I’m pretty much willing to put this little exchange to rest, but there are a few more points I’d like to make in response to Randy’s latest blog.
He mentions my argument that abortion “might” be murder, and then takes it to a bit more of an extreme. Of course abortion “might” be murder…this is an opinion, of which I have not made up my mind. However, he is missing my point, which is that if one believes life begins at conception, then the logical connection is that abortion “is” murder. “Might” is for wafflers like me. “Is” is for people who have made up their minds.
He also tries to make the point that “political views, money, and reason” are separate from personal beliefs. To that I say, how? I’d recommend an excellent book by a psychologist named Michael Polanyi entitled “Personal Knowledge.” Essentially, the argument is that nothing we do is separate from our personal beliefs. Can we rationally say that our political views are separate from our personal beliefs? That the way we view money is? Reason, proof, logic, all are based on our own personal biases.
Full impartiality is impossible. I hope that what Randy's trying to say is not that religion is the only personal belief not able to be brought into a politician’s judgment. Speaking as a Christian, I can promise you that my faith influences everything about me, including my political views, my money, and my reason.
And yes, though a little absurd, if a majority of politicians decided Maxim should be illegal, they have the right to do so. We could criticize it and call it absurd, but they do have the right to do so. However, I think it’s a little absurd to try and draw a parallel between Maxim magazine and abortion rights.
We can try and hold on to the false premise of impartiality, or accept the truth that our personal beliefs can and do influence the way we go about our lives.
Respond
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