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That a question re the mentally handicapped can help clarify arguments about homosexuality and contraception

Imagine that you are on a life raft that was sinking, and you could save the lives of all by removing one of the members of the raft.  Other passengers include a bonobo monkey that is famous for using signs to communicate and a mentally handicapped person who is less able to think and communicate than then monkey.  Question:  who would you push off the raft.  1. The monkey; 2. the mentally handicapped person.

If you are a nominalist & utilitarian, you will think that you are at least as entitled to push of the mentally handicapped human.

The same perspective comes into play when one objects to the Church's position about contraception and homosexuality.  The contemporary listener often thinks of the "thou shalt not" aspect of Catholic morality through utilitarian and nominalist lenses.  The result is that this listener equates sexual relations between partners of the same sex with relations had by two sterile partners of the opposite sex.

This analogy is either a diamond in the rough or not: I gotta think about it for a few days...

Comments

Leo White said…
make that "a few months"...
11:26 AM
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