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utsfl:classroom:seminars:pba121h [2017/08/23 10:44] – mmccann | utsfl:classroom:seminars:pba121h [2017/08/23 15:38] (current) – mmccann | ||
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====== PBA121H: Why Truth Matters in the Abortion Debate ====== | ====== PBA121H: Why Truth Matters in the Abortion Debate ====== | ||
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* FIXME | * FIXME | ||
* numbering? | * numbering? | ||
* Content? Pull from https:// | * Content? Pull from https:// | ||
- | * **moral relativism** re: choice; briefly, epistemological relativism vs. objective truth... | ||
- | ===== Morality | + | |
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+ | But what if some of the jelly beans in the bowl were poisoned, | ||
===== " | ===== " | ||
- | * objective truth vs. opinion | + | A lot of Canadians think moral debates like abortion are like a bowl of jelly beans. As the belief goes, we can choose whatever flavour of belief we prefer because in the long run, what we choose is the truth for us. |
- | * opinions and preferences vs. objective claims | + | |
- | > What’s wrong with this response? | + | Abortion advocate, Joyce Arthur emphasizes |
- | * " | + | |
- | * science: observable science vs. theoretical science (re: "we have no idea when life begins" | + | > We all have our own opinions about what the moral status of the fetus might be. Some people believe a fertilized egg is a full human being with an absolute right to life that supercedes any right of the woman. Others believe that a fetus attains moral value only after it becomes viable, or upon birth. **But that's all these beliefs are - opinions. There' |
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+ | In other words, because there is disagreement about what the fetus is and how we should value the pre-born, she believes the pre-born have no objective human rights. We can treat them however we want. On the other hand, she argues, because there is no disagreement about the pregnant women’s status and her rights, her rights are objective. Pregnant women then should decide | ||
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+ | ==== Moral Claims vs. Preference Claims ==== | ||
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+ | But claims don’t become subjective just because there is a lack of consensus. Every right, including the equality rights Arthur discusses, were, at one point in history, controversial. Not everyone agreed with the notion that women should be treated equally to men. However, no one would argue that because there was a lack of consensus that that meant there was no right or wrong answer to the question of equality rights. | ||
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+ | What would Arthur say if we argued that because there is lack of consensus on the status of women around the world, societies should continue oppressing women? In fact, the reason why we call certain actions " | ||
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+ | When pro-lifers claim that abortion | ||
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+ | ==== " | ||
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+ | Scientifically and philosophically, | ||
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+ | FIXME is this stuff needed? < | ||
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+ | And if pro-lifers claim to believe that the pre-born are valuable human beings, | ||
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+ | < | ||
+ | **Science-based Public Policy** | ||
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+ | {{ : | ||
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+ | “What we’re advocating for,” I told him, “is science-based public policy. The term ‘pro-choice’ means many things to many people—some think abortion should be legal throughout all nine months of pregnancy, and some think it should be legal in only a few circumstances. So in a multicultural society with a wide range of philosophical and religious beliefs on the value of human life, shouldn’t we as a society rely on a solid, scientific benchmark for when human rights begin—at the beginning of the human being’s life?” He agreed, and in the space of a fifteen-minute conversation, | ||
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+ | The truth of the matter is, the pro-lifers’ claim about abortion is a truth claim—it cannot be simply dismissed as our opinion just because that is merely the opinion of abortion advocates like Joyce Arthur. "This is why the popular bumper sticker “Don’t like abortion? Don’t have one!” misses the point entirely. It confuses the two types of claims. (Try this: “Don’t like slavery? | ||
===== Don't force your morality on others! ===== | ===== Don't force your morality on others! ===== | ||
+ | Abortion advocates often argue against legal restrictions on abortion because they say it is imposing someone’s morals on other people. Furthermore, | ||
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+ | ==== Moral Relativism: A Self-Defeating Argument ==== | ||
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+ | But in making that argument they have made their moral belief clear: According to them, it is wrong to impose one’s values on others. Moreover, since they insist that this imposition is wrong for everyone, they are actually forcing that moral belief on others. They are doing exactly what they say is wrong to do. | ||
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+ | Furthermore, | ||
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+ | ==== The Obligation to Interfere: Aren't Some Choices Wrong? ==== | ||
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+ | Furthermore, | ||
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+ | The most important question then is not, "May governments impose laws on others?" | ||
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+ | If the pre-born are human beings with human rights like us, and we believe that human beings should be protected under the law, then isn’t it legitimate for the law to protect the pre-born, even if it imposes that morality on others? | ||
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+ | Just as we protect the lives of the born, shouldn’t we protect the lives of the pre-born? If we can impose our morality on men by making it illegal for them to rape women, what’s wrong with imposing our morality on women by making it illegal for them to kill their pre-born offspring? | ||
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+ | It can be uncomfortable to confront people with the truth. In a pluralistic society such as Canada, many desire to respect the opinions and decisions of others. However, it is neither truthful nor loving to allow people to commit acts of violence against other people. | ||
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+ | < | ||
- | ===== Unmasking " | + | Insert Keri-Ann' |
- | * It can be uncomfortable to confront people with the truth...we want to respect everyone' | + | </ |
- | * However, it is neither truthful nor loving to allow people to commit acts of violence against other people. | + | |
- | < | + | In the 18th century, a British man named Thomas Clarkson was researching the issue of slavery in order to enter an essay competition. He chose the topic of the slave trade—not, |
+ | "Long months of doubt followed his roadside moment of revelation. Could a lone, inexperienced young man have 'that solid judgement…to qualify him to undertake a task of such magnitude and importance; --and with whom was I to unite?' | ||
+ | On the issue of abortion, our society must face the same kinds of questions which Clarkson faced. We must examine the scientific facts about when human life begins, and examine the evidence of what abortion does to pre-born children. Because if abortion really is the legal killing of 300 children every day--then surely we should interfere. | ||