> >Beneath these statements is the tacit assumption that if both A and B are
> >human products, they must be of equal quality. I don't think you really
> >believe that.
What is a human product?
If A and B are both purely human products in the sense of being mental constructs that in no way reflect any external reality, then they are of equally untestable quality.
If A and/or B, though throughly human products in the sense of resulting from human action, also have some relationship to external reality, then there is the potential to compare and assess them.
As Howard asserted that the Bible reflects human experience of the divine, I don't think he is claiming that it is a purely human product. I think what Glenn wants is the criteria by which one tests these claims of experience. Howard suggested that the Biblical accounts are not neccessarily correct. This requires some standard of correctness to whcih they can be compared and found wanting. What are the standards?
Likewise, I think Dave's point about the ineffectiveness of a video of an abortion and Moorad's point about its effectiveness are talking about different things. Dave points out that it is inadequate as a logical argument. Seeing an unborn baby screaming as it is being killed does make it difficult to assert that it's just an unwanted blob of flesh. This would make it difficult to, e.g., support abortion while protesting catch and release fishing because of the pain to the fish of getting hooked. However, it doesn't do anything to address earlier developmental stages when the sensation of pain is less obvious, if it exists at all.
Dr. David Campbell
Old Seashells
University of Alabama
Biodiversity & Systematics
Dept. Biological Sciences
Box 870345
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0345 USA
bivalve@mail.davidson.alumlink.com
That is Uncle Joe, taken in the masonic regalia of a Grand Exalted Periwinkle of the Mystic Order of Whelks-P.G. Wodehouse, Romance at Droitgate Spa
Received on Tue Oct 12 17:52:55 2004
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