Arguments must stimulate further thought
Jack Cosgrove
freshman
I think that Mr. Butland would agree that debate is ultimately pointless if no conclusions are reached. That is why I find his letter yesterday entitled, "Clearing up misconceptions on life," so curious. His recommendation of publicly agreeing to disagree makes the fundamental error of confusing an armistice with a peace. By demeaning both Mr. Allegra's and Mr. Hudnall's views as "involving blind emotion, casual assertion or perhaps both," Mr. Butland argues from the high ground of reason.
However, he then recommends an end to the public debate because of the impossibility of reconciliation. This is exactly a capitulation to "blind emotion, casual assertion or both." When one invokes reason in debate, he must expect his listeners to consider that reasoning. Almost all people have the ability to reason (and surely all at this University have this capacity), and therefore a reasonable argument is universal. One never has the right to be irrational.
I am sure that particular pieces of the abortion debate can be argued in an editorial format and that pure reason can shorten the distance between the two opposing camps. And while it is frustrating when the latter fact is ignored by zealots on either side, we cannot let rational discourse yield to histrionics if we hope to resolve the abortion debate at some point in the future. And as I said before, there is no point to arguing if we do not expect some resolution. In addition, when an aspect of the debate is logically apparent, we as rational beings have a duty to make this aspect publicly known.
Beyond these methodological objections, I present a final wrinkle: There are definitely some things we cannot discern through reflection, such as the exact moment of "quickening." Given that we control no other recourse to knowledge, perhaps we are not able to know such things? And if we are not able to know the moment of quickening, or when so many physical life processes actually constitute life, how can we make a positive decision on when life begins? I realize I may have come to the same conclusion as Mr. Butland, but I do not advocate silence. My recommendation: Err on the side of caution.
Jack Cosgrove
freshman
St. Edward's Hall
Jan. 29, 2002
All Viewpoint Stories for Thursday, January 31, 2002
