"Despite Singer's proud affirmative statement that he has finally discovered the definitive solution to the problem of abortion and can finally settle the issue, his "proof" depends on many possible sub-arguments (which he prefers not to "see"). His pro-abortion argument can only be established if we accept some kind of utilitarian ethics according to which the well-being of concrete human beings is above any abstract or metaphysical idea of the "human person" (something that would make them "intrinsically valuable"). It also depends on the idea that what is ethically relevant is that humans do not suffer unnecessary pain, and on the thesis that a human being can be defined by a set of well-defined relevant properties (the famous "indicators of humanity"). It also depends on a very specific definition of the terms "homicide" and "innocent" in the expression "innocent human being", and on the deactivation of the idea of "potentiality", in the sense that someone can be potentially a thing at time t + 1, which would give him rights at t. It is a large number of assumptions without which the "objective" and "definitive" conclusion would not follow. Any debater who does not accept at least one of these assumptions will not accept Singer's "indisputable results". And contrary to what he says, those who do not accept them are not "simply wrong", but they assume other perfectly plausible, sustainable and rational assumptions and Gestalten within the network of arguments. Singer drastically ignores all the questions and obstacles in his line of argument (e.g., the controversy over "indicators of humanity"), and it is only in this way that he can still feed the illusion of having "solved" the problem of abortion."
Quote Details
Added by wikiquote-import-bot
Unverified quote
0 likes
Original Language: English
Available Languages (1)
Sources
Introdução a uma abordagem negativa da argumentação, 2017, p. 164
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Julio_Cabrera
Revision History
No revisions have been submitted for this quote.
Categories
Julio Cabrera
77 quotes on TrueQuotesView all quotes by Julio Cabrera →
Related Quotes
"What is meant by "ethics" in this initial context of reflection cannot be anything too complicated or strongly commit…"
"Regretting having to die should be structurally identical to regretting being born, because it is not in our power be…"
"The best would have been not to be born. Not being born is, in a negative ethics, the absolute good; but it is, preci…"
"People talk about the "wonderful experience of parenthood". Have you ever wondered why it is so wonderful? It may be …"
"The moral tradition says: we have many natural tendencies, but as ethical human beings we have to try to overcome nat…"
"MV says that the rejection of life appears in later states, but that at the time of birth, and already before, everyt…"
"Young children continue to cry a lot for several years; they cry and cry endlessly; they may bother us often, but the…"
"Parents know perfectly well that they are giving a product of doubtful quality only for their own accomplishment and …"
"What we notice, for example, when we get involved in ethical discussions on procreation, abortion or death penalty or…"
"In a first moment, philosophizing is, for me, the fundamental way of man's installation in the world: a way that is i…"