Though it may be less evident in print and e-text, which tend to evoke a more polemical tone than conversation, I try hard to see things from the perspective of those who disagree with me. I often find myself refuting the arguments of those I agree with, because I don't think they do justice to the opposition (see, for instance, the post "dig deeper" on this blog). I am convinced that on most of the questions about which people disagree it is possible to take either side without abandoning rationality altogether. But on the question of abortion, I am at a loss. The issue seems so clear, the moral intuition so immediate to conscience, the arguments on one side so decisive, and on the other so weak, with a weakness that is so easy to see, that as much as I try, I can't figure out how a minimally rational person could come to any other conclusion than the obvious one. I hesitate to say that whoever disagrees with me on this either hasn't thought carefully about it or else is blinded by morally degenerate passions. My reticence comes from a habit of trying to bend over backwards to give people the benefit of the doubt. But in this case I can find nothing in the way of reasonable grounds for this reticence.
I am particularly baffled by those who agree that abortion is wrong, but who don't seem to take the issue very seriously when they go to the ballot box. I am preparing an article in which I work through some of these frustrations. I will attempt to present the case against abortion in a way that does justice both to the fundamental moral clarity of the issue, and to the arguments of the opposition. I should have it ready for posting here sometime soon.
Chris, so good to have you blog again, and oddly, on something I've been thinking about myself recently, and of course, you put it much better than I could.
So, all that to say, I really look forward to reading what you put together.
Posted by: JosiahQ at November 17, 2004 10:01 PM