once you get over the legal personhood threshold, the moral and legal position is unambiguous. Thou shalt not kill, except in self-defence.

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